Places to live in China. Retire here?

[shaun]

Willy, How long does it take to ride the ferry to Zhongshan and how much does it cost?

I'm thinking on my next trip I'll take the ferry to Guangzhou from the airport.  I;m sure the cost and time will be close to the same.

[Willy The Londoner]

Willy, How long does it take to ride the ferry to Zhongshan and how much does it cost?

I'm thinking on my next trip I'll take the ferry to Guangzhou from the airport.  I;m sure the cost and time will be close to the same.

So Shaun

I seem to have missed this one earlier this month.

There are no Ferries to Guangzhou from Hong Kong Airport.  Not even from anywhere in Hong Kong.

The Ferry from HK Airport to Zhongshan costs 260 rmb and there are are three a day.  The bus from Zhongshan to Guangzhou costs 48rmb.

There are so many planes arriving at Hong Kong that it is often cheaper to take that route and then take the Ferry to here and then the Bus.  If you need a bed for the night we have one here for you.

Willy

[shaun]

Thanks Willy.

[Pineau]

Really, Really Cheap housing in China.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3XfpYxHKCo

[fivetrout]

In Weihai where we have a place on the 26th floor over looking the sea...only 6 of the 12 projected high rises have been built. Very few people live there, and my wife Hong is uncomfortable with the lack of people for security reasons.

[Pineau]

I recall 12 years ago in Shenzhen it was much like this. There was construction everywhere, cranes on top of buildings, more bright shiny buildings than you could count. The trouble was that the were all empty! Security guards at the doors of empty lobby's.  That went on for years but now look at Shenzhen. Those building are full and they are tearing down old neighborhoods to make room for more high-rise housing. Its just taken 12 years time and that is one of China's biggest resources... time.

[Willy The Londoner]

When I came to Zhongshan over 5 years ago the place we bought was on the edge of the city and over that time the city has spread long beyond us. Everywhere I look there are tower cranes and new complexes. 

We have bought our second home a little bit further toward the edge of town and there are 20 more floors above the one we bought and all have been sold even though they look empty.  This is probably because it takes a long while after the outside is completed as it takes many months for the inside to be ready for occupation.  Before we found the one we bought we looked at many more complexes but most already sold out.

Everywhere I look there are more cranes appearing and more complexes under way and what was a city of 2.5 million people five years ago is getting bigger every day.

Situated between the more expensive cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai our lower home prices are attracting the newcomers.

Willy

[shaun]

It has been since 2014 since anyone has posted about retirement in China. Unfortunately Willie is no longer with us. (Great guy)  To the best of my knowledge no one is living in China.  So I am asking.  Is there anyone living in China that would talk about living in China.  I mean the good, the bad and the ugly.  Please include the legal issues too.

The idea crosses my mind from time to time.  My wife still wants for me to retire there.

Thanks

[Robertt S]

Shaun, the only person that I know that has visited China recently was JustJim, I believe he was in Harbin or that area for a month or so. It has been a long time since he has posted here but you might shoot him a pm and see what happens.

[mpo]

The idea crosses my mind from time to time.  My wife still wants for me to retire there.

Thanks

So I am ready to retire soon, and my wife has also suggested we retire there.
Along with a long list of other places. too many to list here, LOL

I am not against it, and open to exploring this ....

--Mike

[Robertt S]

Mike , you might look into Thailand, Vietnam , or the Philippines. I think you would feel more secure in those countries and still be just a short flight from mainland China!

[mpo]

Mike , you might look into Thailand, Vietnam , or the Philippines. I think you would feel more secure in those countries and still be just a short flight from mainland China!

GREAT IDEAS !

Thailand, and the Philippines, are OFF the list,
but
Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan are ON the list of possibilities.

I like the idea of Japan, with visits to China as an option .... but there is still time to figure it all out

--Mike

[Martin]

Vietnam seems to be a fairly popular spot lately...affordable housing, stable government, modern country. 

[Philip]

I've been living in Asia for 15 years (2 years in Hong Kong, 5 years in Chongqing, China, and now 8 years back in Hong Kong). Retiring at 65 in 3 years (have to at 65). Retirement in Hong Kong is too expensive without a good paying job, even though it is a great place to live and I have permanent residence. China has many advantages, it is affordable and there are so many workarounds if you understand the system to allow you to live a relatively free life. However my wife's home town has too many money-grabbing relatives who treat us like a walking bank when we visit. And we want our bi-lingual son (who will be 15 in 3 years) to continue his excellent Hong Kong education in the UK, going to a UK university (if he wants to) and the world will be his oyster. In the UK, I can also get a couple of pensions that will keep pace with inflation. So, bye-bye Asia. So long and thank for all the spice.

[Philip]

I realise I didn't really answer the question. From my experience, Guangdong is a pretty great place to retire. I have a soft spot for Hunan, as my wife is from there, the spicy food is great, the landscape is amazing, the climate is pretty good and it is only 3 hours high-speed train away from Hong Kong and Shenzhen. I would go for 2nd tier cities, like Changsha, Willy's beloved Zhongshan, or Zhuhai as the megacities are too expensive and too hectic and polluted (I think) for a good retirement life. If you are adventurous, you could strike out in far-flung places like Xinjiang (where my step-daughter works) or Yundong, which has that sub-tropical climate, or Sichuan/Chongqing with spice and natural wonders. For those places, you may need your Mandarin to be OK, unless your wife can handle all the talking.
Let me know if you want any more details about living in China or specifics about Hunan, Guangdong, Chongqing, Chengdu, or Shanghai as I know about those places. Visas, bureaucracy, bribery, food, shopping, accommodation, work, hospitals, driving, travel, natural and cultural sights, growing stuff, family politics, etc. Just ask, I may be able to help.