Why would an expat want to live in China for a very long time?
Some  people that are "expats" that live in China, no longer feel like an  expat. Reasons: they have family members there (Blood and/or marriage).  To me I have a second hometown in China, in the Shandong Province. The  locals treat me as if I am long distance relative...(regardless of my  appearance) Therefore as some Chinese call the USA their home some  "Expats" call China/HK/Macau/ Taiwan their home. citizenship does not  matter in this emotional construct 
China - 6 Answers
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1 :
Confuses me
2 :
I think its because the standard of living is far cheaper in China for them.
3 :
Hi  from Beijing!    I'm not an expat as you know but I asked similar question a while ago.   I'm interested in who would answer this question and what kind of  answers you may get.  Cheers!
4 :
I'm an ex pat from the USA and the reason I  like it here, is (gulp) I feel freer.   I do not fear walking out late at night.  I do not fear a terrorist attack.  I do not fear the IRS or China's tax collecting agency.  I don't make  enough to pay taxes here.  My wages are more then average.  Plus if I do  get to the point of having to pay taxes, it appears their system is  miles away easier to deal with (and keep in mind, it's in Chinese)  I do not fear that I will have something in my bag that is illegal when I  walk into a government building, because no one pays attention to it.  I do not fear that every step in the city I live is being recorded by 9  gazillion camera's.  I do not fear being tazered by some over zealot rent-a-cop.  I do not fear this country will go to war.  I do not fear police dogs because I never see them.  I do not fear a knock at my door.  I do not fear the police.  I do not fear the military.  I do not fear those in authority.  I do not fear I will be sued for anything under the sun.  I do not fear my boss.  I do not fear my students (I'm a teacher -- think about that for a  moment)  I do not fear I will be thrown in prison for speaking against the  government privately.  I do not fear that some right or left wing nut will punch me in the face  for voicing an opinion (but I find the Chinese people, for the most  part, don't give a $hit about politics)  I do not fear people will blame me for for their problems because of my  ancestors or countries past deeds.  I do not fear I will not have enough food on the table.  I do not fear for my future.  I do not fear I won't have money in my pocket.  I do not fear angry hateful people because they are virtually non  existent.  I do not fear I can't watch the shows I loved in the USA because most  are on DVD.  I do not fear the food here because it is usually natural, healthy and  cheap as hell.  I do not fear the air quality here because I live in the central part of  China and the air is pretty clean here.  I do not fear water pollution because the river that runs through town  is clean.  I do not fear the government because they have been consistently  friendly and helpful.  In short, I now live with lack of fear.  Now do you know why I intend to live here?  ============== I make $500 a month and I pay a maid to come in once every  other week to do the heavy work. ==============  Peace  Jim  .
5 :
Because being an expat, you earn more money.  First, you earn much more money than a local Chinese. If you get paid  for USD800 per month as a University Graduate and trying to live the way  you currently live, you may not want to stay in China forever.  Second, you properly get a good life there in China, as compare your  home town. Can you afford a domestic maid in your home country? A  domestic maid who cook, wash, iron, etc, in Shandong may cost you say  USD500 per month. Can you afford that in your home country?
6 :
just plain jim is right. America sucks!
  
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