--- title: "China for digital nomads: 22 cities compared (2026)" url: https://nostos.navoy.io/countries/china description: "China for remote workers: 22 cities scored on cost, safety, healthcare, internet, visas, climate and air. Best city Shenzhen (59/100). China has no digital-n…" dataset: 2026.10.7 (2026-10-13) license: CC BY 4.0 --- # China for digital nomads: 22 cities compared (2026) China has 22 cities in the dataset. Shenzhen scores highest under balanced weights at 59/100; Chengdu is the cheapest with a city-level price at $1,896 a month. China has no digital-nomad visa. ## Cities in China, ranked | # | City | Score | Cost/mo (USD) | Download (Mbps) | Known for | Page | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Shenzhen | 59 | 2152 | 17.8 | Hardware and startups; Hong Kong 15 min | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/shenzhen | | 2 | Sanya | 57 | 1850 (national estimate) | 17 | Yalong Bay beaches; Warm winters | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/sanya | | 3 | Zhuhai | 57 | 1850 (national estimate) | 15.5 | Lovers' Road seafront; Macau on foot across the border | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/zhuhai | | 4 | Kunming | 56 | 1850 (national estimate) | 17 | Year-round mild climate; Gateway to Yunnan | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/kunming | | 5 | Xiamen | 56 | 1850 (national estimate) | 10.8 | Gulangyu island; Seaside cycling paths | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/xiamen | | 6 | Guangzhou | 55 | 1850 (national estimate) | 15.1 | Cantonese dim sum; Canton Fair | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/guangzhou | | 7 | Shanghai | 55 | 2049 | 25.6 | