- 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 Wenzhou
Wenzhou's name literally means “a mild and pleasant land”, a name well deserved, thanks to its mild winters and long hot summers that are kept cooler, when compared to China’s inland areas, by sea breezes. The city boasts over two hundred miles of coastline and is famed for its scenery. One top attraction is the Baizhangji Waterfall scenic area where there is a magnificent waterfall which divides into three sections, and the whole area is abundant with beautiful lakes and mountains. The city’s nickname is the “Alunite Capital of the World”, named after the mineral that is found nearby, but expats living in Wenzhou will be able to discover far more in this city than just mining. Yandang Mountain is one of China’s top ten must-see mountains, full of caves and temples, and believed to be one of the last habitats of the South China tiger which may now, sadly, be extinct. Expatriates in Wenzhou can discuss topics like this and more with fellow expats on the InterNations’ forums and discussion boards. Use our platform to network with fellow expatriate members from around, or simply take the chance to socialize and maybe even organize an excursion or two with fellow global minds in the city.
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Moving to Wenzhou
The scenic mountains made connecting the city to the rest of China difficult, and the ensuing isolation has led to an original culture and dialect that is not typically Chinese. Wenzhounese are accustomed to dealing with expatriates of all nations and any expat moving to Wenzhou will be surrounded by others who have similarly relocated to Wenzhou for job opportunities. This is also evidenced by the proliferation of downtown restaurants that offer Western choices such as Italian, Indian, and Middle Eastern cuisine. However, while expats in Wenzhou might not have any trouble getting in touch with fellow expatriates in the city, InterNations can nevertheless be a great platform for expats to find out more information and get advice from others about relocation and traveling to the area. The local housing market has been difficult in the past, but the boom is over and prices have settled back down to reasonable levels. Your company will probably put you in touch with a specialist relocation firm who will help you find suitable accommodation when moving to Wenzhou.
Working in Wenzhou
Wenzhou has its own airport which serves domestic flights, as well as Hong Kong and Macao. The city furthermore has a direct railway line to Jinhua in the northwest, and two China Railway High-speed lines, one going north to Hangzhou, and the other south to Xiamen. This is impressive, considering there was no railway at all to the area until 1998. Due to Wenzhou’s geographic isolation from the rest of China, it has grown up with a far clearer vision of its global surroundings than the rest of the country has, maintaining a more capitalist-centered economy. This experience has served it well as China has opened her trading doors to the world, and Wenzhounese have embraced new opportunities enthusiastically. Unlike some parts of China that are dominated by a particular type of industry, Wenzhou’s well-established economy means that expatriates hoping to start working in Wenzhou may find opportunities in a wide range of strong businesses here.
- 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.
