The answer is simple: We currently live here. Life has led us here because of my husband's work. What can I say? It wasn’t an easy decision. As a Hungarian, it would have made more sense to move to Europe or even America. But fate has a sense of humor, and it didn’t choose the easier path for us. I had only stereotypical and general information about the country (cheap Chinese goods, people spitting and coughing, overcrowding, unbreathable air, etc.) mixed with my old memories of art history and a few facts from the internet:

• Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province

• the fourth-largest metropolis in China

• host city of the 2016 G20 summit and the 2022 Asian Games

• has a population of approximately 9 million (almost as many as Hungary)

​Despite the predicted negatives, all our impressions so far have been positive:

• overcrowding: Sure, a lot of people live here, but it’s not bothersome—except during events and occasions that attract large crowds

• spitting and coughing: it’s part of the culture and considered healthy. Not so long ago, this was the norm even in our little country, but then spit cups came along and we gradually gave up this habit.

• Chinese low-quality goods: I think they realized long ago that producing only low-quality products isn’t profitable in the future. There are “fake” products and low-quality goods, but where aren’t there? In contrast, every leading, high-quality luxury brand has a strong presence here, since the market is huge and so is the demand. 

• Air pollution: We haven’t had a problem with it so far. Both the government and the city are making serious efforts to ensure a livable environment. Here, near Hangzhou, one of the major polluting steel mills has been shut down; 95% of vehicles are electric, there are many bicycles, and a significant portion of the buses are also electric. There are also numerous electric vehicles among privately owned cars. In addition, they’re significantly expanding the subway system.

• Technology: It’s a shock to me. Here, they skipped several steps in development and took a giant leap forward. What isn’t possible in a single app in our country and many others has been ingeniously solved here using WeChat. It’s like a combination of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and PayPal: chatting, sharing, shopping, online payments without a credit card and/or using QR codes, ordering taxis, and so on. Of course, the well-known Alibaba doesn’t just excel at online ordering—which is popular with many—but, alongside WeChat, it’s also active in several sectors and offers similar apps. AI and IT technology are light-years ahead of Europe.

• Tourism: The city boasts outstanding tourist attractions; the immediate surroundings alone offer enough sights to keep you busy for a very long time. If you’re looking to venture further away, the distance between Hangzhou and Shanghai can be covered in about 45 minutes via China’s high-speed rail. Those who want to indulge in culinary delights will also find what they’re looking for here: there’s a wide selection of local, traditional, and Western restaurants to choose from.

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So why Hangzhou, of all places? Because it’s a great place to live! :-D

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September, 2017