Located in southern Guangdong Province, the city of Shenzhen has 14 million people and encompasses 1952.84 square kilometres (1213.44 miles), many of which are filled with either factories or high-rise apartment buildings. The first-timer in China might find Shenzhen’s expansive layout overwhelming, but this sprawl just means that there are plenty of apartments to choose from. Following are some specific recommendations to help you find your new apartment in Shenzhen, as well as general considerations when looking for a place to live in China.

When deciding where to live in Shenzhen, you will first want to consider how many of home’s comforts you can live without. Shekou is where most of Shenzhen’s expats reside, and living here means that you will be next to bars, restaurants, and stores that provide exactly what you crave, be it anti-pasta or a pint. Shekou’s Sea World is a popular collection of bars and restaurants and a good place to spend the night bantering away in English. However, many of Shekou’s expats are salaried by multinational companies, so apartment prices are inflated accordingly - the cheapest possible apartments in Shekou start around 2,500 RMB and rise rapidly from that.

Because Bao’an and neighbouring Longgang both lie outside of the special economic zone, their average rent is quite cheap. In these districts, studio apartments can be found from around 300RMB a month. However, cheaper rent might mean adapting to Chinese culture in unwanted ways, like by using a squat toilet that might not flush automatically. Cheaper apartments will also come unfurnished, and will have a monthly gas and electric bill in addition to the rent. However, those willing to pay more will find apartments already furnished with a sofa, television, and stocked kitchen. Such amenities can be a great help in easing what might otherwise be a stressful transition. Bao’an district is where you will find Shenzhen’s largest neighbourhood, Tao Yuan Jue (Peach Blossom Road), home to 50,000 people.

Like many other Chinese cities, Shenzhen has an improving public transportation system. The metro currently has 2 lines - Luobao Line (line 1) and Longhua Line (line 4) - that run through Luohu, Futian, and Nanshan (where Shekou is). By the end of 2010, Luobao Line should extend into Bao’an city centre and, by 2011, Longhua Line should finally live up to its name and reach Longhua district. The bus system is good, but congestion means that commuting to work by bus is not as predictable as by metro. Because Shenzhen straddles such a large area of land, your daily commute should also be considered when looking at apartments. It might be worth settling for a lesser apartment, more convenient to your workplace.

If you can communicate at a basic level in Chinese, then you will find a plethora of real estate offices, all with plenty of employees eager to help you rent. As with most purchases in China, aggressive negotiating will go a long way. If an agent finds an apartment for you, you will pay a one-time placement fee of 1000 or 1500 RMB. You will also be expected to provide your landlord with your first and last months’ rent as well as a security deposit. Leases are usually signed for one year, though that is sometimes negotiable.

Having good guanxi might also come in handy - ask your friends if they know of anyone looking to rent out a room. Check China Daily’s classifieds section or eChinacities Housing Classifieds section for open rooms and, if you want to live with foreigners, shenzhenstuff.com and shenzhenparty.com. Whatever you find, remember the golden rule: don’t sign what you can’t read! Instead, have one of your Chinese friends translate it.

While Shenzhen has an undeserved reputation among Hong Kong residents as a lawless city, it is a large city and comes with many of the problems endemic to other large cities, including theft. You might choose to avoid the ground floor, especially if it receives a lot of foot traffic from non-residents. Don’t make the assumption that your apartment is inaccessible just because it is high up though, and make sure you have bars or security wires on your windows and balcony. One month after my arrival in Shenzhen, I found that someone had managed to repel three stories from the top of my housing complex and into my porch. From there, they entered a window and helped themselves to my laptop (I sleep well knowing they cherish the family photos found on it). I have heard similar stories from other expats in Shenzhen. One man even fell to his death in my neighbourhood when attempting to enter a 15-story building through a window.

Shenzhen is full of industry, so if all your efforts to find housing fail, know that room and board are generally given to full-time employees on factory assembly lines. However, you should find a number of better places to live before you have to turn to assembling smart phones. In fact, Shenzhen has so many options that the challenge is not finding an apartment, but finding the apartment – the one that feels like home in this weird and wonderful city of 14 million seekers.

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