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Expat guide: China
This guide offers information and advice if you are moving to China.
Click on the different tabs to find out about anything from tax rules and banking to education and cultural highlights.
You can also read our city guide to Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai.
Download this guide as a pdfMoving to China
One wouldn't think that China is only taking measured steps towards capitalism. For expats moving to China, the country represents an opportunity-filled frontier of international business. Skilled expats are swayed to China to be at the forefront of the rapid growth and inherent changes in the country.
Although China is an immense country, expats in China inhabit only a selection of major coastal cities, namely Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Xiamen and Hong Kong. These cities, acclimatising to international business, have attracted not only eager expats but waves of Chinese job hunters from deep within the mainland. Consequently, the cities are increasingly becoming sprawling metropolises packed with rural populations.
While this can make for surprising diversity and a hot pot mix of Chinese cultures, drawbacks of rapid growth (such as pollution and uninspired building developments) can define large parts of the cities. Yet amid the rapid development, expats can experience a Chinese way of life still centred around familiar values and traditional family structures.
Whether moving to China for business opportunity or for novelty, the new culture and settling cities can make unexpected difficulties for newly adjusting expats. Huge and jostling crowds, bureaucracy and tensions of a new culture weigh against luxuries of higher than average incomes and active expat communities. The complex layers of China's cities provide expats and Chinese alike a colourful culture and new way of life.
Shipping and removals
When shipping to China it is advisable to get quotes from several companies. Shipping from the UK takes around seven weeks, and about four to five weeks from the US. Air freight is a popular and much faster way to ship smaller cargo although prices for equivalent sizes are much more expensive than by sea. Sea cargo is charged by the size of the container and can vary from company to company. Air freight on the other hand is often billed by weight. It is a good idea to buy insurance on shipped cargo. China levies various taxes depending on the type of imported goods.
Bringing pets to China
Two certificates are needed to bring pets into China. An international health certificate must be given to the pet's owner by a veterinarian within thirty days before the pets are imported. A vaccination certificate is also needed but may be included in the international health certificate. This ensures all vaccinations are covered and up to date. There is a 30-day quarantine period after arrival although the pet may be allowed to spend this time in the owner's residence.
Public holidays
| Public Holidays: |
2011 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|
| Republic of China Memorial Day | 1 Jan | 1 Jan |
| Chinese New Year | 2-4 Feb | 22-24 Feb |
| Peace Memorial Day | 28 Feb | 28 Feb |
| Tomb-Sweeping Day | 5 Apr | 4 Apr |
| Worker’s Day | 1 May | 1 May |
| Dragon Boat Festival | 6 Jun | 23 Jun |
| Moon Festival | 12 Sept | 30 Sept |
| Founder Day of the Republic of China | 1-3 Oct | 1-3 Oct |
This content is provided by www.expatarrivals.com, copyright © 2011 Globe Media Ltd. All rights reserved. By its very nature much of the information in this expat guide is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities.
Neither Globe Media nor Bupa International can be held liable for any errors or omissions, or any loss, damage, illness and/or injury that may occur as a result of this information.
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