- David Thyne
At the first Shanghai Get-Together I met several American expats. I am very grateful that they shared their experience with me.
Living in Xiamen
Expats relocating to this major city in southeast China will find it to be a dynamic, bustling metropolis, exuding confidence and energy, which is typical of a number of cities in China as the country’s economy continues to expand. Known as ‘Amoy’, Xiamen has a population of just over 3.5 million and was one of only four cities given special economic zone status in the early 1980s to attract foreign investment. Since then, Xiamen has won a number of other plaudits for its leisure facilities and general quality of life. Xiamen has been a key strategic port for hundreds of years and a gateway to China – the city’s name reflects this and means ‘door to the house’. The InterNations community is a good source for more information for expats living in Xiamen and the forums or content section has plenty of tips and advice, not only from fellow expatriates, about living and working abroad.
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Moving to Xiamen
Expatriates moving to Xiamen will find the city modern with excellent facilities and infrastructure. The city is served by Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, which is only a twenty minute taxi ride from downtown. There are flights to every part of China from here, as well as international connections. Getting about is easy and there’s plenty of choice: buses, inexpensive taxis and even a ferry service. Xiamen has a monsoon, subtropical climate, so the summers are hot and humid and the winters mild. Records show that snow last fell here in 1893. There are plenty of modern shopping malls in Xiamen within which are all the familiar, international faces but there is an abundance of local shops to choose from as well. The Zhongshan Road, for example, meanders through the city’s historical part, which is pedestrianized and where there are many types of stores. Try some local dishes while strolling about, especially the famous fish ball soup found in nearby LongTou Lane. And for more information, simply sign up on InterNations and start chatting with other members about moving to Xiamen – it’s a great way to network with fellow expats living in Xiamen, China, and across the globe.
Working in Xiamen
Xiamen is a vibrant, affluent city with a flourishing economy. In recent years, foreign investment has continued to pour in and the local economy is diverse and highly developed. Financial services and telecommunications, chemical industries, food processing, manufacturing and textiles all have a strong presence in Xiamen. Consequently, there is also an ever-growing expatriate community in Xiamen and newly arrived expats can use InterNations to get in touch with these global minds in Xiamen. Away from work, Xiamen has a wide range of leisure options. Kite surfing is very popular here and Xiamen hosts national and international competitions. The clear water and wide beaches makes the area ideal for watching or trying it out for yourself. There is even a kite-surfing school which has English speaking instructors. For more information on what to see and do during your stay in Xiamen, get in touch with other expatriates through the InterNations expat community and gain from their experience of living and working in China.
- David Thyne
At the first Shanghai Get-Together I met several American expats. I am very grateful that they shared their experience with me.
- Diana Anhaus-Brey
It is just so easy to find other international people and global minds with InterNations. I didn´t know there were so many in Shanghai.
