How To Live & Work In China As A Foreigner

A formidable world power, China is a hot destination for expats looking for job vacancies abroad. As the world’s second-largest economy, work opportunities in China are booming but also competitive. 

A vast, diverse country, China has a lot to offer in terms of landscapes, cuisine, history and culture. It’s a futuristic, welcoming country which is very safe for foreigners.

Many expats may be nervous to live and work in China. Yes, culture shock is a thing and should not be underestimated when moving to a country like China which is probably quite different to your own, but don’t let this put you off. 

Read more: How To Deal With Culture Shock: My Story

China is fascinating from corner to corner, in every sense of the word.

Why TEFL is best for China job opportunities

Teaching English in China is a great option for jobs in China for foreigners. English teachers are in high demand as the lure of speaking English has spread across the country. Teaching jobs in China can be found in kindergarten, state schools, private schools, universities and privately. 

Teachers in China can earn between ¥9,000 and ¥35,000 ($1,200 and $4,800) a month. Many long-term teaching positions in China offer accommodation or a housing allowance as part of your teaching package. If you’re coming to work in China from abroad, this may include flights as well. 

Your employer will help you navigate the red tape to make sure you enter the country on the correct visa.

Read more: Teach English In China

Requirements to work abroad in China

To teach in China you need a Z Visa. This is a work visa which can only be applied for by an employer. Because of this, you need to secure a job before entering China, or be transferred from one branch of your company to an equivalent office in China.

The best cities to live in China

The majority of expats in China live in the capital Beijing. This is because most job openings in China are found here. Shanghai, as the financial and commercial centre of the country, is also home to many expats.

Both Beijing and Shanghai are sprawling metropolises. Shanghai is actually more expensive than Beijing but only slightly. The average monthly rent for a 3-bedroom apartment in the city centre, for example, is roughly $2,88 in Shanghai while $2,600 in Beijing.

Jobs in China in technology, politics and finance can be found mostly in these two big cities, as well as Shenzhen and Guangzhou in the south.

Besides the big cities, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Xi’an, and Nanjing are Tier 2 cities which are popular destinations for English teachers. 

Do you need to speak Chinese to work in China?

It’s highly desirable to speak Mandarin Chinese if you want to work in China. While English is widely spoken in Hong Kong, the situation is quite different on mainland China. 

Two exceptions to this are if you are teaching English or working in an international company which uses English as a language of business.

Read more: How Can I Teach English Abroad Without Speaking The Local Language?

English-speaking jobs are mostly found in the commercial and industrial centres of Beijing and Shanghai. Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shenzhen are also the Asian home to many multinational companies.

Salaries, benefits and cost of living in China

Employees cannot work for more than 44 hours a week on average. Overtime is capped at three hours a day or 36 hours a month.

Holidays are between 5 and 15 days a year, depending on your employer and the length of your employment in China – plus seven public holidays. Bear in mind that Western holidays like Christmas are not celebrated so you can’t assume you’ll be given holidays at the usual times.

The cost of living in China varies quite dramatically from region to region. As you can imagine, the big cities like Beijing and Shanghai have a much higher cost of living than smaller cities like Xi’an. On the whole, China is more affordable than Western countries to live in.

Chinese cities are categorised into three tiers. Tier 1 cities are the biggest and generally most expensive to live in, Tier 2 cities are more affordable and Tier 3 cities are the cheapest. When deciding where to live in China have a look at the classification of the city to give you a better idea of the cost of living there.

What types of jobs are popular in China?

Big industries in China include engineering, finance, information technology, banking, recruitment and renewable energy. This means that there are work opportunities in China for engineers, analysts, digital marketers, bankers and wealth managers, AI professionals and UX designers. 

English teacher

Teaching jobs in China are widespread. Teachers can find work in all the major cities of China, as well as the more remote, smaller towns and villages. Teaching English in China is a good option for career opportunities in teaching. 

To teach English in China you need a TEFL qualification. A degree is not required for visa purposes but may be preferred by employers. Generally speaking, native speakers are preferred. 

If you’re looking for short-term seasonal work in China, it’s possible to teach English in summer camps. 

Technology and finance

Technology and finance jobs are available in the bigger cities of China, but a decent knowledge of Mandarin is needed if you’ll be working for a Chinese company.

Digital nomad

China doesn’t offer a digital nomad visa per se, but it’s possible to do remote work while in the country. Most digital nomads apply for an L Visa, which is a tourist visa.

If you choose the right spot in China, it can be a digital nomad’s dream. Some cities have a very laid-back lifestyle with affordable living while at the same time offering good internet connectivity and plentiful co-working spaces. 

Anji in the Zhejiang Province, and Dali in the Yunnan Province, are hotspots for digital nomads and remote workers in China.

One concern for digital nomads in China is the strict regulations and restrictions for internet usage. Internet usage is monitored and heavily censored by the Chinese government. Some websites are inaccessible from within China. If these restrictions are going to be problematic for your work you’ll need to use a Virtual Private Network, but this may have legal implications.

Ready to work abroad in China?

So, ready to put your chopsticks skills into action? Well then it’s time to find a job in China.