Rental guides for expats in China

🎬

Beijing

From ¥5,500/mo · Capital, diplomacy & top universities

Read guide → 🌃

Shanghai

From ¥6,500/mo · China's most international city

Read guide → ⛲

Hangzhou

From ¥3,500/mo · Lakes, tech hubs & a calmer pace

Read guide → 🌿

Suzhou

From ¥3,000/mo · Classical gardens & manufacturing belt

Read guide → 🌴

Guangzhou

From ¥3,500/mo · Trade capital & incredible food

Read guide → 🏙

Shenzhen

From ¥4,500/mo · Tech metropolis next to Hong Kong

Read guide → 🐼

Chengdu

From ¥2,800/mo · China's most affordable tier-1 city

Read guide → 🌶️

Chongqing

From ¥1,300/mo · Mountain city, river views, lowest rents

Read guide → 🏯

Nanjing

From ¥2,500/mo · Old capital, new CBD, big student city

Read guide → 🧱

Xi'an

From ¥2,000/mo · Ancient capital, tech belt, lowest north-central rents

Read guide →

🛡️

Rental Survival Guide

Contracts, deposits, 24-hour police registration, and free mediation channels — based on real expat cases.

Read the guide → 📘

Renting in China (Complete Guide)

The 3 housing types, documents you need, what to check before signing, and common traps to avoid.

Read the guide → ✈️

Rent in China Before Arrival

A remote-renting checklist: define your move, compare listings with local routes, request written terms, and plan move-in and registration.

Read the guide → 💳

How Foreigners Pay Rent in China

Accepted payment routes, what to do without a Chinese bank account, fees, timing and a record-keeping checklist.

Read the guide → ⚖️

Beijing: 4 Legal Traps

A Beijing lawyer's breakdown of the disputes that catch expat tenants — plus a checklist and dispute toolkit.

Read the guide → 📍

Renting in Chaoyang, Beijing

Who to rent from, public vs commercial apartments, viewing tips, and the contract + registration steps.

Read the guide → 🏮

Beijing Housing & Culture

Compounds vs hutongs, the 24-hour registration rule, payment apps, district rents and the monthly budget.

Read the guide → 🗺️

Beijing Districts & Rents

Neighborhood rents by district, 押一付三 payment, utility costs, the 24-hour rule and 2026 purchase rules.

Read the guide → 🔑

Finding a Flat in Beijing

Cost table by type, the 押一付三 move-in cost, platforms, the 24-hour rule and common scams.

Read the guide → 🌍

Where Expats Live in Beijing

Chaoyang, Shunyi, Wangjing, Haidian and Dongcheng hutongs — with rents, lease terms and utilities.

Read the guide → 🏠

Beijing Housing Types

High-rise, co-living, serviced apartments, villas and renovated hutongs — with rents, fees and buying rules.

Read the guide → 💰

Beijing Housing Costs 2026

Rents by type and district, the 押一付三 upfront payment, agent fees, fapiao tax and a Beijing–Shanghai comparison.

Read the guide → 📊

Beijing Rental Market

A tenant's market: rents by district, hidden costs, escrow protection, 24-hour registration and how much to negotiate.

Read the guide → 📝

Beijing Lease Agreements

Platform fees, the five-month cash hit on signing day, illegal room conversions and the police registration step.

Read the guide → 💡

Beijing Utilities & Bills

2026 tiered electricity, water and gas rates, the Nov 15–Mar 15 heating season, broadband and monthly budgets.

Read the guide → 🛏️

Beijing Short-Term Stays

Hotels, serviced apartments and hutong hostels by night and month — plus the 24-hour registration rule on arrival.

Read the guide → 🗺️

Chongqing Neighborhoods

Yuzhong, Jiangbei, Shapingba and Nan'an rents, buying prices and deed tax, plus the vertical-commute warning.

Read the guide → 🌏

Chongqing Housing for Expats

Rents by unit type, the best expat districts, deposits and fees, and the 24-hour registration steps.

Read the guide → 🏢

Chongqing Agents & Fees

Beike, Ziroom, 5i5j and Wellcee compared — commissions, deposit patterns and how to verify a landlord.

Read the guide → 🛋️

Chongqing Furnishing & Utilities

IKEA and second-hand sources, 2026 utility rates, bill payment apps and the mandatory gas-meter check.

Read the guide → 🌶️

Chongqing Housing & Culture

No central heating, 75%+ humidity, 山水 view premiums and what that means for your flat hunt.

Read the guide → 🔑

Renting in Chongqing

Rents by district, upfront costs, verified apps, the 5-step renting and 24-hour 警快办 registration process.

