The China Urban Index: A Report on Western
Expatriate Livability

The incredible pace of change in China is unlike anything seen in recent history, and information about the changing dynamics of working and living in its biggest cities is difficult to secure. In order to address the lack of validated, comparative data for key cities in China, SIRVA partnered with Hong Kong University of Science & Technology to conduct a major research project on the suitability of various cities throughout China for corporate relocations and business operations from a human resources perspective.

In 2006, a team of senior researchers from SIRVA and the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology analyzed and compared three "first-tier" cities, including Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, and five other large (population two to ten million) but lesser-known "second-tier" cities. Information sources for the study include more than 100 in-depth interviews, conducted face-to-face over the course of three months with expatriates living and working in the eight cities studied.
The study is divided into three sections. The Quality of Life Index provides a view on key differentiators for those relocating to one of the eight cities studied, and offers a comparative look at the cities based on aspects that have the greatest impact on an expatriate’s ability to adapt to life in China. The Business Environment Index offers insight on the opportunities and challenges of establishing a business in one of the eight cities. The City Summaries sections provides further details and insight into the characteristics that make each location unique.

To download a free copy of the report, please click here.