A BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF SHENZHEN

By Jiahua’s General Manager – Eric Velouria

I moved to Shenzhen in January 2009. Before coming here I have lived in many places. I lived in Beijing from 2003 – 2006, and Vancouver Canada from 1998 – 2001 and 2006 – 2008. From 2001 – 2003, I did a lot of traveling throughout China. I lived in Haerbin, Dandong, and Liuzhou and traveled through about 15 provinces and territories thoughout the country. In my experience both in Canada and China, Shenzhen has been by far the best place to work and live.

WORK IN SHENZHEN

Shenzhen is a great place for fun. On your days off you can enjoy parasailing at the beach, climb one of Shenzhen’s many mountains to enjoy some spectacular views, or take a stroll in on of Shenzhen’s many parks with your special someone. I have lived in, or have at least been to most major cities in China, and Shenzhen is the only major metropolis in my experience to have such a vast amount of nature to enjoy. Parks here put the parks of hometown Vancouver, Canada to shame. If you are looking for great nightlife, then Shenzhen should also be able to meet your needs. With an expatriate population of over 30,000, you can bet a decent pub where you can sit and have a drink with your friends will not be too hard to find. May bars here have all-you-can-drink nights, and there is no such thing as a ‘closing time’. There is also no shortage of night clubs here either. This city has everything a major city should have. And if there is something you cannot find, you will definitely be able to find it in Hong Kong – downtown Hong Kong is just a 30 minute subway ride away.


LIVE IN SHENZHEN

Beijing might have just as much work available as Shenzhen, but it cannot compete for standard of living. In Beijing you can often walk faster than the traffic. Here, congestion in usually not a problem. As for as nature goes, I have never seen a metropolis in China with this many parks. You can be in the middle of the CBD on a busy street, but then turn into a park and be alone down a small walkway surrounded by nature. Rent is comparatively cheap as well. I live in Luohu district (one of the central districts) and I only pay about $500USD a month for a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment. In Vancouver, you could only get a small bachelor pad for that – if you are lucky. Food, clothing, and entertainment is all relatively cheap. Here you can enjoy a Western salary, and live large with only half the expenses.



PLAY IN SHENZHEN

Shenzhen is a great place for fun. You can parasail at the beach, or climb the mountains and enjoy the view. The night life is good too. Many great bars to sit and have a drink with your friends and lots of clubs if you prefer to dance with them. This city has everything a major city should have. And if there is something you cannot find, you will definitely be able to find it in Hong Kong – downtown Hong Kong is just a 30 minute subway ride away.