Housing in Shanghai overview
Overview
WHAT DID THEY SAY
Dominic Venne (Canadian, 2 months in Shanghai) expressed his content with his
apartment in Shanghai though it’s a bit pricy.
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Shanghai is cut into two major parts–Puxi (the west part) and Pudong (the east part)–by its mother Huangpu River.
As with other big cities, Shanghai is also divided into several districts. Downtown area, which consists of five districts, lies in the center of the city.
As an international hub, Shanghai attracts myriads of foreigners every year, contributing to a local housing market boom and adding vitality and business opportunities to the city.
Many newcomers fall in love with the city instantly when they see its tree-lined streets, low-rise European-style architecture and innumerable skyscrapers towering everywhere in the city.
Shanghai is obviously able to offer comfortable housing for people who can afford it. To hold more and more migrants, Shanghai -- famous for its old houses -- has new properties built every year, which offer a wide range of housing types.
According to state policies, foreigners are not allowed to buy homes or apartments in China until they’ve been here at least a year. Overseas institutions and individuals that want to purchase property for purposes other than their own use must set up a company in China.
Popular residential areas
Most foreigners choose to live in apartments, both new and old, because of the economic price and convenient daily life. However, more types are available–old villas, independent lane houses, duplex houses and town houses in downtown and the suburbs are available.
In another development, serviced apartment and some unique house leasing services may give guests to the city feelings of being treated like a king.
Most of the housing properties in the city have 24-hour janitors and security guards.
Many foreigners chose to live in downtown area, mainly consisted by Jing’an, Xuhui, Huangpu, Luwan and Changning for its convenience of transport, shopping and rich nightlife. Some also enjoy renting redecorated western-style houses and apartments hidden between parasol trees. They made their homes there to taste the typical Shanghai flavor.
The daily life in downtown area is very convenient. It is easy for you the access each corner of the city because of the good traffic condition. With a walking distance, you can do shopping on Huaihai Road, Xujiahui or Nanjing Road, where those who live in suburbs will spend hours on their cars or taxis.
Night life in the area is also famous and attractive. Generally speaking, the public utilities in down town areas are much more abundant than suburbs, even though you live in well furnished expatriate communities. But schools in the area are not specialized for foreign kids while golf is also not available.
Pudong used to be the largest rural area of the Shanghai. After it was announced as a "special area" in 1990, it has become a modern metropolitan with skyscrapers in Lujiazui, advanced manufacturing plants and communities in Jinqiao and high-tech start-ups in Zhangjiang. A lot of foreigners, especially those senior managers, who have their offices in Lujiazui and factories in Jinqiao, chose to live in Pudong, especially to their above mentioned working places, where a lot of houses, furnished apartments and villas were built mainly for expatriates. With facilities well furnished, foreigners can enjoy a typical westernized life and communities of their own.