Shipping to China
Are you considering shipping to China and are searching for a removals company to advise and transport your goods?. The latest statistics indicate that between 35,000 and 40,000 Brits are living in China. A good number of these expats find they need to move to China for work purposes.
Moving to a new city is never easy, the process can be traumatic, even more so if you are moving your whole family with you. Moving to China can be even more overwhelming and stressful than, for example, Australia or the USA due in part to the immense linguistic and cultural differences you are most likely to encounter.
One of the first things you will need to arrange is the shipment of your personal belongings. At White & Company, we understand the stresses and strains of international relocation. We have been in the removals business for 145 years and being one of the industry’s leading removal firms, we have successfully helped thousands of customers move to destinations throughout China and the rest of the world.
Survey
The surveyor will need to conduct a home survey to ascertain the volume of effects being shipped. This involves him/her walking through the property room by room noting what items are to be exported and recording it on his electronic tablet.
Storage
White & Company has storage facilities at 19 storage locations throughout the UK all providing secure containerised storage in personal dedicated storage containers.
Packing
When the client has accepted the quoted price and a move date has been secured, the vehicle and removal team will arrive at residence. The removal team will proceed to export pack and wrap all items being shipped in special breathable bubble wrap.
Shipping
Upon arrival at your local depot, all effects are transferred to the export warehouse to await loading into a 20ft or 40ft container. The container is booked with the shipping line onto the first available vessel destined to the closest port of entry to your final destination.
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Why Move to China?
With a population of over 1.3 billion people, 14 borders to different countries, and over 50 different nationalities, China is one of the fastest growing and evolving nations on earth. Tourist numbers are also on the rise following a successful showing at the 2008 Beijing Olympic games.
While the rate of economic growth has slowed in recent years, the country’s job prospects remain good thanks to large-scale government investment in infrastructure and various industries the country has unlocked a wealth of economic opportunities.
In addition to these opportunities for work, expats are also drawn to the relatively low cost of living in China compared with the UK, although this depends on location. Rent and living costs in exciting east coast cities such as Shanghai and Beijing are generally more expensive.
In your downtime you will be able to immerse yourself in the country’s fascinating history and culture. From the Great Wall and the Forbidden City to X’ian’s incredible terracotta army, China has over 47 UNESCO world heritage sites (the second-highest of any country), meaning you will never be short of things to explore.
Visas
You must apply for a Chinese Work Visa if you want to work in China. It is imperative that you have the correct visa in place before you leave the UK.
Violation of Chinese immigration laws can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment, fines, deportation, a travel ban preventing you from leaving China, and an exclusion order, which prevents you from returning.
For more detailed information on how to apply for a resident visa, visit the following web sites:
• www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china/entry-requirements
• www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/visa/work.htm
• teflsearch.com/knowledgebase/china/requirements-and-visa-information
For English speakers, job opportunities will mostly be in cities such Beijing and Shanghai – the business and industrial hubs of the country. Many multinational companies have their Asian headquarters in one of these east coast locations – as well as in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Tianjin.
Finding work
For English speakers, most jobs will be in the big business and financial centres of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. The majority of expatriate workers in China find jobs with foreign-invested enterprises. Opportunities do exist with Chinese companies, but these usually require fluent knowledge of the language.
See the following web site for further information on researching and finding a job in China:
• www.justlanded.com/english/China/China-Guide/Jobs/Finding-a-job
Taxation
The Chinese taxation system is run on a progressive scale. As with the UK, the more you earn, the higher percentage of tax you’ll have to pay. Taxation rules and regulations applying to you will also be based on your length of stay in the country.
Visit the following web site for helpful information regarding tax in China:
• www.expatarrivals.com/china/banking-money-and-taxes-in-china
Shipping My Effects To China
The whole moving experience can be incredibly stressful, especially so when relocating abroad. White & Company, with its 145 years of experience in the removal industry, can help make the process a lot less traumatic.
White & Company move thousands of families around the globe each year and have branches all over the UK. We can arrange a free no obligation home survey and quotation. It will be carried out by one of our qualified surveyors, who is able to answer any of the questions and concerns you may have and offer advice where necessary.
The purpose of the survey is to determine the volume of effects you will be shipping. The cost of shipment is based on the space your effects will take up in the container. Following the visit, you will receive a written quotation.
Shipping from the UK to China
Upon arrival at your local depot. All effects are transferred to the export warehouse to await loading into a 20ft or 40ft container. The container is booked with the shipping line onto the first available vessel destined to the closest port of entry to your final destination in China.
Storage Provision
You may find you need to store some or all of your possessions for a period of time prior to moving abroad. It is good to know that White & Company have storage facilities at all our branch depots across the UK. Our depots offer secure containerised storage in personal dedicated storage containers. All our warehouses are clean, dry, secure and accredited to European standard BS EN 14873. Just speak to our surveyor for further information.
Our partners in China can also offer you storage. You may be renting for a while and may not need all of your effects to be delivered immediately. You can arrange for certain items to be delivered and once settled in your new home, the rest can follow. Please note that storage rates may apply.
Property
There is no private ownership of land in China. Purchasers can only obtain rights to use land. A land lease of up to 70 years is usually granted for residential purposes. Expats who have worked or studied in China for at least a year are permitted to buy property.
In recent years, interest rises have pushed up the price of property across the whole of China. As with most countries, the larger cities tend to be more expensive than the more rural areas.
As a guide, in Beijing city centre, you can currently expect to pay approximately 107,000 ¥ (£12,102) per square meter for a one bedroomed apartment. Outside the centre the price drops to 52,000 ¥. (£5,881).
It is important to hire a lawyer, especially if you are new to China and not familiar with the real estate system. There are some very good English-speaking lawyers available in all cities.
Schools
The Chinese government is very serious about schooling and in recent years has invested over 200 billion pounds on improvements and accessibility.
Since 1986, compulsory education in China comprises primary and junior secondary school, which together last for nine years.
Currently, China boasts over 340 international schools with most located within cities with a high expat population such as Beijing and Shanghai. Teachers are well qualified, and standards are high. Most school’s curriculums fall in line with those in the UK and students are mostly taught in English.
Here are some web sites with useful tips on Educating your child in China:
• www.expatbriefing.com/country/china
• expatchild.com/expat-education/
• www.internations.org/china-expats/british
White & Company
International Removals since 1871
We recommend a visit from one of our Surveyors for all International moves, so that we can assess your requirements, and the volume of goods to be moved.
Popular Places to Relocate in China
Beijing
Chengdu
Guilin
Haikou
Hangzhou
Kunming
Nanjing
Qingdao
Sanya
Shanghai
Shenzhen
Suzhou
Tianjin
Xiamen
Zhuhai
What Others Say…
Wayne Middleton and Brian Witherford were professional and extremely helpful. Did a brilliant job. Would recommend Whites to anyone. Thanks very much.
Have used this company regularly for 5 years including my time in the armed forces. They are professional and efficient. Will use them again on our next move.
The move went very smoothly and they were very polite.
A very smooth move by White and Co. The team worked very hard and were polite, professional and helpful.
