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/install china-relocation-guide
Description
Use when expats, international students, or digital nomads need guidance on relocating to China, choosing cities, understanding visa requirements, or plannin...
README (SKILL.md)
China Relocation Guide
A comprehensive guide for high-net-worth individuals, expatriates, international students, and digital nomads planning to relocate to China. This skill provides city comparisons, cost of living analysis, and essential pre-arrival planning.
When to Use
- User mentions moving to China, relocating, or transferring to a Chinese office
- Questions about which Chinese city to live in (Shanghai vs Beijing vs Shenzhen vs others)
- Inquiries about cost of living comparisons between Chinese cities
- Need for pre-arrival checklist and timeline planning
- Questions about visa categories and work permit requirements
- Concerns about international schools, healthcare, or lifestyle quality
- Digital nomads considering China as a base
Overview
China offers diverse living experiences across its tiered city system. Tier 1 cities (Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou) provide international amenities at premium costs, while emerging Tier 2 cities (Hangzhou, Chengdu, Suzhou, Xi'an) offer excellent value with growing expat communities. Success depends on choosing the right city match for your lifestyle, budget, and career goals.
City Comparison Matrix
Tier 1 Cities - Premium International Lifestyle
| City | Monthly Budget (USD) | Expat Community | Best For | Key Challenge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | $3,500 - $8,000 | Very Large | Finance, Fashion, International Business | Highest cost of living |
| Beijing | $3,000 - $7,000 | Very Large | Tech, Government, Education | Air quality, traffic |
| Shenzhen | $2,800 - $6,500 | Large | Tech, Startups, Manufacturing | Limited historical culture |
| Guangzhou | $2,500 - $5,500 | Large | Trade, Manufacturing, Food | Language (Cantonese) |
Tier 2 Cities - Value & Growth Opportunities
| City | Monthly Budget (USD) | Expat Community | Best For | Key Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hangzhou | $2,000 - $4,500 | Medium | E-commerce, Tech, Nature | Alibaba ecosystem, West Lake |
| Chengdu | $1,800 - $4,000 | Medium | Gaming, Aerospace, Lifestyle | Relaxed pace, food culture |
| Suzhou | $2,200 - $4,500 | Small-Medium | Manufacturing, R&D | Close to Shanghai, gardens |
| Xi'an | $1,500 - $3,500 | Small | Education, Tourism, Aerospace | Rich history, lower costs |
| Nanjing | $2,000 - $4,200 | Small-Medium | Education, Software, Research | University town vibe |
| Qingdao | $2,000 - $4,000 | Small | Manufacturing, Beer, Beach | Coastal lifestyle |
Emerging Digital Nomad Hubs
| City | Monthly Budget (USD) | Internet Speed | Coworking Scene | Visa Ease |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dali (Yunnan) | $1,200 - $2,500 | Good | Growing | Tourist visa |
| Xiamen | $1,800 - $3,500 | Excellent | Established | Moderate |
| Chongqing | $1,600 - $3,200 | Good | Emerging | Moderate |
Cost of Living Deep Dive
Shanghai Breakdown (Monthly USD)
Premium Lifestyle ($6,000 - $8,000)
- Housing: 2-3BR in Former French Concession or Jing'an - $3,000 - $4,500
- International School: $2,000 - $3,500 per child
- Healthcare (international): $500 - $1,000
- Dining/Entertainment: $800 - $1,200
- Transportation: $200 - $400
Comfortable Lifestyle ($3,500 - $5,500)
- Housing: 1-2BR in Gubei or Hongqiao - $1,500 - $2,500
- Local + Some International Services: $400 - $600
- Dining: $500 - $800
- Transportation: $150 - $250
Beijing Breakdown (Monthly USD)
Premium Lifestyle ($5,500 - $7,500)
- Housing: 2-3BR in Chaoyang (Sanlitun, CBD) - $2,500 - $4,000
- International School: $1,800 - $3,200 per child
- Healthcare: $400 - $800
- Dining/Entertainment: $700 - $1,000
- Transportation: $150 - $300
Comfortable Lifestyle ($3,000 - $4,800)
- Housing: 1-2BR in Haidian or Dongcheng - $1,200 - $2,000