Read the guide → 🎓

Chongqing Student Housing

Dorm fees at CQU, CQNU and SWU, off-campus rents in University Town, contract traps and 一户一码 registration.

Read the guide → 💰

Chongqing Living Costs

Rents by district, tiered electricity and the summer spike, plus a realistic single-person monthly budget.

Read the guide → 🛏️

Chongqing Short-Term Stays

Luxury skyline hotels and serviced apartments by night, the foreigner-friendly booking rule and the 8D terrain warning.

Read the guide → 🏡

Buying Property in Chongqing

One-home self-use rule, ¥8,330/m² average, taxes and fees, and the 30% foreign down payment requirement.

Read the guide → 🗺️

Nanjing Neighborhoods & Housing

Hexi CBD, Gulou, Xuanwu and Jiangning rents, 押一付三 norms, the official e-contract and 24-hour registration.

Read the guide → 📊

Nanjing Rental Market

Rents by district and type, the housing bureau contract template, illegal partitioned flats and early-exit rules.

Read the guide → 🌍

Nanjing Expat Housing (2026)

Hexi, Gulou, Jiangbei and Xianlin rents, serviced apartments, 地暖 hunting and the −5 °C winter warning.

Read the guide → 💡

Nanjing Utilities & Bills

Tiered power at ¥0.5283/kWh, 2025 water tariffs, gas, fibre — and paying with a foreign card via Alipay.

Read the guide → 🛋️

Nanjing Furnishing & Appliances

Furniture price bands, IKEA and Suning vs JD.com, the formaldehyde test and the 220V voltage warning.

Read the guide → 🛏️

Nanjing Short-Term Stays

Hotels and Hexi serviced apartments by night, the foreigner-friendly booking rule and 24-hour registration.

Read the guide → 🎓

Nanjing Student Accommodation

Dorm fees at NUAA, NJU and SEU, Xianlin vs Gulou private rents, 押一付三 and 24-hour registration.

Read the guide → 🏡

Buying Property in Nanjing

One self-use home, ¥25,000/m² average, 1.0% deed tax up to 140 m², mortgages and the 70-year land right.

Read the guide → 🏙️

Where to Live in Shanghai (7 Areas)

Hongqiao, Zhongshan Park, Biyun, the French Concession, Jing'an, Xintiandi and Lujiazui — matched to your lifestyle.

Read the guide → 🛂

Family Visit Visa (Q vs S)

Bring your family to China — who qualifies for Q vs S visas, documents, invitation letters and stay limits.

Read the guide → 🏠

Shanghai Rental Types

Affordable housing, regular long-term lease or serviced apartment — which one fits your stay length and budget?

Read the guide → 🛬

China Visa-Free Entry

50 countries + 240-hour transit: who qualifies, what to prepare, and the work-boundary warning.

Read the guide → 🔐

Shanghai Deposit Rules

押一付三, the 2025 rental law, how to verify the landlord, classic scams and getting your deposit back.

Read the guide → 💰

Shanghai Monthly Budget

Real 2026 cost-of-living numbers: ¥7,500 to ¥42,000 a month depending on tier, with the hidden costs.

Read the guide → 🏛️

Shanghai Consulates Guide

What your consulate can and cannot do: passports, notarials, the single-status certificate for marriage, appointments and emergencies.

Read the guide → 🗺️

Beijing Apartment Hunting: The Full Walkthrough

Budgeting, hutong vs high-rise, search channels and negotiation, movers, settling in — the whole journey from arrival to keys in hand.

Read the guide → 🏛️

Renting in Beijing: The Basics

Agents vs WeChat groups, viewing checklists, deposit norms, police registration and monthly bills — the fundamentals before you sign.

Read the guide → ⚠️

Beijing Rental Pitfalls: Four Checks

Ground-floor damp, street noise, fake "5 minutes to the subway" and five months of rent due at once — how to spot all four before you sign.

Read the guide → 🍂

Shanghai Autumn Guide

The best weeks of the year: osmanthus in October, golden plane trees in November, and the 9 km Suzhou River walk.

Read the guide → 🚄

Shanghai's New Rail Stations

Five new high-speed stations and Pudong T3 by 2028 — and what the new rail map means for where you live.

Read the guide → 📊

Shanghai Rent by Budget

Four rent rungs, four district families — match your monthly one-bedroom budget to the area that fits.

Read the guide → 🏠

Buying Property in Shanghai

The 2026 沪七条 rules for expats — one-home self-use, 12-month social-security, deed tax and mortgages.

