Settling In 91road. Some police will tell you that it is illegal to walk your dog
outside at any time in downtown Shanghai; different districts
apply the law differently. Your pet is far more vulnerable to
crackdowns in the city centre that it is in the suburbs. During
SARS, the police in Beijing targeted large dogs.
Electing to live in the suburbs has its pros and cons.
Oftentimes you are living in an oasis surrounded by farmland,
and restaurant and shopping options are limited. Public
transportation is sparse and you are reliant upon your own
car (and driver) or the compound shuttle service. On the
positive side, the suburbs are normally more green, clean
and traffic-free than downtown. Many find them a far more
positive environment to raise kids.
Unique Space
If going the traditional route doesn’t exactly seem your
style, there are more exciting new options available to
foreigners living in China than ever before. Would you prefer
a refurbished factory floor along Suzhou Creek in Shanghai?
How about a traditional house complete with your own
courtyard in the Beijing hutongs?