- Mixed Services: $350 - $500
- Dining: $450 - $700
- Transportation: $100 - $200
Shenzhen Breakdown (Monthly USD)
Premium Lifestyle ($5,000 - $6,500)
- Housing: 2-3BR in Nanshan (Hi-Tech Park) - $2,200 - $3,500
- International School: $1,500 - $2,800 per child
- Healthcare: $350 - $700
- Dining/Entertainment: $600 - $900
- Transportation: $120 - $250
Comfortable Lifestyle ($2,800 - $4,200)
- Housing: 1-2BR in Futian or Longhua - $1,000 - $1,800
- Mixed Services: $300 - $450
- Dining: $400 - $600
- Transportation: $80 - $150
Pre-Arrival Timeline
3-6 Months Before
- Secure job offer or university admission
- Begin work permit (Z visa) or student visa (X visa) application
- Research neighborhoods in target city
- Connect with expat communities on Facebook/LinkedIn
- Start learning basic Mandarin (HSK 1-2 recommended)
1-2 Months Before
- Finalize visa and receive entry permit
- Arrange temporary accommodation ( serviced apartment recommended)
- Notify banks of international move
- Purchase international health insurance
- Prepare document authentication (degree, birth certificates, marriage certificate)
2 Weeks Before
- Set up VPN service (essential for accessing Google, Western social media)
- Download essential apps (WeChat, Alipay, DiDi, Amap)
- Notify mobile carrier of roaming needs
- Prepare physical passport photos (20+ copies needed in China)
Visa & Work Permit Essentials
Visa Categories
| Visa Type | Purpose | Duration | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Z Visa | Work | 30 days entry, convert to residence permit | Work permit notification letter |
| X1 Visa | Long-term study (>180 days) | 30 days entry | JW201/JW202 form from university |
| X2 Visa | Short-term study (\x3C180 days) | Varies | Admission letter |
| M Visa | Business | 30-90 days | Invitation letter from Chinese company |
| Q1/Q2 | Family reunion | Varies | Proof of family relationship |
Work Permit Points System
China uses a points-based system (A, B, C classification):
Category A (High Talent) - Fast Track
- Score 85+ points
- Benefits: Faster processing, longer validity (up to 5 years)
- Criteria: Advanced degree, high salary (>$80K/year), recognized achievements
Category B (Professional) - Standard
- Score 60-84 points
- Most common for expats
- Requires: Bachelor's degree + 2 years experience
Category C (Temporary/Seasonal)
- Score below 60
- Limited duration and renewals
Quick Reference: First Week Checklist
Day 1-2: Arrival & Registration
- Register at local police station within 24 hours
- Purchase Chinese SIM card (China Mobile/Unicom/Telecom)
- Set up WeChat Pay with foreign credit card or cash top-up
- Buy transportation card (Shanghai: Jiaotong Card, Beijing: Yikatong)
Day 3-5: Essential Services
- Open bank account (ICBC, Bank of China, or HSBC for foreigners)
- Convert temporary visa to residence permit at Entry-Exit Administration
- Find permanent housing with agent assistance
- Register address with landlord (required by law)
Day 6-7: Settling In
- Set up home internet (China Telecom/Unicom/Mobile)
- Explore neighborhood for grocery, dining, services
- Join expat WeChat groups for your area
- Schedule health check for work permit (if required)
Red Flags to Avoid
Housing Scams
- Never pay deposit before viewing property
- Verify landlord owns property (ask for property certificate)
- Avoid "too good to be true" prices
- Use reputable agencies (JLL, Savills, or established local agents)
Visa Issues
- Never work on tourist (L) or business (M) visa
- Don't overstay - penalties are severe
- Keep residence permit valid - renew 30 days before expiry
Financial Pitfalls
- Don't carry large amounts of cash
- Avoid unofficial currency exchanges
- Be cautious of investment "opportunities" from new contacts
Resources & Communities
Expat Forums
- Shanghaiist / SmartShanghai
- The Beijinger
- Shenzhen Party
- Reddit r/China, r/Shanghai, r/Beijing
Professional Networks
- Chambers of Commerce (AmCham, BritCham, etc.)
