Inflation
0.06 %2025 · latest annual observation
Exact values
- 2020
- 2.42 %
- 2021
- 0.98 %
- 2022
- 1.97 %
- 2023
- 0.23 %
- 2024
- 0.22 %
- 2025
- 0.06 %
YOUR COUNTRY GUIDE
🇨🇳 China
View on Google MapsMajor cities, technology and working with the Chinese market.
Start with a cityCost
Plan for your household and city
Residency
Employment: work and residence permits
Jobs
Covered route conditions, not a hiring forecast
Safety
No formal advice-against-travel flag — not a safety guarantee · FCDO · 2026-09-12
Economy
Inflation 0.1% · 2025 · World Bank
Climate
Temperature and humidity by city
Healthcare
Route insurance; clinic directory pending
Taxes
Tax residence and foreign income
A CLOSER LOOK
Cities & places
- Beijing · central business district from the southeast
N509FZ · 2021 · CC BY-SA 4.0 - Shanghai · Pudong evening panorama
King of Hearts · 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 - Shenzhen · city skyline
Fumikas Sagisavas · 2025 · CC0 - Guangzhou · city skyscrapers
jo.sau · 2013 · CC BY 2.0 - Chengdu · city panorama
George N · 2017 · CC BY 2.0
Guides & practical tips
All destination guides
General practical guide
Apostilles before moving: prepare the right documents
Build your document folder without unnecessary translations or return trips.
General practical guide
Business relocation abroad: plan before incorporating
A practical business-relocation plan covering personal status, demand, separate budgets, licences, reporting and the first customer.
Inside this destination guide
Housing & everyday life
Open the housing section for rental considerations and living conditions.
TRAVEL SAFETY
Before you travel
No advice against travel
This is not a safety guarantee: risks vary by area and route.
About this warning
Source: the UK Foreign Office. Advice is for British nationals; entry rules for your passport may differ. This is travel advice, not crime statistics.
Publisher updated: 2026-08-27 · Retrieved: 2026-09-12 14:49 UTC
Warning in English
This travel advice covers mainland China. See travel advice for the Special Administrative Regions, Hong Kong and Macao. Flash floods along the Nepal-China border On 26 August 2026, heavy flooding and landslides have caused widespread damage in Gyirong County in Shigatse, Tibet, near the Nepal border. Buildings, roads, other transport and communications infrastructure have been severely damaged. The Chinese authorities and emergency services are responding. The authorities have warned of the risk of further flooding. The situation may change rapidly. Stay away from affected areas where possible. If you are travelling in the region, follow the advice of the Chinese government and local authorities and be alert to the changing situation. If you are affected and need assistance from the UK government, call: From China: +86 (0) 10 5192 4000 From the UK: +44 (0)20 7008 5000 Typhoons The typhoon season in China normally runs from May to November, affecting southern and eastern coastal regions. Air travel and other forms of transport can be affected. Monitor the progress of approaching storms on the Japan Meteorological Agency and the China Meteorological Administration websites. See guidance on tropical cyclones for advice about what to do if you are caught in a typhoon.
Latest change (English)
"Updated information on Warnings and insurance"
© Crown copyright · OGL v3.0
Everything for your decision
Open a topic. Unverified coverage is clearly marked.
Overview
Major cities, technology and working with the Chinese market.
Beijing
The capital combines universities, headquarters and historic neighbourhoods. Districts are far apart; metro access shapes commuting. Winters are substantially colder than in southern China.
Shanghai
An international business centre on the Huangpu. Pudong and the western bank create different school and office commutes. The urban riverfront is not a sea beach.
Shenzhen
Technology and electronics near Hong Kong. Nanshan and Futian are distinct home-and-work locations; eastern seaside districts do not imply a short office commute.
Guangzhou
Trade, logistics and manufacturing in the Pearl River Delta. Useful for supplier-facing work; home, warehouse and exhibition venue can be far apart.
Chengdu
A major Sichuan city with technology, universities, parks and teahouses. No sea. Trips into mountain areas are separate journeys with weather and earthquake exposure.
Choose a city, then explore residence options, documents and housing below.
Visa & residency
Employment: work and residence permits
Residence & citizenship
Residence and citizenship are separate procedures. A passport follows a separate citizenship decision.
Employment: work and residence permits
Local employment needs work authorisation; a tourist or business visit does not replace it.
- The employer arranges work authorisation. The usual employment entry route is a Z visa, followed by a work-type residence permit after arrival. Residence applications after entry generally have a 30-day deadline.
- Renewal, changing employer, study and accompanying-family residence are separate procedures. A short visa-free visit does not grant permanent residence or work rights.
Guide summary, not an individual eligibility assessment. Guide date: · Primary source
Eligibility depends on nationality, status, family and documents. Years are a pre-application residence condition, excluding time to obtain the initial status and processing.
Employment: work and residence permits
Local employment needs work authorisation; a tourist or business visit does not replace it.
