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[Mobiil]

Just want to know what kind of social life there is?

We are 4 of us  (Finnsh family) and try to look for a change or should I say a life around other foreign people

S

[FerryDubbers]

I can understand the problem.
I know Lu'An. we are working on a project with Lu'An People's Hospital and apart from my colleagues on incidental visits, I never saw any other foreigners there.

We live part of the year in an apartment just East of Shu Shan (the hill that you see on the right when you enter Hefei from Lu'An).
We are the only foreigners in a complex that has 2 - 3000 apartments.

If you work in Lu'An and have to travel there daily, it is worth considering that it takes some time to get out of the city during rush hour, so the area around Chang Jiang Xi Lu has some benefits.

If you want contact with foreigners, this site is the place to meet them. 
Unlike big cities as Shanghai or Beijing, not too many expats came to Hefei as families.
As far as I know, there are no real foreigners concentrations, apart from the university campus apartments that Sylvia mentioned.

I can imagine that a location near suitable schools has advantages if you have young kids.

[Mobiil]

Lu'an is just too small place to live with the family. If you have visited here you got quite good touch of this city.

Anyway, thank you for you writings. We are interested to know more about the social circle of Hefei.
Also, are they any foreign families with children under school age?

Do you have kind of get to geather meeting's or just random bar evenings.
I was a  member of your earlier expat site but forgot my password and site it self was not found anymore.
I remember that you had meetings in the Holiday Inn in Charlies, if I don't remember wrong, correct me please.

S

[Aussie Mike]

The closest guesstimate is about 2500 foreigners of all nationalities including asian are in Hefei on any one day.
However, most are short term, fly in fly out business people, baby buyers and visitors.
There are approx 1000 expats but less than half of these socialise with the rest of us.

I know maybe 200 and know about another 300, the rest are totally unknown to me.

[WhitDeMuerta]

I know of several familys that live in Hefei with kids. Its a difficult thing to live in a small, less developed place like Lu'an (hell, i think Hefei is pretty backwards compared to Shanghai) but there are much more things to do in Hefei. I have no clue how many foreigners there are in Hefei but I would assume the number of resident Anglos in Hefei to be much less than 1,000.

[chowder]

I also wonder how many families of expats are already here in Hefei... i wish my son could also socialize with kids who are english speaking because my son is having a hard time to play with chinese kids.... they find my son so different that's why they (some) kids refuse to play with him...

[Aussie Mike]

The latest guestimates we have are 4000 and 8000 approx .01% of the population.
I presume that's 4000 expats and 4000 foreign visitors

That fit's in with the growth patterns and expectations.

2005 was 1000 and 2000.

The number of expatriates and foreign visitors is anticipated to increase exponentially.

I estimate the ratio will increase above 2% of the 20,000.000 expected population for 2020-2025.

[saixili]

Hellooo

I am moving to Hefei in about 15 days...
I thought there were no expats there but reading this forum chaged my mind..
i guess you enjoy your life there, right??
im actually very excited but scared at the same time..im all alone and i dont know anyone there!!

[Aussie Mike]

I've recently been talking with some returned Hefei ren, Hefei born but have not been back for 10 years or more.

Their response is, the city is not recognisable, their friends have all changed or left, although family is still famil, Hefei does not the same feel but it is somehow better.

Since I arrived in 2004 for a 4 month holiday, Hefei has gone through some incredible changes. I have to say, the longer I stay, the more I like it.

As far as getting to know some locals and expats here, I think I know enough to get you settled.

[saixili]

Really???

what do you guys do there? i've read theres a few clubs and bars..
how do you spend your free time?
i've been living in Beijing since 2004 so i think its going to be quite difficult for me to adapt in Hefei but im sure i'll like it..

[JRS]

This is my third city in China. Also the smallest. Might be a bit boring coming from Beijing.

But the first thing I noticed was the difference with the locals. Very relaxed, low key.

Taxi drivers are general pleasant. I have only had one take me for a road trip around the city.

I have only been here about 5 months, but I enjoy it. Even with the limited entertainment venue.

The people are nice.

[saixili]

and where are you guys all from??

im glad to see you enjoy it..i adapt easily so im sure i'll enjoy it too..

i'm jus afraid cuz i dont know anyone there!

[saixili]

anyone there

[Aussie Mike]

8,000 of us from all over the world

[bao luo]

According to 2010 census, in China

18.8% of us have been here < 6 months
14.26% of us have been here  6-12 months
17.93% of us have been here  1-2 years
24.47% of us have been here  2-5 years
24.54% of us have been here  5+ years

The upper end surprises me. I always thought the foreigner population was a little more transient than this.

Of the foreigners that come to China, turns out a significant percentage put down roots.