Moving to China: Information and advice on moving to China
The first thing to bear in mind when talking about China is that it is more like a continent than a country. It is the most populous country in the world, with more than 1.4 billion inhabitants and a very low percentage of immigration. It is the world's second largest economy and is characterised by a one-party state ruled by the Communist Party. China's civilisation is also one of the oldest in the world.
The country is divided into 22 provinces, five autonomous regions, four municipalities under central jurisdiction - and four municipalities under central jurisdiction.Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Chongqing. and two special administrative regions -Hong Kong and Macao. It also has a surface area of 9.6 million km², making it the third largest country in the world in terms of land area, after the United States. Russia and Canada.
Economy
Since the introduction of the economic reforms of 1978China has been the world's fastest growing economyChina's economy is based mainly on foreign trade. Currently, China's economy, in nominal terms, is the second largest in the world with a GDP of close to 17 trillion dollars. Together with the United States - the world's largest economy - it accounts for 421 trillion dollars of world GDP. This Asian giant remains the world's largest manufacturer in terms of output, with extensive production of steel, electronics and robotics, among others.
According to data from the Madrid Chamber of CommerceChina was the first world power to overcome the health, social and economic crisis caused by the Coronavirus. Within three months of the detection of the virus, China had more than 90% of its industries up and running and was soon back to normal activity. The IMF forecasts growth of 5.6% in 2022. Spanish exports to China have increased in the last few years. 6,801 million (+8.3%) in 2019.
In 2021, the XIV Five-Year Plan (2021 - 2025) was launched, in which, among other things, the objective was set to advancing the process of economic liberalisation through trade and international cooperation.
The Chinese market has become the world's largest domestic and cross-border e-commerce powerhouse. More than 40% of the world's e-commerce transactions currently take place in China. Both for the onlineas offlineChina looks like a promising country for entrepreneurs to invest in.
The Asian giant is the world's largest manufacturer in terms of productionwith extensive production of steel, electronics and robotics, among others.
With regard to Hong KongIn Asia, we find ourselves in one of the most prosperous regions of the Asian continent. It is an economy linked to the services sector, especially those related to trade and finance. According to data published by the Chamber of Commerce of Madrid, the International Monetary Fund expects its growth to consolidate from 2022 with 3.8%. In addition, Hong Kong has a Purchasing Power Parity of $62,480, the third highest in East Asia according to IMF data.
Hong Kong's economic activity is linked to the economy of Mainland China, since most of its companies' production is carried out in the border province of Guangdong It also acts as a gateway for goods and capital between China and the rest of the world.
The economy Hong Kong is one of the most open, with a degree of trade openness of 312 %. There are no tariffs on the vast majority of products and no value added tax. Until the pandemic, Spanish exports of goods increased by 13.7% and of services by 49% in 2019.
Working in China
The opportunities to work in China are good, but a minimum of a viable language and work visa is required. The best option for working in China is getting a job in a Spanish international company located there. A good option is to consult the ICEX fact sheet about this country, as well as the guide to Spanish companies established in China.
The sectors with the highest demand for workers in China are finance and banking, business management, law, accounting, IT, marketing and commerce. The multinationals are recipients of foreign workers, as are banks, the financial sector, retail trade and luxury goods.
Other in-demand professions include: engineers, computer scientists, architects, web and mobile application designers, CEOs, general managers, business experts, etc. online in the marketing and finance sector. This has led many residents of Madrid organise your moves to the region.
Of course, knowledge of languages is always helpful when adapting to a country and if you have knowledge of Mandarinthe opportunities will be greater. Thus, teaching Spanish in China will be another of the options available to you.
Work visas
The People's Republic of China plays the role of superpower and moving to China for work is not so strange any more as it was a few decades ago.
With the necessary documents and a valid passport (valid for six months), it is possible to obtain an visa It takes three to four working days, but it is best to apply two and a half months in advance of your trip. For detailed information on visas for China, see this page. complete guide. There is a visa modality to work in China called Z visa, whose particularities are very well explained in this this page. But for exhaustive information on all types of visas and restrictions on entry to China by Covid-19 this website contains very useful and up-to-date information.
Entrepreneurship in China
Normally the way of doing business in China is not the same as in Spain. Before closing an agreement it is normal to wait a minimum of three or four months, during which time the Spanish businessman must gaining the trust of the local partner. Having a local contact to facilitate entry is essential, as well as contacts with local suppliers, labour or any other support you may need. If you do not know anyone, you can turn to business advisors of Chinese origin.
The Chinese need to get to know people before they do business, so it's a good idea to have conversations that inspire them in the first place. trust without going fully into business. It is necessary to show respect bowing their body to greet you without shaking hands and reading your card and putting it away carefully. Most often, they will treat you to a business meal, which they will pay for, as they are the hosts and they feel and express it.
The Chinese never put their backpack or bag on the floor because this is a sign of volatility. In the same way, they shy away from companies that have a wastepaper basket at the office door because they think the money will go to waste. If you want to have a gift, do not give chrysanthemums, watches, mirrors, scissors, knives or sharp objects, as all of them have a component of superstition which leads to bad luck and failure in business.
