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'Little UN' Gubei draws expats from East and West
By Fei Lai |
March 13, 2011, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
GUBEI Area in Changing District draws expats with its international-standard residential area that's sometimes called a "little United Nations," "Little Tokyo" and "Koreatown."
Gubei, which is well established and lively, has around 20,000 residents, including more than 9,000 expats and people from other parts of China. They are mostly from Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. In addition, residents come from Singapore, India, Turkey, the UK and elsewhere.
The small (1.4 square kilometer) community is one of international standards.
"Convenient transport to the downtown and Hongqiao Airport, sound infrastructure, schools, trendy restaurants, shops, entertainment and cultural venues all attract expats to Gubei," said Tang Lingyan, Party secretary of Ronghua Residential Committee.
The area is defined by Yaohong Road E. in the east, and Hongxu Road in the west; it runs from Guyang Road in the south to Hongqiao Road in the north.
Gubei is divided into two parts by Gubei Road. The east portion combines residence and business; the west (half a square kilometer) is the high-standard international community.
Gubei was established in the 1990s as one of Shanghai's earliest high-standard international communities.
At that time of reform and opening up, the Hongqiao Development Zone was established to attract foreign investment.
Gubei was established as a "bedroom community, a foreign residential area for people working in the zone."
In 1995 Shanghai listed Gubei as one of its "10 grand new areas" and it became known as a place where cultures and nationalities come together, a little United Nations.
Ronghua Residential Committee, established in 1996, is one of the city's very first residential communities for foreigners.
Learning that Japanese housewives like get-togethers and want to stay in close contact with each other, the committee arranges weekly hobby clubs offering calligraphy, painting and weaving.
On festivals and holidays such as the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Lantern Festival, barbecues and dance parties are held.
"It's a way to allow the expats to learn about Chinese culture," said Tang.
"Vice versa, when Easter or Halloween comes, there are parties in the Western traditions."
The committee staff can speak Japanese, Korean and English. Notices are posted in different languages.
A handy manual on how to settle in Gubei has been put together by newcomers to the community. It provides information on property management companies, schools, hospitals, supermarkets and other necessities.
It explains how to get a driver's license, how to license a dog and handle various kinds of required documentation.
"It's a pleasure working in this international environment. We are actually one big family," Tang said.
In the next phase of development, the community hopes to involves more residents in volunteering and charity work.
A community website is being built.
Gubei, which is well established and lively, has around 20,000 residents, including more than 9,000 expats and people from other parts of China. They are mostly from Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. In addition, residents come from Singapore, India, Turkey, the UK and elsewhere.
The small (1.4 square kilometer) community is one of international standards.
"Convenient transport to the downtown and Hongqiao Airport, sound infrastructure, schools, trendy restaurants, shops, entertainment and cultural venues all attract expats to Gubei," said Tang Lingyan, Party secretary of Ronghua Residential Committee.
The area is defined by Yaohong Road E. in the east, and Hongxu Road in the west; it runs from Guyang Road in the south to Hongqiao Road in the north.
Gubei is divided into two parts by Gubei Road. The east portion combines residence and business; the west (half a square kilometer) is the high-standard international community.
Gubei was established in the 1990s as one of Shanghai's earliest high-standard international communities.
At that time of reform and opening up, the Hongqiao Development Zone was established to attract foreign investment.
Gubei was established as a "bedroom community, a foreign residential area for people working in the zone."
In 1995 Shanghai listed Gubei as one of its "10 grand new areas" and it became known as a place where cultures and nationalities come together, a little United Nations.
Ronghua Residential Committee, established in 1996, is one of the city's very first residential communities for foreigners.
Learning that Japanese housewives like get-togethers and want to stay in close contact with each other, the committee arranges weekly hobby clubs offering calligraphy, painting and weaving.
On festivals and holidays such as the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Lantern Festival, barbecues and dance parties are held.
"It's a way to allow the expats to learn about Chinese culture," said Tang.
"Vice versa, when Easter or Halloween comes, there are parties in the Western traditions."
The committee staff can speak Japanese, Korean and English. Notices are posted in different languages.
A handy manual on how to settle in Gubei has been put together by newcomers to the community. It provides information on property management companies, schools, hospitals, supermarkets and other necessities.
It explains how to get a driver's license, how to license a dog and handle various kinds of required documentation.
"It's a pleasure working in this international environment. We are actually one big family," Tang said.
In the next phase of development, the community hopes to involves more residents in volunteering and charity work.
A community website is being built.
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