The Land of The Great Wall, X’ian’s Terracotta Army,

The Forbidden Palace & Tiananmen Square

Information on Relocating to China

• The capital city of China is Beijing with about 15.2 million people. The political and cultural centre is also in Beijing where the President resides. The economic and financial centre is in Shanghai. China is a Republic.

• Languages: There languages spoken are Mandarin (official), and many other dialects. The TV programs are generally in Chinese language and CCTV-4 and CCTV-9 is international TV channels that have programs in English. Cable TV is available and offers more options, but satellite TV is only available in service apartments and Expat compounds.

• Population: The population is about 1.3 billion people - 91.9% are Han Chinese, 8.1% Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities.

• Expat areas: Shanghai and Beijing house the majority of Expats within China.

• Housing: Both Shanghai and Beijing have a number of areas where there are a large concentration of expatriates living. Apartments are the primary option in the city, and detached and semi-detached houses are available in the suburbs. Families with children tend to live in the suburbs to be close to the international schools.

• Cost of housing: Expatriate suitable housing in China can be quite expensive and varies based on type of residence, location, and standard of renovation. Rent can be anywhere from US $ 1000 for a small apartment in the city to US $ 8000 and more for a modern house in the suburbs. The local currency is Renminbi (RMB).

• Schools: There are a number of International schools in both Beijing and Shanghai to choose from, catering for American, British, Singaporean, French, German, and Canadian systems.

• Transportation: Taxis are the main form of transport for most expatriates. Car leases with drivers are common package inclusions for most companies. The metro system is fast, but crowded and not very extensive. The bus system is extensive but mainly for locals as there are no maps or route details in English.

• Bank: Most banks are open from Monday to Saturday 9.00 am - 5.00 pm, and some banks are open everyday except for the national holidays. Individual banking service is available from Monday to Saturday. Company banking service is only available from Monday to Friday. 24-hour banking self-service is available. The ATMs are everywhere.

• Shopping: Everyday from 9.00 am - 7.00 pm although times vary across the country.

• Climate: Beijing has a continental monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. Spring and autumn are short while winter and summer are long. December was the coldest month with an average temperature of -3°C (-37°F) while July was the hottest month with an average temperature of 27°C (81°F). Shanghai summers are hot and humid with temperatures reaching 39°C (102°F). The rainy season begins in June. Fall is mostly mild. In winter (January to February) temperatures can reach below freezing. Spring begins again in March.

• Culture: As a culture center of China with rich tradition, Beijing hosts 26 libraries and over 100 museums. Shanghai has a few museums and theatres. Television and radio programs are broadcasted 24 hours a day in various local and foreign languages. Most movies shown in cinemas are in original languages with Chinese subtitles.

• Public holidays: January 1st New Year; January/ February (date varies) Spring Festival - Chinese New Year; May 1st-3rd Labour Day; October 1st - 3rd National Day. Note: In addition to the above, other holidays may be observed locally and certain groups have official Public Holidays on the following dates:
  March 8th International Women’s Day, May 4th National Youth Day, May 23rd Tibet Liberation Day, June 1st International Children’s Day, August 1st Army
  Day.