Life china these days

I've been out of china for 3 years. Lived in China from 2018 to 2022. So basically during all of COVID. How is it in China these days? I'm American and thinking of going back to live there again.

Those of you still there how are you finding it post COVID?

From what I can tell there are now very few of us long term CF users that are still in China, Covid being one of the main reasons for this, sadly. I think if Covid hadnt happened then noone would have felt the need to move and would still be there, but as it is, moving back to China now seems more difficult than moving to China was pre-Covid. I gather things are pretty much back to normal though, I will be visiting later this summer.

On 6/11/2025 at 5:41 PM, Tomsima said:

moving back to China now seems more difficult than moving to China was pre-Covid

really? because of paperwork or something else?

i have two other friends that i worked with while i was in china that are also trying to go back. At least at the early stage of the process they don't seem to be having trouble.

i guess i will try to ask in some other communities as well. Thanks!

Not because of paperwork, it just seems like things have 'tightened up' a lot since Covid, its not so much of a 'wild west' on the job market, plus it seems there aren't as many companies looking for international recruitment as there were before. There's only one way to be sure what its really like with China though - go there and find out first hand!

I don't think I'll be working this time. I spent all that time working during the whole of COVID. This time I think I'll go on a spousal visa and just kinda chill within China

I've been back several times across the country since 2023.

It is different, there is no doubt about that. Less foreigners for sure and the bigger cities are changing. Sadly becoming more commerical.

Old, local hotspots are becoming fewer and being replaced with Shake Shacks and all that rubbish.

Still love visiting and still feel at home there though.

China is different now. It is more quiet, cleaner, has more parks and better air. It is also not as optimistic anymore, especially economically. Earning money is definitely harder than it used to be. People worry about their finances.

Foreigners are still welcome and usually visas today are actually easier than they were pre COVID.

There are a lot of cameras around and surveillance is definitely very widespread. People also drive much better, litter less and it is super safe (but it always has been, so no change there). There are lot more old people around.

The food is still outstanding. The people are still lovely.

I've been in China since 2012 and throughout covid. I don't find it that much different. There are less westerners in BJ than before, but that doesn't matter to me much. They are increasingly returning too. Restaurants, bars, etc have come and gone, that happens everywhere, but maybe a bit more in China. The "brickening" where they got rid of a lot of Hutong businesses and turned them back to residential hurt the nightlife and then right after was covid. It seem like there's a little renaissance happening and there are still plenty of Hutong spots. I go to brew pubs every weekend and it's almost always 90% Chinese 10% foreigners, which I probably like more than dislike. Air quality, especially in BJ has improved dramatically, it almost feels like a different city - last winter was sunny almost every day. I think life is good here and overall better than it was 10 years ago.

This is cool to hear. This time I won't be working just living with my partner on a marriage visa for a year or two and hoping to visit places I didn't have time for when I was there on a work visa last time. Sounds like it should be fine 

On 10/15/2025 at 12:22 PM, thelearninglearner said:

I won't be working just living with my partner on a marriage visa for a year or two

What a dream situation 

I find living in Beijing to be great fun.
 

On 7/8/2025 at 6:54 AM, language_lover said:

Old, local hotspots are becoming fewer and being replaced with Shake Shacks and all that rubbish.

I think this has been true for years even before covid, but some spots are still preserved just harder to find and more capitalistic as everyone tries to make money these days.

 

I sometimes dream about returning to China. It's crazy how little time there is in a human lifespan, though. I don't know that I'll ever actually manage to get back. There's other things I need to accomplish elsewhere. 

I come back 4-5 times a year and I must admit I still love it as I did when living here.

It's definitely got a different feel but still familiar enough to be great.

Beijing is certainly becoming more modern. I noticed in Qianmen lots of new street food stalls - very similar to a market you'd find in Europe. Much more neat and tidy, branded. It still tries to give off a local vibe, but you can see it's more more pristine.

Sadly some of your favourite local places will just disappear, but that was always the case.

If you want proper rural China, I guess you go Tier 2, 3 or 4.

On 10/23/2025 at 8:45 PM, language_lover said:

If you want proper rural China, I guess you go Tier 2, 3 or 4.

I kinda want to, by my partner grew up in a tier 3 and after getting out said, "never again" so it's the big cities for us for a little bit. but i am trying to be convincing and at leats get out of the s tier and get into the tier 1 and slowly get down