Read the guide → 🌴

Buying Property in Guangzhou

The 2026 citywide removal of purchase restrictions for foreigners, Nansha's ¥30,000 subsidy, and three expat compounds.

Read the guide → 🛋️

Furnishing & Decor

2026 furnishing costs, where to buy (IKEA Tianhe, Shunde, the Textile City), second-hand on Xianyu and the bulky-waste rule.

Set up your home → ⚖️

Housing Regulations

The 24-hour police-registration rule, 2025 national rental law, 押二付一 deposit norms and the platforms to use or avoid.

Know the rules → 🛏️

Short-Term Stays

Hotels, service apartments, the Canton Fair 2–4x premium, the Airbnb gap and the 24-hour registration rule.

Visit Guangzhou → 📊

Rental Market 2026

District rent tables, the 2+1 deposit, vanishing 城中村, the 回南天 humidity trap and a 7-step finding guide.

Market trends → 🏡

Buying Property (2026 Rules)

The 120 m² rule, district prices (~¥44,494/sqm), deed tax / VAT, and the 15%→30–50% mortgage gap.

Buy in GZ → 📍

Guangzhou Expat Areas

Zhujiang New Town, Haizhu, Yuexiu, Panyu, Baiyun — 2026 rents and who lives where.

Where to live → 🛏️

Guangzhou Shared Housing

Co-living rooms from ¥1,200, the best expat apps, and the 24-hour police rule.

Shared rooms → 🔌

Guangzhou Utilities & Bills

Seasonal electricity tiers, 2025 water rates, gas and paying inside WeChat / Alipay.

Set up utilities → 🐾

Pet-Friendly Housing in Guangzhou

2026 dog rules, registration fees, breed limits and pet-welcoming rents.

Pets in GZ → 🛡️

Guangzhou Housing Safety

Safe districts, deposit protection under national rules, and scams to avoid.

Rent safely → 🗣️

Expat Voices: Russians in Guangzhou

A 2014 Guangzhou Daily interview, republished — two Russian students of Mandarin and the Russian consul-general.

Read the snapshot → 🌊

Shenzhen in 2026: The Expat Wave

Shenzhen's ports passed 2 billion travellers and foreigners are arriving visa-free in record numbers — what it means for your move.

Read the trend → 🏨

Shenzhen Accommodation Guide

Hotels, serviced apartments, free youth hostels and rental safety tips for foreigners arriving in Shenzhen.

Find a place → 🛋️

Shenzhen Furnishing & Utilities

Furniture costs, electricity/water/gas setup, 2026 tiered rates, broadband and the 商办 bill trap to avoid.

Set up your home → 🏆

Hangzhou Luxury Housing

High-end rentals, serviced apartments, premium compounds and the expat purchase rules for Hangzhou.

Explore luxury → 🏠

Buying Property in Hangzhou

The 2026 expat purchase rules — one-home self-use, 12-month residence, deed tax, VAT and the step-by-step process.

Read the guide → 🏨

Hangzhou Serviced Apartments

Districts, price tiers, named operators, lease terms, arrival steps and the 24-hour registration rule.

Find a place → 🔌

Hangzhou Utilities & Services

2026 electricity/water/gas rates, the 浙里办 app, Alipay bill payment and the December tier trap to avoid.

Set up your home → 🎓

Hangzhou Student Housing

On-campus dorms, off-campus rents near the universities, 押一付三 norms and digital police registration.

Student guide → 💰

Suzhou Housing Costs

Rents by area and layout, 2026 purchase prices after the rule change, agent fees and a sample budget.

Cost breakdown → 📍

Suzhou Expat Areas

SIP, SND, Gusu and the suburbs — rents, international schools, commute and registration steps.

Area guide → 🏯

Suzhou Traditional Houses

苏式民居 in Gusu — costs, the commercial-utility trap, winter survival and heritage purchase rules.

Traditional housing → 🔌

Suzhou Utilities & Services

2026 electricity/water/gas rates, the 苏周到 app, Alipay bill payment and the year-end tier trap.

Set up your home → 🛏️

Suzhou Short-Term Stays

Hotels, hostels, homestays, nightly/monthly rates and the 24-hour registration rule.

Short-term guide → 🏨

Suzhou Serviced Apartments

SIP price tiers, named operators, fapiao and the arrival checklist.

Serviced guide → 📊

Suzhou Rental Market

Rents by type and area, agent fees, area overview and the main traps.

Market overview → 🏡

Buying Property in Suzhou

Foreigner eligibility, prices by district, taxes, mortgage and the five-step process.

Buying guide →