I am an American and I live in China.

I would do it again in a HEARTBEAT.

This is my sincere and accurate answer directed at someone who might be considering a move out of the United States (for whatever reason), and may consider China to be a destination to consider. If you fit in this profile, then this answer should give you an idea of what to expect.

Every place has pros and cons.

It’s up to you to determine which cons are worth accepting and which pros are important to you. It doesn’t matter what nation you are considering. It really doesn’t.

Now, China is (in many ways) the absolute OPPOSITE of the United States. And because of that, many things about China is shocking to Americans. Distasteful even.

So, I am sorry that the “cons” section is so large, but from an American point of view some things need to be said and (perhaps) elaborated on. So it’s almost twice as long as the “pros” section. Sorry about that. China is a BIG country, so this answer is gonna be big as well. LOL.

We will start with the “pros” of living in China…

Here’s the Pros…

• You will live longer. Much longer, and you won’t be fat either.
• China is space-age. There are way too many things that are in China that aren’t even on the “radar screens” back home. Like real (honest to goodness) robot patrols, drone monitoring, and QR parking.
• High Speed Trains are amazing. You will never want to fly again.
• Breakfasts are commonly under $1 USD. And you will be completely full.
• You will eat better. Much better. You will eat much more seafood, delicious pork, and all sorts of healthy fruits and vegetables.
• China is seriously pet-friendly. The Chinese treat their pets like little children. It’s insane, and cute at the same time. The most common pets are dogs and cats, just like in the ‘States. But there are other pets as well. The third most common seems to be rabbits, where back in PA it was ferrets.
• You can make U-turns.
• A steak will be just a little bit more expensive than a hamburger “value” meal. So you will be eating more steaks than hamburgers. Additionally, very little processed or canned food will be consumed. Everything is fresh.
• There is very little in the way of canned foodstuffs. There’s an enormous frozen section, and all sorts of spices and pickled items, but actual canned food items really don’t exist.
• There is an enormous variety of food items to choose from. Far greater than anything in the ‘States. The USA had, what, five different flavors of potato chips. In China the number is in the thousands. Lays is the biggest foreign-owned potato chip manufacturer that serves the Chinese market. My favorite flavors are starfruit and orange, roast duck with pickled egg, and “American style”. LOL
• All of the public areas are super clean. Old or new, it doesn’t matter.
• Restrooms are everywhere and none of them charge for use.
• All public buses and transport are electric. Means that they are quiet and do not billow out pollution.
• There is zero unemployment. And the crazies are nurtured in their communities. Everyone is provided a job (if they don’t have one) and they are the responsibility of community.
• Homeless, vagrants, beggars are collected when they are reported, taken to the local police who identifies them. They are then provided with health care, food, a bunk and a trip back to their community with friends and family.
• EV charging stations are plentiful.
• Ride-share bikes are cheap, fun, and come with bicycle “superhighways” where you ride under large shady trees, and off the roads.
• The idea of “sex” is not the same as in the West. It’s far more relaxed and natural, if that makes any sense. It isn’t broadcast 24–7 on media, billboards, television commercials and shows. It’s not a big deal.
• That being said, the chances are that you will have more sex than what you would get back home. Because it’s not a goal. It’s an element of life.
• The girls that you have relationships with will be very pretty. Not tattoos, piercings, foul tobacco chewing skanks. they will be real beauties.
• Speaking of Chinese girls, they do have curves. They are not the thin, helpless, mindless waifs that is the common belief that seems to exist in the United States. Sure many are thin. But they are low BMI. Not emaciated. You would be surprised of the chest sizes on some of these chicks. Lordy!
• And, while I am at it, Chinese women are tough. I mean tough as nails tough. They will manage a home, work two jobs, raise three kids all while carrying bricks on their shoulders for some extra money.
• Chinese women are traditional. Meaning being a 1950’s era housewife is considered to be the ideal to achieve. Stay home. Take care of kids, budget and manage finances while the man works and brings home the money.
• During rainy season you will adapt to tropical attire and carry an umbrella. So it will be common to see office folk wearing shorts and flip-flops in the office.
• Men are studious, hard-working and very traditional. Just like the ladies are.
• You will be expected to drink hard alcohol, and you will enjoy it immensely. Especially Maotai.
• No one tips. No one will accept tips either.
• There’s no April tax reports to fill out. Never do you have to report any income to the government. Nor do you have or need to hire an accountant, buy the latest version of “TurboTax” or go to H&R Block for tax advice.