- The employer arranges work authorisation. The usual employment entry route is a Z visa, followed by a work-type residence permit after arrival. Residence applications after entry generally have a 30-day deadline.
- Renewal, changing employer, study and accompanying-family residence are separate procedures. A short visa-free visit does not grant permanent residence or work rights.
Primary sources: State Council · working and living in China
Cost of living
Household, rent, school, transport and relocation
Your family and routines
Citizenship and purpose are saved with your profile; this calculator does not determine visa eligibility. Check route conditions separately. Conditions
Who's coming
Adults
2
Children
1
Child 1
Housing & bedrooms
Bedrooms, excluding living room
2
Suggested bedrooms: 2. Adults in pairs; children under 8 can share, older children follow your room preference. A planning suggestion, not a legal rule.
Transport & pets
Cats
0
Dogs
0
Jobs & business
Conditions of the covered route, not employment probability
Local employment needs work authorisation; a tourist or business visit does not replace it.
Residence conditionsEconomy
Currency, inflation and investment with observation dates
ECONOMY & CURRENCY
What the annual data shows
Historical World Bank observations. Not today’s exchange rate or an assessment of current military or political conditions.
Real GDP growth
4.96 %2025 · latest annual observation
Exact values
- 2020
- 2.34 %
- 2021
- 8.57 %
- 2022
- 3.13 %
- 2023
- 5.42 %
- 2024
- 4.96 %
- 2025
- 4.96 %
Local currency per dollar
7.19 LCU/USD2025 · latest annual observation
Exact values
- 2020
- 6.9 LCU/USD
- 2021
- 6.45 LCU/USD
- 2022
- 6.74 LCU/USD
- 2023
- 7.08 LCU/USD
- 2024
- 7.2 LCU/USD
- 2025
- 7.19 LCU/USD
Foreign direct investment
0.41 % GDP2025 · latest annual observation
Exact values
- 2020
- 1.69 % GDP
- 2021
- 1.89 % GDP
- 2022
- 1.04 % GDP
- 2023
- 0.28 % GDP
- 2024
- 0.23 % GDP
- 2025
- 0.41 % GDP
How to read these indicators and their limits
FX is an official annual average; parallel markets, fees and restrictions are excluded. FDI measures net investment flows, not the appeal of a property or business; values can be negative. Inflation and GDP growth do not measure personal living costs, safety or hiring prospects.
World Bank · 2020–2025 · CC BY 4.0
Taxes & money
Tax residence and foreign income
Tax residence and foreign income
183 days in a tax year is a key threshold for a person without domicile in China.
- A stay of at least 183 days can establish tax residence. This does not mean every foreign transfer is automatically taxed: income source, payer and applicable exceptions matter.
- Non-domiciled individuals have a six-consecutive-year rule and exemptions for certain foreign income after filing. Work physically performed in China is not automatically foreign-source just because the employer is foreign.
Primary sources: Shanghai government · individual income tax
Housing
Rent near your everyday route
Rent near your everyday route
School, work and metro access matter more than the city name alone.
- Separate monthly rent, deposit and any agency fee. Calculator amounts are editable USD planning assumptions, not observed market prices or the current yuan exchange rate.
- Accommodation registration needs your actual address. Record utilities, inventory, duration and deposit return terms in the contract; retain contract and payment copies.
Primary sources: State Council · accommodation and daily services
Safety
Official advice; city crime statistics not yet verified
The warning summary above shows retrieval dates and regional scope. It is FCDO advice for British nationals, not a crime ranking.
Read travel warningsClimate & surroundings
City temperatures, humidity and seasons
CLIMATE & HOME
What the seasons feel like
A daily mean includes the night. It is not a heat ceiling: individual days can be much hotter.
NASA POWER: modeled outdoor relative humidity, roughly 50 km grid. Not an apartment sensor or a particular day’s weather. 2001–2020 · Data
NASA POWER · 2001–2020. Temperature is a daily mean, not a daytime high. Climate, not a forecast. A model grid cell, not an urban station. Terrain and neighbourhoods can differ.
Beijing · long-term climate, not a forecast
Warmest month · daily mean26.6°C
Coldest month · daily mean-5.2°C
Winter comfortCheck heating
Jan-5.2°C daily mean51% outdoors · NASA model0.1 mm rainfall / day
Housing: questions before signing
There is a cool season here; heating provision varies by home.
- How is the bedroom heated, and can you control the temperature overnight?
- What did electricity and heating cost in winter? Request actual bills.
- Are there drafts, wet walls or a musty smell? Request video of corners and cupboards.
- When was the boiler or heat pump last serviced, if installed?
Wildlife: what to consider
Local species for this destination are not verified yet. Tropical wildlife is not assumed to be present everywhere.
City encounter frequency is not quantified: no percentages or frequent/rare rating is available. Inspect the property, screens, drains, waste, standing water and seasonal warnings. Sources of differing dates checked 12 September 2026; categories can overlap.
