Living but not working in China?

[hanumanlangur]

I'm a university student in the U.S., and I'm tentatively planning on moving to China in a few years. I am close to having my degree in Computer Science, and I will need to work for a year or two, to save up enough money to live on, while I am there.

I'm not sure exactly where in China I would like to live, but certainly not in a bigger or more expensive city like Beijing, Shanghai, etc. I'd like to just live simply in an apartment, like a native Chinese guy, without extra things like a car, cable TV, western food and imports.... I'd be happy with clean clothes, a basic apartment, local food, and other such things. However, I would probably want an Internet connection. That's the one luxury I would have a hard time being totally separated from.

If I were to save up $20,000 or so, would I be able to live simply for 5-6 years? I'd like to spend the time away from work to read, meditate, and continue learning other things on my own. Basically, being a retired person for a few years in my mid-twenties.

P.S. I'm not really considering working there, with computers or anything like that, because I doubt there's any demand for that (given the number of Chinese students who get into technical fields).

[liuzhou]

And how are you going to get a visa and permission to stay? You can't just wander into another country and hang out for a few years meditating, you know.

[roddy]

Ignoring the visa issue.

If you converted your $20,000 today you'd get RMB136,000. That's three and a bit years of average salary in Beijing, and ten in Liuzhou where Liuzhou lives. Assuming you can live on the average wage.

[afriday11]

Yea, the visa could be a problem, but you could probably come and go around asia for many years with that kind of money. Also, you could consider enrolling in a local university to cover your VISA requirements (even if you didn't do much in terms of attending classes) and learn a bit of Chinese, or you could teach part time to cover your VISA/ living expenses and meditate part time.

I lived near Shanghai and thought that all of the cities on the maglev train line were nice; Suzhou, Wuxi, Nanjing, even Hangzhou was cool. And with a few years of experience in a western country you might find yourself in high demand in the CS field.

Good luck

[hanumanlangur]

Thanks, I guess the VISA issue is the big one I'll have to work out. Both university and teaching seem like they could be viable ways to get through that. I'll keep you the thread updated if I decide on anything or if I find some sort of opportunity.

[Sinealba]

Unless you'd rather not work because you want to have some time off, I think you could easily find a job in China: either working with computers, for a foreign or mixed capital company who'd need someone with a fluent / native level of English, or teaching of course.

I knew an American man who was very talented with computers and taught not only English but also programming (in English) - at a university in Beijing.

[JenniferW]

What level's your Chinese? How isolated are you going to be?

Being registered as a student, and actually attending a few classes, could be a way to build up some contacts wherever you base yourself. And it would solve the visa problem.

Also, being a student would be a role people would understand, and might help them to relate to you, and once they find out about your skills and qualifications, I'm sure offers of work would materialise.

I've lived in a big city and several fairly small towns, and like small towns everywhere, I found it much easier to get to know people in the smaller places, and I liked a lot about that sort of life. But it depends on what you're going to find you can cope without.

I assume you've travelled and visited several parts of China ..... if not, you should do that before landing yourself somewhere you hate because of its climate, for example.

[SuperGoose]

One thing you should take into account is a fluctuating exchange rate. Remember that the RMB is gradually rising against the US$ and is predicted to go up to 2.5 to the $ by some economists. Then again, some kind of tragic economic collapse could happen and the RMB could experience hyper inflation. You just don't know.

But to give you an idea, the USD has lost about 12% of its value over the last 2 years. If you're certain of your plans you might want to start converting your money asap.

[BrandeX]

I can't imagine the rmb being 2.5 to a dollar... man I'd actually become minorly wealthy, lol

[ABCinChina]

Hey guys, I've recently been told that foreigners can stay in China without working if they buy property here. Not sure if this is true or if there are any age restrictions. Someone told me that a foreigner in his 70's who doesn't speak any Chinese seems to have retired here.

[liuzhou]

I've recently been told that foreigners can stay in China without working if they buy property here

Highly unlikely.

[roddy]

Ownership of property might allow you longer term tourist visas, similar to the way being married does (insert 'expensive burden' joke here). Would depend on local / current visa policy I think.

[yangxiufen]

HI,

I am from SIngapore still working in Singapore. I do have plans to retire in Chengdu, China. when I retire.

As said "Retire" so will not be buying any house in the heart of the city maybe slightly outter rim of the city where transport in terms of taxi is still available

Buy a house with 2 bedroom and a hall to stay with my current chinese national girlfriend.

Language wise I have no issue. I do speak english, mandarain, cantonese and hokkien

looking forward to buy a house then is meant for foreigners as I want the house to be in my name

regards

[westmeadboy]

I would also like to do this - live in china but not work or study. Basically, I've got my own software project I'm working on (or trying to) and so I just need somewhere cheap to stay with hardly any distractions.

I tried this last year. Got a 3-month business visa but then couldnt extend it because of the Olympics. I then hopped around other countries (South Korea (expensive), Japan (very expensive but fun) and Nepal (cheap and lots of cafes to work in, but crap internet connections and power outages)). But all this moving around was no good for focussing on my project - always looking up flights/travel for next location and accommodation etc.

So I really want to just sit somewhere for, say, a year.

So, enrolling at a university might be a good idea? But how cheap can that be? What would happen if you don't go to the classes, or only some of them????

Thanks.

Edited February 7, 2009 at 09:21 AM by westmeadboy