{"id":34717,"date":"2019-10-30T13:47:23","date_gmt":"2019-10-30T00:47:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/?p=34717"},"modified":"2019-10-30T13:47:23","modified_gmt":"2019-10-30T00:47:23","slug":"what-you-need-to-know-before-retiring-in-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/what-you-need-to-know-before-retiring-in-china\/","title":{"rendered":"What You Need To Know Before Retiring In China"},"content":{"rendered":"

New Zealand has a growing ageing population, and it is projected that by 2036, there will be\u00a0<\/span>over\u00a0<\/span>1.2 million people<\/span><\/a>\u00a0aged 65\u00a0<\/span>and above living in the country. While many people from all over the world consider New Zealand to be a dream retirement destination, some Kiwis choose to retire elsewhere for a change of pace, and China is one of those countries which is conducive to a happy retirement. With its\u00a0<\/span>stunning and diverse scenery<\/span><\/a>, amazing culture and affordable cost of living, it\u2019s no wonder that many people are choosing to settle down in this country. But before making the big move and retiring in China, consider the following factors.<\/span><\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll need a visa and some savings<\/b><\/span><\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re planning to retire in China, know that<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>you\u2019ll need a visa<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to stay there on a permanent basis. Since you\u2019re not registered in the Chinese Household Registration Book, you\u2019ll have to apply for a visa before leaving New Zealand. As you won\u2019t be getting a state pension, and because there\u2019s no free medical coverage provided in the country, it\u2019s important to have enough savings so you can ensure your well-being\u00a0while living there. The good news is that in China, it\u2019s easy to\u00a0<\/span>live on a budget as a retiree<\/span><\/a>, as the cost of living is quite affordable.<\/span><\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

Renting a simple, one-bedroom apartment near the cities costs about 2000 RMB every month, which is about 440 NZD. But if you choose to live right in the heart of the city (Beijing, for instance), expect to pay more for rent, as it ranges from 4000 to 6000 RMB to live there. As for food, you\u2019ll be pleased to know that dining out is relatively cheap, and you can pay as little as 2 RMB for street food (grilled meat on a stick is a local favourite) or about 100 RMB for food and drinks at a Western restaurant.<\/span><\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll need to learn the language<\/b><\/span><\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

People who are staying for a few days or weeks in China often find that they can get by even without knowing how to converse in the local language. However, if you\u2019re planning to retire in the country, then you\u2019ll need to know basic Mandarin, at the very least. You can take basic, entry-level language classes in schools that offer the program, such as the Keats School in Kunming or the Hanbridge Mandarin School in Shenzhen, or look for tutors who offer small group Chinese classes near your area.\u00a0<\/span><\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

Living a relaxing and satisfying lifestyle<\/b><\/span><\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

Retiring in China means that you\u2019ll have access to a relaxing and satisfying lifestyle. You can take tai-chi classes in open parks, and most of them are free. You can also have regular massages and spa days at different spas in the country for just a few yuan. Moreover, if you\u2019re not feeling well or if you\u2019d like to take a break from housekeeping, you can hire a housekeeper to do the chores for about 50 RMB for a few hours\u2019 work.\u00a0<\/span><\/u><\/u><\/p>\n

Spending your golden years in China is one of the best ways to live an affordable and serene lifestyle. Do your research before making the plunge, learn the language, and make sure to have your finances in order for a hassle-free and happy retirement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New Zealand has a growing ageing population, and it is projected that by 2036, there will be\u00a0over\u00a01.2 million people\u00a0aged 65\u00a0and above living in the country. While many people from all over the world consider New Zealand to be a dream retirement destination, some Kiwis choose to retire elsewhere for a change of pace, and China […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":34718,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[159],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34717"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34717"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34717\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34718"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34717"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34717"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nzchinasociety.org.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34717"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}