• You will be able to smoke cigarettes everywhere for the most part. From your office at work, to the bathroom, to inside the car. Everywhere. Office desks come with a glass ash tray, and all the manager’s offices have huge crystal ashtrays for you use, as do the bathrooms.
• And the cigarettes will be cheap. The cheapest ones are less than $1 USD a pack. Though that can darn near kill you. However, the “good stuff” isn’t that expensive. Generally you can expect to pay $1.50 USD for a Chinese equivalent of Camel. But the most expensive cigarettes can get pricey.
• You will have lifetime, real, friendships. If you need help, money or support, they will drop everything and come to you in a heartbeat.
• Free dancing every morning and every evening in the local public areas. They are called “dancing grandmothers”, but everyone of all ages participate. Even I get down and boogie from time to time.
• China is 100% cashless. You scan QR codes to buy or do anything.
• You will NEVER starve. China is a nation that love to share food.
• Car blocking you? No problem. Scan the plate and instantly your phone will call the number of the car owner / driver.
• WeChat everything!
• You will be able to save money. Lots of money. Unlike the USA, there aren’t millions of tiny hands in your wallet.
• Medical care is very cheap, and easy to get. Local clinics are everywhere, and your medical history is transported no matter where you go.
• You won’t need a doctors prescription for most medicines. This includes Viagra, codeine based headache medicines and antibiotics.
• If you work in China as an American foreigner, the chances are that you will be paid less than what you would make in the United States for the same role and position, however you would actually be living an upper-middle class life and lifestyle because the cost of living is so cheap.
• You will be able to buy nice new top-line cars. Whether it’s a luxury brand of a cutting edge EV, you will probably end up with multiple cars.
• Chicken breast is considered to be the most undesirable part of the chicken, so Chicken breast meat at the grocery store is amazingly cheap. It also doesn’t have hormones or hormone injections or fed GMO feed. It’s healthy.
• You will be accepted by the Chinese and friendships will form easily. Which differs substantially from that of the Japanese.
• When hired you will have a contract. You will NEVER be laid off, or fired without notice such as what is common in the USA. If you merit a firing, it becomes a law case and a judge will determine what will happen. Typical contracts are two to three years. During the time that you work you will never worry about layoff because of some “downturn” in the news.
• All businesses are required to provide meals and housings for their employees, or the equivalent (regional norms) in compensation to you. Typically, single people will share an apartment with another person, but if married the company will give you one for your family alone.
• All business will (by law) provide you a yearly round-trip plane ticket to visit your family. So if you are a foreigner, this is an international trip. If you are Chinese, this ticket is negotiated within your contract.
• You will get a yearly bonus, and it is typically one to two months salary. The bonus is calculated in your annual salary, and comes “off the top”. It will be given during the final CNY party, and there might be other incentive bonuses placed on top of it.
• You will be able to buy nice homes. A bunch actually. And they all will appreciate in value. My Nanshan house in Shenzhen cost me $ 40,000 USD. Today, it’s worth $ 9 million USD. But, you know, I was just lucky. Most everyone else has their homes value in the 2 to 6 million dollar range.
• You will be able to breathe nice fresh air, and experience beauty. China has so much to explore in so many different venues.
• You will be able to fish, and you won’t need permits to do so. Anywhere. Anyhow, and at any time.
• Chinese medicine is cheap but tastes like shit. Yuck!
• The Chinese diet is heavy on seafood, chicken and pork. They also have a far, far variety of vegetables and fruits here. Everything from bitter melon to yiche. These things add a very unique taste to food. Like the wonderful pudding of Duran fruit.
• You will never be lonely. There’s people everywhere, and they really love to talk to Americans.
• The police will leave you alone. As long as you obey the law they will be respectful and helpful to you.
• Massages are cheap, plentiful and everywhere. A foot massage might cost you $3 USD and it’s a relaxing spell while you watch the game on television.
• Speaking of massages; “Happy Endings” for both women and men are perfectly legal in China. It’s considered a form of physical relaxation. Crazy huh?
• A meeting will (typically) not be held western-style with a conference room, instead it will be more intimate with a tea table and you will discuss things over tea and cigarettes.
• And the government is merit based. You won’t get indigestion every time the appear on television.
• All the gizmos and gadget are new, and cheap and won’t be available in the ‘States for a couple of years. Such as the Huawei phone that doesn’t need cell phone towers, and the wrist holographic phone. As well as all the facial recognition scanners in homes these days.
• You WILL fall in love. The girls are precious treasures.
• You won’t need to buy a bicycle, ride share is common and super cheap.

