15 Pros and Cons of Living and Working in China in 2023

Living in China is an incredible experience that isn’t for everyone. If you choose to work and live in China, it’ll change your life in ways you can’t possibly imagine.

Of course, there are many pros and cons of living in China. Some of them you can anticipate, and some will surely surprise you.

I’ve been living in China as a foreigner for more than three years now, and I’m still discovering new sides to this astonishingly diverse country.

15 Pros and Cons of Living and Working in China

In this article, I’ll talk about some of the pros and cons of living in China. I’m sure if you asked another expat in China, you’d get a different list. There’s much to uncover in this vast, fascinating land.

Pros of Living in China

Let’s start with the reasons why living in China is an interesting experience for foreigners.

1. Access to Amazing Places

The highlights of China are some of the world’s top tourist destinations. Many travelers dream about the Great Wall of China, the Terracotta Army in Xi’an, and world-class cities like Beijing and Shanghai.

Visiting these places barely scratches the surface of what China has to offer, and properly visiting them takes a minimum of several weeks. Add two long flights, and that’s more time than the average vacationer has to spare.

When living in China as a foreigner, however, you don’t have to squeeze the highlights into one long trip, but can sample them slowly, one at a time, like a big dinner with Chinese friends before a rotating table of steaming dishes.

And just in case you get tired of China (which is doubtful), right next door are countries such as Mongolia, Vietnam, Nepal, and several Stans, with dozens more within easy flying distance.

2. Job Opportunities

China’s economy is booming, which means countless job opportunities for foreigners. Sure, the hiring process is complicated and the visa process even more so, but once you get through them, you’ll find competitive salaries and lots of benefits.

The cost of living in China varies greatly depending on where you live, but in most cases, you should be able to save money while you work and live in China.

If you want to get an idea of what types of jobs are available, check out hiredchina.com and echinacities.com. Besides English teaching jobs in China, you’ll find opportunities for editing, copywriting, videogame…