migrate to a new city and start a new job
Migrate to a new city and start a new job. What do you need to prepare?
residence permit
The most important thing to do first is to apply for a new residence permit from the local police station when you settle in a new place.
Today I learned that in some places, like Beijing, residence permits can be classified into two types.
- General residence permits are assigned to those who live in the city.
- Work residence permits are assigned to people who have a legal job in the city.
Housing
Renting a new house provides the foundation for a living experience for a long time to come.
Is the rented house far from your workplace?
Is it far from shopping malls?
Is it far from top-tier 3A hospitals*?
Are there any parks nearby?
Are there any universities or colleges nearby?
Are there any barbershops nearby?
Are there any pharmacies* nearby?
Are there any laundromats* nearby, preferably 24-hour self-service?
Are there any hardware* stores nearby?
Are there any telecommunications service providers nearby?
Are there any libraries nearby? (optional)
Are there any sports halls nearby?
Are there any banks nearby? (optional)
Transport
Is there Metro/MRT(Mass Rapid Transit)/MTR(Mass Transit Railway, only available in Hong Kong) station nearby?
Is the rented house far from the Metro/MRT(Mass Rapid Transit)/MTR(Mass Transit Railway, only available in Hong Kong) station?
Is it close to major public transportation hubs, such as railway stations, highways, expressways?
Are there any bus stops nearby? (optional)
Eating
Find some delicacies near the rented house.
- breakfast: rice balls, sticky rice chicken, steamed buns, tea eggs, hot dry noodles, breakfast shops, bread shops.
- lunch/dinner:
- Cantonese cuisine, Hunan spicy stir-fry, Hainan coconut chicken, hot pot, buffet, barbecue, Korean BBQ
- old friend rice noodles, Chongqing noodles, shacha noodles, biangbiang noodles, dumplings.
- fast-food restaurants, pizza, hamburger.
- cake shops, 24-hour convenience stores, ice cream shops, bubble tea shops, coffee shops.
- branded supermarket:
- Fresh hippo (盒马)*
- Carrefour
- PX Mart (大全聯)(formerly RT-Mart 大潤發 in Taiwan in 2025)
[!NOTE] *:
- Tier 3A hospitals: 三級甲等醫院（三甲醫院），一級、二級、三級醫院，每一級再細分為甲、乙、丙
- pharmacy: 药店；药房 (a shop where medicines are sold or given out)；药剂学 (the science of preparing medicines)；制药业 (the job of preparing medicines)
- laundromat: also use launderette and launderette 自助洗衣店，洗衣铺 (a place where people can pay to use machines to wash and dry their clothes)
- hardware: 五金器具 (refers to tools and equipment that are used in the home and garden)
- hippo: hippopotamus, 源自希腊語河馬，English 縮写成 ‘hippo’, a very large African animal with short legs and thick, hairless skin, live in and near rivers.
Clothing
Branded clothing stores
- IKEA
- Uniqlo
- Adidas
- Puma
- Nike (optional)
- Decathlon
- 361 Degrees
- Anta (安踏)