- LinkedIn China groups
- Industry-specific WeChat groups
Essential Apps
| App | Purpose | English Support |
|---|---|---|
| Messaging, Payments, Everything | Limited | |
| Alipay | Payments, Services | Yes |
| DiDi | Ride-hailing | Yes |
| Amap / Baidu Maps | Navigation | Limited |
| Pleco | Dictionary | Yes |
| Dianping | Restaurant reviews | Limited |
Pro Tips for High-Net-Worth Individuals
- Housing: Consider serviced apartments for first 3-6 months while exploring neighborhoods
- Healthcare: Maintain international insurance + register at international hospital (Parkway, United Family, or public hospital VIP)
- Banking: Open multi-currency accounts; consider HSBC Premier or Citigold for easier transfers
- Education: Apply to international schools 12+ months in advance (waitlists are common)
- Tax Planning: Consult tax advisor on China tax residency (183+ days rule) and global income implications
Last Updated: March 2026 | For informational purposes only. Verify current regulations with official sources.
Usage Guidance
This skill appears coherent and low-risk from a permissions perspective, but consider these before installing: 1) Provenance: the skill has no homepage or source attribution — prefer skills that cite authoritative sources or official guidance. 2) Currency: visa, permit, and local rules change frequently — cross-check any visa/work-permit guidance with your nearest Chinese consulate/embassy or employer immigration counsel. 3) VPN advice: the guide recommends setting up a VPN to access Western services in China; that is a legal/operational recommendation that may have regulatory or security implications — confirm legality and safety for your situation before following it. 4) Do not treat this as legal/immigration advice; consult official channels for binding requirements. If you want stronger assurance, ask the publisher for sources/references or a homepage before installing.
Capability Analysis
Type: OpenClaw Skill
Name: china-relocation-guide
Version: 1.0.0
The 'china-relocation-guide' skill is a purely informational resource providing guidance for expatriates moving to China. It contains no executable code, external dependencies, or instructions that could lead to data exfiltration or unauthorized system access, focusing entirely on city comparisons, visa requirements, and cost-of-living data in SKILL.md.
Capability Assessment
Purpose & Capability
The name and description match the SKILL.md content: city comparisons, cost breakdowns, visa/work-permit guidance, and pre-arrival checklists. There are no requested binaries, env vars, or config paths that are unrelated to the stated purpose.
Instruction Scope
All runtime instructions are content-oriented and on-topic (advice, checklists, city comparisons). The guide recommends actions for the user (e.g., 'set up VPN service', 'connect with expat communities', download apps). It does not instruct the agent to read local files, access environment variables, or transmit data to external endpoints. The VPN recommendation is a notable operational/legal suggestion and should be treated as user-facing advice, not an agent action.
Install Mechanism
This is instruction-only with no install spec and no code files — nothing will be written to disk or installed by the skill itself.
Credentials
No credentials, environment variables, or config paths are requested. The skill does not ask for secrets or unrelated credentials.
Persistence & Privilege
The skill is not always-enabled and uses normal defaults (user-invocable, agent invocation allowed). It does not request elevated/persistent system privileges or modify other skills' configs.
How to Use
- Make sure OpenClaw is installed (local or Docker)
- Run the install command in chat:
/install china-relocation-guide - After installation, invoke the skill by name or use
/china-relocation-guide - Provide required inputs per the skill's parameter spec and get structured output
Version History
v1.0.0
Initial release: Comprehensive China relocation guide for expats, students, and digital nomads.
- Provides detailed city comparisons across tier 1 and tier 2 cities, plus digital nomad hubs
- Includes cost of living breakdowns for multiple lifestyle levels in major cities
- Features pre-arrival, visa application, and first-week checklists
- Explains Chinese visa categories and the work permit points system
- Highlights red flags and common risks for relocating to China
Metadata
Frequently Asked Questions
What is China Relocation Guide?
Use when expats, international students, or digital nomads need guidance on relocating to China, choosing cities, understanding visa requirements, or plannin... It is an AI Agent Skill for Claude Code / OpenClaw, with 151 downloads so far.
How do I install China Relocation Guide?
Run "/install china-relocation-guide" in the OpenClaw or Claude Code chat to install it in one step — no extra setup required.
Is China Relocation Guide free?
Yes, China Relocation Guide is completely free, licensed under MIT-0. You can download, install and use it at no cost.
Which platforms does China Relocation Guide support?
China Relocation Guide is cross-platform and runs anywhere OpenClaw / Claude Code is available (cross-platform).
Who created China Relocation Guide?
It is built and maintained by 走过 (@1970168137); the current version is v1.0.0.
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