Here’s the Cons…

• The Chinese democracy is very different from the American “democracy”. The Chinese don’t talk or understand “freedom”. Instead they understand “family.” If you try to be too independent, it might get you into trouble.
• You are forever a GUEST in someone else’s land. Accept that fact.
• You never wear outside shoes in someone else’s home. It’s considered downright boorish.
• No one knows what Rights are. And when you try to explain to them the American bill of rights, they will think that you are an idealist, and not a pragmatist. Their argument is “what does it matter” when you have the “freedom to speak, but risk social banning if you speak things that are to be unspoken.
• Like it or not, the actions of the American leadership will fall on your shoulders. If the president is popular like Obama was, you would be viewed with favor. If he’s unpopular (in China) you would be viewed as supporting his actions. It’s of course, not true, but it’s a reality that you will need to deal with.
• Many American habits are considered to be “filthy” and you will need to change. Such as eating a hamburger with your hands, eating french fries with your fingers, and eating an apple by taking a bite from it. The Chinese cut things up and use chopsticks. Including with pizza. Or you will be given these thin plastic gloves to wear.
• Local pizza restaurants do not know how to make pizza. They make something else, but it’s certainly not pizza.
• Cheese will be imported and it tends to be expensive.
• Beer is stronger in alcohol content than what is available in the ‘States. That means, that if you are not prepared, you will get drunk much faster than you would expect.
• If you have tattoos you could be banned from exposing them. This would be at work and in all public places, from swimming pools to malls.
• As a foreigner, you can never obtain citizenship unless you have Chinese blood in your veins.
• To enter China you will have your full biometics added to the database, and from that moment on, you will be 100% tracked by AI. You will be left alone, but if there is an emergency, your phone will light up and the police will come and pick you up within minutes.
• The police, baoans and local party will all know you by name. Even if you never met them before.
• You will not be able to do any kind of illegal drugs. None. Zero and you will not be able to get out of any mess that you get yourself into.
• Typical drug sentence is death plus three. Means that you do hard labor for three years while you are being organ harvested, and then you are killed. The good news of this gruesome policy is that the government will get you high on medicine to chill you out, and then allow you to dress in your best clothes and you will get a happy-value meal from McDonalds. Then they put a board listing your crime around your neck and shot you with a bullet to the head. Your family will be billed for the cost of the ritual.
• You will not be able to own or shoot guns. But if you want to shoot guns, you can visit Thailand. It’s only a three hour flight out of China.
• It will take a while to get used to squatting toilets. But once you master it, you will be fine. It’s just those first couple of dumps that’s gonna be a problem.
• You will need to carry around these tiny tissues with you. Toilets do not have toilet paper for you to use.
• You will NEVER be able to uncouple yourself from the United States. Even if you renounce your citizenship, you will always and forever be “the American”.
• The Chinese do not debone fish. You will be expected to eat the fish and then spit out the bones.
• You will probably stop carrying a wallet.
• You will probably start carrying a satchel or a backpack.
• Your house will be much smaller than one in the ‘States. But it will be made out of stone, not drywall on metal frame. You will probably use an elevator to get to it.
• American holidays do not exist.
• China is in many ways simple, but it can get complex very quickly.
• Chewing tobacco (“chew”) doesn’t exist, but you can chew on a betal nut instead. The problem with this is that it will stain your teeth a big bright red color.
• You will work on Christmas and Christmas Eve.
• Good luck finding a turkey to eat. You will need to go to a specialty store to get one.
• If you are a big man you will have trouble finding clothes. I have big feet and that limits my access to shoes. (Sigh)
• You will not be able to watch or view porn. Instead, you will be forced (out of necessity) to participate in real sex with real people. Not be a voyeur spectator.
• At your job, you will be expected to give your best and “up your game” if you slack off. China is a merit based society. You ether do your best or leave.
• Violations of law can be very harsh. Death and torture harsh.
• You will need to comply with covid restrictions. It’s a real thing. Don’t even think about flaunting the rules, or going borderline. You comply or leave.
• American Christmas music will be played all year around, and the Christmas decorations stay up all year as well.
• Chinese homes are much smaller than American homes, but they do tend to have amazing views.
• I’ve been living in China for over 20 years now, and still I am having a difficult time with the tones, and the idioms. I have met expats who pick up the language quickly, then there’s other older folks like myself that have a rough go at it.
• Cheese-Its and other American snacks such as Doritos, and goldfish, and Wise potato-chips will be expensive. Many approaching the cost of a T-bone steak. So you will find yourself not eating these snacks often.
• Coffee makers are rare. Outside of a coffeehouse, you will adapt to using instant coffee.
• Starbucks coffee in China is surprisingly more expensive than what it is sold for in the USA!
• You will STILL need to pay American taxes on top of any Chinese taxes that you must pay.
• McDonald’s menu will not resemble the menus you have in the ‘States.
• There’s no White Castle, Bojangles, Ground Round, Waffle House, or other well-known American fast food franchises.
• You will be called a “traitor”, and a liar, and all sort of bad things when you talk about your life. No one (from the ‘States) will believe you. So you will, over time, distance yourself from them.
• Your passport will be your ID, and so it will get frayed and worn.
• You had best memorize your passport ID as you will use it a lot to get set up on the various apps and all the rest. No one uses social security number.
• As a foreigner, you will need to update your residency papers with the local police, and comply with reporting requirements.
• You will not be able to ride the riding mower while you listen to music and drink a beer.

