Sheng Zheng

[vook]

Hi, please pardon me if I am in the wrong place with my inquiries below. If this is so, it would be much appreciated if you can direct me to the right place.

I realized this is a forum for people who lives and work in Hong Kong. Since Sheng Zheng is really close to HK I thought some of you might have visited or lived there and might be able to help shed some light into the living situation there.

I am an American currently living in the States. I was just offered an opportunity to work in Fu Tien which I believe is in Sheng Zheng, China. I am considering the position so have questions about living situations in that part of China. i am trying to find out as much info about that town as possible.

So my questions are: what is the standard of living in Sheng Zheng? typical cost of a sit-down normal meal nothing fancy? are buses/sub-ways pretty accessible? how late do they run? or is it an environment where a car is necessary like living in LA? is it a safe environment? or is it like every town; there are the ghettos and the upper class all mix in? What is Fu Tien like? Is it pretty industrial? what is life like for a working foreigner there?

Please pardon my phonetic translation of the Chinese cities as I am sure they are misspelled.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Newbie

[100LL]

It's called Shenzhen.

Lots of expats there. Most closer to the area called Shekou or Nanshan, but you'll find expats all over Shenzhen. The infrastructure is great nowadays, the Metro system works very well (I've used it just yesterday). Taxis are very cheap as well. You won't need a car, but owning a car is certainly much cheaper than HK.

what is the standard of living in Sheng Zheng?

Difficult to say, you have to go and see by yourself. We are all different. Yesterday I joined a (local SZ) friend for a nice pizza late afternoon, went to a good massage, went on to a (outdoor) bar where he usually hangs out, and met a couple of Americans, Mexicans, Swedish etc who fly for SZ Airlines. You'll run into lots of expats, often with kids and family, in the Shekou area.

Apartments are much bigger than Hong Kong, and much more affordable. But I guess you don't have to worry about this if your company takes care.

It's not America, they do speak Chinese in China, and you won't be able to get your favorite chips. You'll have to adjust and remember that you are in a foreign land.

typical cost of a sit-down normal meal nothing fancy?

My 13" pizza was RMB 98. Beers at the "Cheers" bar were 15RMB. My double espresso at Starbucks was RMB 17 or 18.

are buses/sub-ways pretty accessible?

Buses are no problem at all. I don't use them myself but I know American English teachers who do and they probably know their lines. The subway is a no-brainer, used it yesterday and it saves a lot of time compared to taxi or car.

Not sure how late they run, my guess is midnight or 1AM.

You don't need a car. My local friends have cars, but they know when and if to go by car, and they know their way around. For instance, my friend didn't pick me up at the place where I was yesterday, he picked me up a couple of subway stations away. Getting in there and finding a place to pick me up would have been just too trouble. For an expat, I'd say stay away from cars till you know what's going on. Taxis are cheap and everywhere.

is it a safe environment? or is it like every town; there are the ghettos and the upper class all mix in?

It's like the rest of the world. But it's a different world, so come and see.

What is Fu Tien like? Is it pretty industrial?

SZ is in general just buildings and big roads. Most factories are further outside. And people people people. You won't ever feel lonely.

Futian District - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

what is life like for a working foreigner there?

You don't have to live there just because you work there. You can live in Shekou or Nanshan. Live as expat will certainly be different if you live near the other expats (ie. lost of import food stores in Shekou).

Also check this site:
The definitive guide to Shenzhen, Shekou, Guangdong, China

[Drunken Master]

Subway and most buses run till 11 pm, after that there are night buses

[vook]

thank you all for you helpful comments.

how is the pollution there? is any worst than LA in California?

food doesn't sound any cheaper than here in the States.

how limited is internet access? i heard you get like 1/4 of what is available here in the US.

[imparanoic]

shezhen is like the wild wild west compared to Hong Kong, Futien area is bit of a mixed bag, some rough areas, some ok, crime is much higher than HK, Shekou or Nanshan are the affluent areas alot nicer, but more expensive and if you plan regular trips to HK ( via shekou bus), it's inconvenient compared futien ( lok ma chau 24hrs crossing and train station ( near futien) and lo wu.

if you eat very localised (some times can be very dodgy, but there again some can be decent) food, a meal can cost only 35RMB or less

Internet has limitations, ie, no facebook, no google, heavily censored (best to set up VPN from the states to resolve this)

generally most things are cheaper in shenzhen than HK if produced locally (apart from non-chinese brands, iie, fashion, apple products, milk powder, etc)

[MandM!]

OP, have you been to China before?

[vook]

thanks for the info folks! much appreciated.

crime is higher than HK? Yikes! pick-pocket crime in HK is world renown and its worst than that? So which part of Futian is sketchy? how sketchy? which part has the nicer/safer part of the mix bag? Its good to hear that transportation to HK from Futian is more convenient.

So as far as housing, would you say cost is about 10% lower at Futian when compared to the more affluent shekou?

[vook]

booth, is that question for me or for someone with the OP alias?

[carang]

pick pocketing in hk is world renowned???? seriously?

guess i've been lucky then... 17 years and not been pick pocketed once.

when an american asks about "crime", i don't associate that with pick pocketing...i associate it with drive by shootings, gang violence, armed robbery, car jackings etc...hmmm....guess i'm as guilty of stereotypes as the OP.

"OP" means original poster....

[100LL]

vook I recommend you invest in an air ticket and hotel and come to check out what you are getting yourself into. You seem to have no idea about this part of the world...