For almost every expat in China, there comes a day when we will return to our home countries. Don’t worry, I’m still here, but recently I’ve gotten around to thinking about what I’d miss about China when I eventually do leave. Surprisingly, there were more than a few things, and most of them had to do with convenience. Though there are some terrible things we have to put up with here on a daily basis, China makes up for them by making some aspects of our lives extremely convenient, much more so than in the West. For instance, there’s:
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Food literally right downstairs
China is densely populated, which makes each neighbourhood feel like a small albeit bustling community. Where there are apartment complexes, usually all you have to do is take the elevator downstairs (and maybe walk two minutes) to be surrounded by five to ten different restaurants or convenience stores. If I wanted food back home, I’d have to walk at least 10-15 minutes to find one (maybe two) restaurants, and it’s at least a few blocks to my nearest 7-11. At worst, I’d have to drive for grub.
In addition, the variety of food is usually enough that you could try a different restaurant every day for a week, or keep trying different items from the same restaurant. Sure, it’ll be mostly Chinese food, but there is a ton of variety within Chinese cuisine, with each region having its own distinct cooking style. Whether you like it mild, spicy, rich, or refreshing, Chinese food has got you covered.
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WeChat and Alipay
I said before that I never carry around my wallet in China anymore, and it’s because of two reasons: WeChat and Alipay.
WeChat and Alipay are the two giants of the Chinese mobile payment game. With these two apps, all I need to do is scan QR codes with my phone at shops, restaurants, movie theatres, and even in cabs, and in a few seconds (depending on my internet speed) my bill is paid and I’m on my way. No fiddling around with paper money or coins!
The scale of the mobile payment system in China puts the West to shame. In China, pretty much every place that does business, from the most upscale establishments to the dingiest shops lit by oil lamps, will have a WeChat or Alipay QR code for payment. Even beggars wear QR codes around their necks (I’m not even joking). They probably wouldn’t be making any money if they didn’t!
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Extensive public transportation networks
All major cities in China, and some mid-sized cities as well, have a metro system or at least a decent bus network. The metro systems here are all relatively new (compared to New York, London, or Paris) and are clean, safe, and reliable. What’s more, the metro systems in major cities are so extensive that you will almost always live within a 15-minute walk of one. Once you hop on a metro train, the city really is at your fingertips.
Public transportation is not only mega convenient, but also cheap. Back home in Vancouver, I usually pay 3 dollars each time I hop on the subway. I know that doesn’t sound like a lot but listen to this: I’ve never spent more than (the equivalent of) a dollar to ride the metro in any city in China, and I usually end up paying just 40 cents per trip! And if your city doesn’t have a metro system, the bus system is often just as good and even cheaper. If my home city ends up building a metro even half as good as the one in Shenzhen, I’d move back in a heartbeat.
The only gripe I have is that during rush hour, certain stations can be extremely, and I mean EXTREMELY crowded, to the point of having lineups on the stairs leading down to the platform. However, train service is more frequent, so you won’t need to wait too long to get on a train. I just hope you won’t mind possibly being pressed up against the window. I have more to say about this, but let’s save that for another post.
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Trains
Who likes taking planes, really? All those security and baggage checks, delays, turbulence… Wouldn’t it just be easier to take the train sometimes?
Well, China’s got it figured out. They’ve built the most extensive high-speed rail network in the world, and many people actually prefer it to taking planes. Why? It’s much less of a hassle: train stations have less security checks, less delays, less time before departure, and are usually a smooth ride all the way to your destination. Plus, they’re cheaper which is always nice.
Nowadays, you can take a high-speed train from Shenzhen (where I live) in the far south to Beijing in the north that takes only 9 hours (try taking it overnight!) Alternatively, you could take a 3-hour plane ride, but Chinese airports are notorious for delays (something I will NOT miss about China!) so your entire journey could be a few hours longer than you originally planned. Plus, you can enjoy views of the Chinese countryside from your passenger seat on the train, something you simply cannot do while 30,000 feet in the air.
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Travelling is super convenient
Living in Canada, if I wanted to go on a quick getaway to another country, my options were pretty much limited to one: the United States. Flying anywhere else might cost you an arm and a leg. Sometimes, you neither have the time nor the patience for travelling long distances.
Living in China is a different story. Being in the middle of Asia (China is known as the “Middle Kingdom” after all) you have a multitude of diverse countries within striking distance (bad joke, sorry). For example, if you have a three-day holiday, you could easily be in Japan in just a few hours, or Malaysia, or Singapore, or Thailand, or Vietnam, or…
You get the picture. China is the perfect jumping off point for exploring the rest of Asia, and flight tickets won’t break your bank. I once purchased roundtrip tickets from Hong Kong (just across the border from Shenzhen) to Singapore for a 3-day getaway in September for only 1,351 RMB (about 195 USD)! If you love to travel, China might be one of the best places to be living right now.
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Chinese food
Okay, so I won’t miss all Chinese food. However, Chinese food does not entirely consist of just chow mein and sweet and sour stuff. There are literally thousands of different types of dishes out there, and they can vary wildly by region. Where I live in Guangdong, food tends to be mild and light, whereas the food in Hunan, which is just north of Guangdong, is some of the spiciest in China.
Over my five years in China, I’ve come to love savoury dumplings from the northeast, spicy tofu from Sichuan, roast lamb buns from Xinjiang, and flavourful beef hot pot from eastern Guangdong. The problem is, when I eventually go back home, this stuff will become much harder to find!
Though there are expatriate Chinese communities around the world who open Chinese restaurants, I will no longer be able to walk down the block to my neighbourhood noodle house when I’m craving a plate of delicious Chinese Muslim noodles. I’m glad I get to enjoy that luxury while I’m still here, because I know I’ll be thinking about it all the time when I’m back home!
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Cost of living
This is oh so important to me, as I come from one of the most expensive cities in North America! I make what would be considered a modest salary back home, but because everything is cheaper in China compared to North America (except imported food) my money goes a lot further. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment will only be about 500 USD (less if you’re a cheapskate like me) and meals will usually cost me only about 5 dollars, including eating out. Even taking cabs is way more affordable.
Because the cost of living is so much cheaper here, I’m also able to save a whole lot more of my income. Back home, I would have to worry about forking over one thousand dollars per month or more on rent and having to pay for overpriced vegetables and fruit. Basically, I might be living paycheque to paycheque. However, since I’ve lived here, I’ve been on a saving spree, and I’m able to put away a good portion of my income while still living fairly comfortably.
I could probably list more things I’ll miss about China, but I’ll leave it at just 7 for now. After all, I’ve still got more time to spend in China. Who knows what new things I’ll begin to enjoy living here?
Nice post! It makes me want to live in China.