Now, there are all sorts of people out there reading this. And I want to make myself very clear in this. Our decisions to move, stay, visit or leave a place are made for personal reasons.

My reasons were personal. I fell in love, and stayed and made a life. I cannot imagine a life without my Chinese family, my Chinese friends or eating delicious Chinese food.

But I am NOT average.

Certainly there are people who left China ten years ago and that say “good riddance!” while they live in places like Cleveland, York, Syracuse, or Erie. For them, they have made a good life.

For them, they made the right decision. For them they are happy.

They are paying on a house mortgage, and driving a leased car, and working as an employee and paying a big portion of their earnings to the government. They love their McMansions, the hamburgers, and weekend mowing-the-grass lifestyle.

But not me.

You cannot say that what is important for one person will be important for everyone. I love China. And that’s just fine with me. You see, what is important to me is very personal.

For instance, I like being able to smoke where I want, what I want and when I want to do it. I don’t want to be directed to go outside of a restaurant to smoke in the rain near a loud busy road. I like to eat in a nice fancy restaurant and put our dog in a chair with us, eat a fine steak with a glass or wine and smoke casually and easily.

I also like the trees planted everywhere. China has this “thing” about trees. Flowers and trees are everywhere. I believe that it keeps the temperature low on the sidewalks so that you want to walk. In the USA, trees are considered to be a nuisance… something that fall on your car, and leaves that you have to rake up in the fall.

What I like will not be perfect for everyone.

I like the ability for average families to set up storefronts and sell things. I like the idea that you can do this anywhere and get a side income in, as well as being your own boss… plus not “putting all your eggs in one basket” constantly at the mercy of your corporate boss. I like that real freedom…

I like how people are (for the most part) happy. I like how they are helpful. I like how they are cheerful and welcoming and open to talk with you. I like the calm, relaxed, healthy and good life that China offers…

I like the pace of life. Whether it is in the (so called) “Ghost City” where I live. (Which, by the way is filling up nicely. Don’t you know.) Or in the big mega-cities that are everywhere in China.

Here’s my “Ghost city”… perhaps you heard about it. It’s supposed to be representative of the terrible mistakes that China has made in their economic model. I don’t know anything about that. Everyone here is happy. Everyone here thinks the world of the Chinese government.

Happiness is a big deal inside of China.

The only ones pissed off and angry, seems to be Americans. Gosh, you would think that I am the devil himself by showing what China is like… what it is REALLY like… and why I like it so. So much spewed hatred. Honest to goodness, the spitting, sour hatred out of many Americans just rattles me. What the heck are youse guys eating? Lard Sandwiches, or what?

I’ll tell you what; that hatred will kill you early.

Be happy. Don’t be hateful. You’ll live longer. Don’t you know.

China has life. It’s active, alive and dynamic. There’s always something going on. I like that. I never had that in the United States.

China is active and dynamic. Always something going on. Yet, it’s not that rush-rush-rush feeling that you might get from a Hollywood action adventure movie. It’s a really relaxed feeling. Like playing golf on a beautiful day, like going fishing on a slow calm late Summer day, or just riding your bicycle in the fall and listening to the leaves crackle under your wheels. Yeah I like that.

I like the feeling of calm and nature.

I love the food. Oh lordy there is is so much food to choose from. And my goodness is it delicious!

And I love the girls…

And finally, let it be well understood that I live in the poorer “blue collar” worker section of China. I do not live in a big upscale wealthy section of China. I’m solidly in the lower-middle class economic strata.

I live in Southern Zhongshan on the Zhuhai border. It’s very lower-middle class. And the life that I praise is comfortable, but not lavish.

Average Family incomes (husband and wife both working) are between 4000 RMB and 12,000 RMB). This is roughly $300 USD to $2000 USD a month. But when the total cost of living is under $200, everyone can get by quite well.

Yah. Simple. But good enough for me.

And my social security check. LOL.

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Today…