Shenzhen Expat Life: Social Credit, Culture & Challenges

Meet Robert — born and raised in Hong Kong to British parents who moved from Scotland 40 years ago. He’s now been living in Shenzhen, China, for three years, running a manufacturing business. Robert revealed the truth about China’s social credit system, the hidden risks of becoming too wealthy in China, and we kicked off our walk through Shenzhen by testing drone food delivery.

Robert discussed the police presence in China, ranking foreigners in China, and how Chinese people care about the social credit score. He also shared why Chinese people try not to stand out and gave an inside look into a Chinese café and the view of Hong Kong from a window.

Further discussion included misconceptions about China, what freedom feels like in China, China’s diversity, and what the UK can learn from China. The interview also covered an extremely expensive golf club in Shenzhen, who usually moves to China and Hong Kong, and the most difficult thing about settling in China.

Robert also shared his experiences with Shenzhen in the past, making friends in China, the challenges of an “only child society”, things that are hard to get used to in China, and talking about personal life with Chinese people. The interview concluded with a walk through Shenzhen’s streets, how the government changed Shenzhen forever, China's rapid development of EVs, why there are so many young people in Shenzhen, underground streets in China, motorcycles in China, preferences for foreigners in China, and a look at the newest part of Shenzhen.