Cultural differences
There are certain cultural differences in which there may be some things that are unique to us Europeans. Certain gestures that in Europe are synonymous with rudeness (such as spitting, burping or slurping while eating) are not, and standards of cleanliness and tidiness are also different. Nevertheless, people are quite friendly, especially to Europeans.
The chaotic way of driving can also make us uncomfortable.
In general, they tend to hide their ideas, have an immense capacity for self-control and work conscientiously without complaint.
Curiosities about China
- The People's Republic of China has border with 14 countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, North Korea, Tajikistan and Vietnam..
- The Chinese it is not a unique language as such. Many languages are spoken in China, with Mandarin Chinese being the most widely spoken.
- Despite its vast size, China is governed by unique timetable although its territory is spread over five spindles.
- The Great Wall of China is almost 9,000 km long.
- The Chinese New Year he lunar new year begins with the rising of the second new moon after the winter solstice (21 December), which can occur anywhere between 21 January and 20 February.
- The panda bears are found only in China and spend half their day eating bamboo.
- The superstition floods the life of the Chinese. The colour red and the number 8 are synonymous with good luck and other symbols such as the Chinese dragon, the turtle, etc. are exponents of success and good fortune. The colour yellow symbolises money. However, the number 4 is related to bad luck and the colour white is associated with death and mourning. On the other hand, the popular golden cats that we see in so many shops and restaurants attract prosperity. There are countless superstitions.
- The dragon is one of the most representative figures of Chinese culture. An icon of power, honour and nobility, it is a mythological being that has the figure of a snake with four legs and forms part of the symbolism of the Chinese emperors.
- In 2019, a points-based licensing through which citizens' behaviour is punished or rewarded. There are a multitude of cameras that monitor behaviour, adding or subtracting in this civic control of citizens.
Tourism in China
As we have said before, China is a vast country, so it is not easy to summarise all that this distant land has to offer as a tourist. However, we will try to summarise some of the highlights.
Shanghai is one of the most interesting cities, reflecting China's meteoric rise in economic terms. Many Chinese consider it to be the best city in the country to live in and it is a true reflection of traditional culture and an exponent of the most advanced civilisation. Some of China's tallest buildings are located in the city: the Oriental Pearl Tower (Oriental Pearl Tower), the skyscraper Jing Maoand the Shanghai World Financial Centre, which is the tallest in the country. Other highlights of the city include: the waterfront promenade Bundthe train Maglevthe garden Yuyuan and the Shanghai Disneyland Park.
Other cities not to be missed for the beauty they boast include: Beijing, Hong Kong, Hangzhou, Harbin, Xi'an, Suzhou y Luoyang.
At Beijing you can't miss the Chinese Wall, the palace complex of the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and the Tiananmen.
Hong Kong is home to places such as the theme park Hong Kong Disneyland Resorta lookout point on the mountain called Cumbre Victoria, the iconic statue Tian Tan Buddhathe theme park Ocean Parkthe harbour with shows and lights Victoria Harbour or Disney's jungle-themed area called the Adventureland.
At Hangzhou is located the beautiful historical site of West Lake, the 4th century Buddhist temple Lingying Templethe Wetlands National Park Xixithe five-storey pagoda Leifeng and the street Lefang Street.
Harbin shelters a ski area open all year round called the Yabuli Ski Resort. It also has a museum in an ancient Russian Orthodox church called Saint Sophia's Church and a curious place with buildings and sculptures made of ice called Harbin Ice & Snow World. Also the art park Zhaolin Parkthe beautiful Sun Island which in winter is full of ice sculptures, and the ski resort Bingxue Big World.
At Xi'an you can visit a site famous for its ancient statues called the Terracotta Warriors, an iconic 7th century Buddhist pagoda called the Giant Wild Goose Pagodathe city wall of Xi'anthe imposing mosque of the Tang dynasty called the Great Mosque of Xi'anthe Shaanxi History Museum and the Bell Tower of Xi'an with its emblematic bell tower.
Suzhou has a museum area which, under the name of Jinghang Waterway shows the Grand Canal of China, the longest man-made canal or river in the world and a World Heritage Site. You can also visit the Chinese art museum Suzhou MuseumChinese gardens, the Unesco World Heritage Site Chinese gardens of Suzhouanother garden from the Ming era called Humble Administration's Gardenthe Chinese garden with rock formations Lion Grove Gardenas well as the ancient garden of ponds and pavilions called the "Garden of the Ponds and Pavilions". Master of the Nest Gardens.
At Luoyang highlights to visit include: the Buddhist temple famous for its Kung Fu called Shaolin Templethe Grutas de Longmenthe Temple of the White Horse, the mountain Laojun Mountainthe Buddha of the Spring Temple and the beautiful National Park. Chongdugou.
Further advice
- If you finally decide to take the plunge and move to China, at GIL STAUFFER we help you with your move. We have been moving internationally for more than 115 years. Ask for a quote as soon as possible.
- For more information on how much your international move can cost, here is an article on international moving costs. international removal prices.
- If you are relocating for professional reasons you can read our tips for moving to another country for work.
- In this other article you can read our recommendations and tips for happiness abroad.
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