Nothing can prepare you for China. Its sheer scale is enough to confuse and confound, but it's the intensity in the air, the pace of change, the toughness of the people here, that makes the greatest impact. China is in an incredible rush - liberated from the strictures of the Maoist regime, it's in a rush to rebuild itself, though careful not to break ties with 5000 years of culture in its haste.
The opportunities here, especially for visitors, are staggering. The new middle class seems to have no idea on what to spend their wealth, perhaps because disposable income is still a huge novelty.
If your idea of 'quality of life' means eating well, be assured, the food is amazing, the prices low and the variety endless. What passes for Chinese food in Western restaurants is only a tiny fraction of what this country has to offer.
If you're living and working in one of the larger cities, the pace of life can become overwhelming. A relaxing trip to the country takes on a new meaning in China. You can't hope to experience everything, but some good ways to recharge your batteries would be: marveling at Karst scenery in the Guangxi province; a visit to Xi'an, home to 73 emperors and as the Eastern terminus for the Silk Road, the origin of ideas preceding Christ, Mohammed and Siddartha.
The central, provincial, and local government fund hospitals, with medical care consequently provided at either no charge or very little charge to patients. Although there is currently no system of private health insurance, many firms are looking to start such programs. Despite the absence of an official, private healthcare system, patients can pay a fee to see a physician of their choice.
Hospital structures are different from place to place. Large cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen are well served with both general and specialist hospitals. Specialist hospitals have excellent equipment and technology: they routinely perform cardiac surgery, angioplasty, and transplant surgery. In many rural areas, there is a structured system of local and county hospitals with increasing levels of expertise as you go up through the system.
The procedure and documentation required to open a bank account in China varies from bank to bank. In general you'll need to present a valid Passport and a Residence Permit before you can fill out an application form. Once you have completed this you will need to make a minimum deposit, usually in the region of $500 USD, though this also varies from bank to bank.
A Multi-Currency Account for Expats is also available, where you can deposit a capped amount of foreign currency. You will need to present your passport and pay a fee of 5 RMB to set up this account.
It's always wise to use a real estate agency. According to the Chinese Law, tenant and owner have to share the payment of the commission to the real estate agent: 35% is paid by the owner and 35% is paid by the customer.
Landlords in larger cities prefer it if you rent for a year or more. Most owners sign a 1 year leasing contract. It is possible to find short term leases but the terms are different and the rents are usually more expensive. The lease terms are written in English and Chinese. Only the Chinese version of a contract is acceptable by the courts and will be relied on the event of a dispute.
Owners will usually ask you to pay 2 months deposit and the 1st month's rent in advance when you sign a long term leasing contract. Deposits are returned after you and the owner have checked the apartment.
The rent is paid in RMB, in cash, monthly in advance. Prices do not include utilities. Management fees are payable monthly, covering the cost of the building and amenities. The amount depends on the building age and the facilities offered to the tenants.
China has cheap domestic flights to all the major cities and tourist destinations. Do be prepared for delays; these are on the increase despite pressure from both the government and consumers. Flight cancellations are also quite common.
Train travel is the major mode of long-distance transportation, with routes covering the entire country. It's better to book tickets in advance through an agent - avoiding the chaos of a train station is well worth the small increase in cost.
Travelling by public city buses or long distance buses is inexpensive and ideal for in-city and short distances transportation. Local public city buses start at around ¥1 and can be quite packed during rush hour. More modern buses with air conditioning start at ¥2.
The major cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Nanjing have a clean, modern and efficient subway system. Chongqing has a monorail system. Most of these systems are being expanded and new ones are under construction cities such as Hangzhou and Xian. The signs and ticket machines are in both English and Chinese.
Taxis are widely available and reasonably priced. Expect to pay between ¥10 and ¥50 for an ordinary trip within the city. Bicycles are the most common form of transportation in China; at rush hour almost anywhere in China there will be thousands of them.
