As an expat, there may come a time in your life, whether it be by choice or by necessity, that you have to brave the prospect of moving to a new city in China. Moving challenges aside, this can translate into big lifestyle changes and even a renewed sense of culture shock. After recently relocating from the lovely coastal city of Shenzhen to industrial inland Wuhan, I experienced my own ups and downs, and quite frankly, I’m still adjusting to the new way of life. Of course our experiences are all relative, depending on where we’re coming from and where we’re going, but needless to say, I’d like to share some of my thoughts and feelings about adapting to the local life after moving to a new city in China.

1) Adjusting to the city’s unique “culture”
If you have any amount of Chinese friends, you’ve likely heard the stereotypes floating around the nation about China’s various cities and regions. They might sound something like this: “Beijing is so polluted”, “Shanghai is too materialistic”, and “Guangdong...well the people there just eat anything.” Whether you buy into them or not, moving around China will definitely give you an opportunity to see and experience these unique vibes firsthand. Before moving to Wuhan, I kept hearing an old adage referring to the Wuhanese as nine-headed birds. According to Wikitravel, this has to do with their talent for bending the truth and is a source of both pride and embarrassment alike. The other day at the market, I had a run-in with one of these nine-headed creatures. The shopkeeper was attempting to convince me that her practically white tomatoes were delicious and that I should definitely buy a bagful. Well, my one brain outsmarted her nine-heads and told me to keep on walking. Needless to say, I’ve had fun exploring this new subculture and enjoying a nice chuckle along the way.

Stereotypes aside, I believe that people in different parts of China have, in general, different ways of life. This is particularly evident as you move away from the developed coastal areas. Since moving inland, I’ve seen a dramatic change in mannerisms—not only is the local dialect nearly impossible to navigate, but also the notorious spitting, budging, and littering are more readily apparent than they were in Shenzhen. I’ve found that people in Wuhan live a much more simplistic lifestyle too. They don’t spend a lot of money, and they aren’t afraid to wear their pajamas in public. They’re also not afraid to tell you that you’ve gained weight or that you look tired. And never mind etiquette (which does exist); they’ll often drop mysterious foods into your bowl at dinner because it’s said to be “advantageous to your health”. Of course these actions aren’t unique to Wuhan, but they are things that are more commonly seen in certain parts of China than they are in others. Speaking personally, I try look at these situations in a positive light and appreciate people’s straightforwardness and so-called “politeness”.

2) Accessing modern conveniences
As the saying goes, you never know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Living in Shenzhen afforded me access to wonderful shopping and delicious international cuisine. Having come to the land of Chinese everything, I find myself really missing these things but also learning to adapt to the local flavor. It’s amazing how much less money I spend in Wuhan than I would in a city like Shenzhen. I most certainly miss the martinis made with authentic liquor, brick oven pizza, and traditional Mexican fare, but I also enjoy saving that cash for bigger and better things. Of course that’s not to say there aren’t ways to spend money in China’s lesser-known cities—many still have the Zaras and H&Ms; the Papa John’s and wannabe Western restaurants—but I personally don’t frequent them as often since moving here. Perhaps I’ve adopted the thrifty mindset of the locals without even knowing it, and that’s fine. As long as I can still find my favorite Belgian beer on tap, I’m good.

Speaking of beer, I guess it’s only appropriate to bring up the social side of things. Cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou have expat populations that put Wuhan and others to shame. Moving away from these expat-rich regions can bring about an unfortunate social life if you prefer to spend your time with foreign passport carriers. While living in Shenzhen, I was delighted with the wide variety of social activities and networking events, but those are unfortunately few and far between in Wuhan. It’s been more of a challenge to reach out and find communities of like-minded expats in my age group living in Wuhan. But with more time and networking, I suppose I’ll be able to build a new circle; as they love to say here: “Man man lai”. No need to rush, just take things one day at a time. And a local pub is a great place to start—no alcohol necessary (I saw a girl sipping a regal glass of milk last Saturday night). 

3) Making do with what’s available
In Shenzhen, I was spoiled with a convenient metro system, easy-to-navigate bus routes and an abundance of taxis ready for hire. When I had free time, I was always out and about and never feared venturing out into the streets alone. Wuhan is different. It’s a huge, sprawling city that is divided by the Yangtze River. Despite the enormous population and historical importance, it still has a long way to go in terms of development. However, money is pouring in and things are quickly changing. Wuhan’s own metro system just opened its first line at the end of 2012, allowing folks to make what would be a two hour plus bus ride in around 30 minutes time. Wuhan’s public bus system is known for drivers with extreme road rage and overcrowded buses, so the introduction of the metro has received a warm welcome, especially among the expat community. Despite these transportation headaches in China’s lesser-known cities, one shouldn’t let this be a deal breaker. You never know, at the rate things are going around here, change could be just around the corner.

One final note on accepting a new environment for what it is has to do with just that, the environment. I have never seen as much dust accumulate as fast as I’ve seen in Wuhan, despite the fact that I sweep the floors seven days a week. Of course, air quality and environmental issues exist around China and the world, but I can literally see (and feel) the difference after moving from a seaside city to a low-lying, industrial metropolis. To make matters worse, the rapid development going on in Wuhan is only adding to the dust. I now understand why an air purifier is a worthwhile investment, but have yet to fork out the cash. Moving to a new city in China also means differing environments and associated health issues. The issue of food safety is arguably an even bigger concern outside of China’s major cities, where regulation is perhaps not yet where it needs to be. I try to shop at trustworthy places and have made a habit of eating at home as much as possible. It’s all about making do and adapting.

4) Enjoying the challenge
Moving to a new city has been a bumpy ride, but I can’t say that I haven’t enjoyed it. I think we can look at it as an opportunity to see a new and different China and experience a new way of life. Sometimes we get dealt an unexpected hand in the game of life, but if we make the most of it, we often find that things aren’t as bad as we once thought. I’ve definitely learned to appreciate and have even grown rather fond of the peculiarities of Wuhan and its people. They have a unique character that, in my opinion, has no match in China’s top-tier cities. And that is exactly what keeps me going, no matter how tired my sweeping arm gets.

Have you had any similar experiences moving to a new city in China? Feel free to add your stories in the comments section below!
 

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