- 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 Hefei
Previously called "Luzhou" because it was under the governance of the prefecture of that name at the time of the Ming and Qing dynasties, Hefei is now the capital of Anhui Province in Eastern China. Situated between the Huaihe and Yangtze rivers, the present city dates back to the Song Dynasty and has long been a center for trade in the region. Today, Hefei is a busy industrial city which boasts a number of well-respected educational establishments, such as The University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui Medical University and Anhui Agricultural University. The opportunities afforded by industrial development and the academic establishments have attracted a sizeable expatriate community to Hefei. It is not just expats, however, that are drawn to living in Hefei. A constant influx of Chinese workers looking for opportunities in the city means that the average wage and costs are kept fairly low. A consequence of this is that expatriates on an international wage will find Hefei an affordable place to live in.
Moving to Hefei
Expatriates planning a move to Hefei will no doubt already have done some research on the city and perhaps be book-smart on its history and current development trends. You may even have a list of places you’d like to see and experience whilst you are there - a trip to the Memorial Temple of Lord Bao and a day spent soaking up the scenic calm of the Shushan Mountain Forest Park are a must if they aren’t already on the list. However, there are questions and concerns that cannot always be answered by traditional research methods and it is here that the InterNations global community may be able to help. If you are an expat moving to Hefei, an InterNations membership can put you in touch with an online community of like-minded individuals whose informative posts and insightful anecdotes about expat life may be able to answer these questions for you. Join InterNations, and you quickly will feel like part of a global network and less like an intrepid explorer heading to a foreign land!
Working in Hefei
Expats working in Hefei are employed in a range of sectors; from teaching to electronics, technology to the textile industry. In 2012, The Economist recognized Hefei as the world’s fastest growing metropolitan economy, and expatriates in Hefei can justifiably feel that they are working in a city at the forefront of the Chinese economic boom. Working in a city that is experiencing such significant development can be exciting, but with plans for Hefei’s area to double in the coming decades, it is more valuable than ever to be a member of an online expat community. The city’s huge population and sprawling area of expansion means that it is unlikely that you will bump into expats on the street who will share your interests and enthusiasms. The InterNations online forums, private messaging system and numerous discussion groups can help you connect to not only other expats living in Hefei, but also to like-minded people from all over the world who share the same interests as you.
Join Our Exciting Events in Hefei
Attend our monthly events and activities for Hefei expatriates to get to know like-minded expatriates in real life.
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- 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.