Natural risks & signals
Regional weather and safety
Regional weather and safety
Coastal typhoons and Sichuan earthquakes are different exposures.
- Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen can be affected by typhoons and heavy rain. Sichuan is in an earthquake-active region. These are hazard types, not reports of an event today.
- Travel warnings, local restrictions and natural events are distinct. Use dated official warnings for current conditions; do not transfer one area’s exposure to all of China.
Primary sources: FCDO · China safety and security
Healthcare & insurance
Insurance and local coverage
Insurance and local coverage
Employers enrol foreign workers in social insurance under applicable rules. Private insurance and international hospital departments are separate costs; confirm the clinic network and direct billing.
Family & children
Schooling and family documents
Schooling and family documents
The school budget is a private-education planning allowance, not a guaranteed place. Language, admission age and eligibility depend on the chosen school. Family residence is arranged separately from the principal worker’s permit.
Transport & infrastructure
Driving requires local documentation
Driving requires local documentation
A foreign licence alone does not replace Chinese authorisation. Shanghai offers licence conversion and a separate temporary-permit process for short visits. Cars and motorcycles require appropriate categories; motorcycle registration and access depend on the city.
Laws & documents
Documents and address registration
Documents and address registration
Passport, employer documents and accommodation registration serve different stages.
- Agree the permit package with the employer before moving: qualifications, experience and authentication depend on the category. Family members need separate relationship evidence and the appropriate visa.
- Outside hotels, accommodation registration is required within 24 hours of arrival. A March 2026 online-registration pilot covers Sichuan, including Chengdu; do not assume the same pilot is available in other cities.
Primary sources: State Council · work documents · NIA · March 2026 accommodation registration
Cities
Beijing · Shanghai · Shenzhen · Guangzhou · Chengdu
Two cities, two different scenarios. These are starting points, not a finished neighborhood ranking.
Beijing
The capital combines universities, headquarters and historic neighbourhoods. Districts are far apart; metro access shapes commuting. Winters are substantially colder than in southern China.
Shanghai
An international business centre on the Huangpu. Pudong and the western bank create different school and office commutes. The urban riverfront is not a sea beach.
Shenzhen
Technology and electronics near Hong Kong. Nanshan and Futian are distinct home-and-work locations; eastern seaside districts do not imply a short office commute.
Guangzhou
Trade, logistics and manufacturing in the Pearl River Delta. Useful for supplier-facing work; home, warehouse and exhibition venue can be far apart.
Chengdu
A major Sichuan city with technology, universities, parks and teahouses. No sea. Trips into mountain areas are separate journeys with weather and earthquake exposure.
Practical tips
General checklist; a country-specific collection is pending
Rule updates
Visas and expat life: date, source and next action
Sources checked: 2026-09-12. An editorial selection, not automatic monitoring of all legislation.
Seven calendar days through 2026-09-12 · by primary-source publication or update date. Newly published verified records reload every five minutes; sourcing and review are currently editorial.
No verified items match this filter
This does not mean no rules changed. We do not fill the feed with unverified stories. Check upcoming changes or all verified records.
Sources & data coverage
Reviewed:
- State Council · accommodation and daily services
- NIA · March 2026 accommodation registration
- Shanghai government · individual income tax
- FCDO · China safety and security
Dates and limitations appear with each dataset. This guide is not a substitute for individual legal and tax review.
Practical answers before moving
China: what goes into a family living budget?
Example for two adults and a seven-year-old: a two-bedroom rental, private school and public transport. These are editorial assumptions, not verified prices. Deposits, relocation, vehicle purchase and taxes are excluded.
- Beijing: 5,122 USD/month: housing 1,380 USD, groceries 728 USD, utilities 143 USD, education 1,400 USD. The remainder covers transport, insurance, leisure and reserve.
- Shanghai: 5,760 USD/month: housing 1,656 USD, groceries 780 USD, utilities 156 USD, education 1,600 USD. The remainder covers transport, insurance, leisure and reserve.
- Shenzhen: 5,093 USD/month: housing 1,380 USD, groceries 702 USD, utilities 143 USD, education 1,400 USD. The remainder covers transport, insurance, leisure and reserve.
Which cities should I compare before moving?
School, work and metro access matter more than the city name alone.
- Beijing: The capital combines universities, headquarters and historic neighbourhoods. Districts are far apart; metro access shapes commuting. Winters are substantially colder than in southern China.
- Shanghai: An international business centre on the Huangpu. Pudong and the western bank create different school and office commutes. The urban riverfront is not a sea beach.
- Shenzhen: Technology and electronics near Hong Kong. Nanshan and Futian are distinct home-and-work locations; eastern seaside districts do not imply a short office commute.
Where should residence planning start?
Local employment needs work authorisation; a tourist or business visit does not replace it.
What should families with children consider in this country?
The school budget is a private-education planning allowance, not a guaranteed place. Language, admission age and eligibility depend on the chosen school. Family residence is arranged separately from the principal worker’s permit.
Country sources and recorded review dates · Methodology and limitations