China: One of the Most Livable Countries in the World?

Link: China: One of the Most Livable Countries in the World?

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By Emmanuel Hemmerlé, 23 December 2025

After two weeks of business travel across Europe, I went for a walk near my home in Shanghai, enjoying the spring-like weather. Fresh air, open views, people walking in good spirits: it struck me how dramatically quality of life in China has improved!

This theme had already come up in my recent conversations with executives based in the West, who often asked what life in China is really like. When I shared my experience, reactions were disbelief, skepticism, or incomprehension.

To be fair, they were not entirely wrong. Many still hold an outdated view: heavy pollution, uneven food safety, inconsistent service, meticulous bureaucracy, grey cities, and a society overly focused on material status.

But China has changed profoundly. Pollution has largely subsided. Cities have been redesigned to create real living spaces: parks, gardens, riversides, Shanghai being a clear example, and society is far more diverse, with people focusing on experiences, health, and personal interests.

In terms of quality of life, China offers:

- Very strong personal safety, the foundation of all quality of life

- Rapidly improving healthcare

- High product quality and safety

- Strong education, with many local schools outperforming international ones

- High service standards and operational efficiency

- Social and state encouragement for entrepreneurship

- Outstanding dining and sophisticated hospitality

- Excellent infrastructure for sports and outdoor activities

A few months ago, my wife and I travelled through Western China, crossing the Gobi Desert, and more recently explored the seashore, several hours’ drive south of Shanghai. We stayed in boutique hotels, dined locally, and visited small towns and villages. Even in these remote areas, living conditions have improved dramatically.

Europe-based executives often ask about state surveillance. Honestly, I don’t know anyone personally affected. Daily life feels no more intrusive than in many Western countries.

Families are returning as multinationals relocate expats here. Feedback is consistent: they love life in China and are often shocked by the contrast with Western media narratives.

People sometimes ask whether, after 25 years in China, I plan to return to Europe. My answer: for holidays, yes. To live, certainly not.

Western-made “best cities to live” rankings largely miss this reality. Today, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, and even Beijing clearly deserve a place in the global top 20.

For corporate leaders, academics, and entrepreneurs alike, China should be high on the agenda as a top expat destination.

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