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9. Moving to China

China at a Glance

Moving to China

With over 1.3 billion citizens, China is the world's most populous country.

When the People’s Republic of China pursued a politics of isolation in the Maoist era, after 1949, moving to China was virtually impossible. However, in the early 1970s, the nation started moving out of its self-imposed isolation, taking a seat in the UN. After Mao’s death in 1976, the country was moving towards a policy of economic, albeit not necessarily political, liberalization: Foreigners – investors, businesspeople, English teachers – started moving to China again.

Moving to China: Current Economic Climate

Now that the Chinese constitution officially protects private property and the nation has become a WTO member, more and more foreign companies and employees are planning to move to China, the country of superlatives.

Even before moving to China, everybody may dimly remember from geography lessons at school that it is among the five biggest countries in the world and the most populous one, too. Readers of business magazines and investors moving to China are very aware of the country’s status as the “workshop of the world”, the global export champion, and, in 2010, the second biggest economy. No wonder that so many businesses, managers, and highly qualified staff plan on moving to China.

Expatriates moving to China witness its current economic boom firsthand. The nation’s economic growth and social change are also reflected in political developments: The Communist Party is adopting a business-friendly attitude, oriented towards the middle classes rather than the ideological ideal of “workers and peasants”. Today, moving to China is not a distant dream, but a sudden reality for many people. The country’s image abroad remains, however, an ambiguous one.

Move to China: Political Situation

Politically speaking, the People’s Republic is an authoritarian one-party state. Expats moving to China may be aware of the criticism by human rights organizations, which regularly point out issues such as inadequate freedom of expression, judicial malpractice, or mistreatment of prisoners.

But this is one side of the country that expats will probably never see. Other problems of this booming nation will only become visible if you leave the hotspots on the coast where most foreigners moving to China end up. Moving to China’s provincial towns, you might notice the comparative rural poverty in contrast to the prospering urban middle classes.

Moving to China: A Unique Opportunity

Nonetheless, if you have the opportunity, don’t think twice about moving to China. Despite the often critical image in Western media, many expats don’t regret their move to China. Quite the opposite, indeed. If you have the soft skills to cope with culture shock and the language barrier, your move to China will be an occasionally frustrating, but eventually rewarding venture.

Most expatriates find that the locals they meet after moving to China are friendly and welcoming hosts. On a personal rather than a political level, they wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity of moving to China.

Move to China: Expat Job Market

Foreign experts with certain “hard skills” are sought after by international companies with production plants or branch offices on the Chinese mainland. Coveted skills include IT, manufacturing, engineering as well as production, project and quality management. If you aren’t sent to China on a traditional expat assignment with a contract from your employer, these are the assets that may help you land a job in the “Middle Kingdom”.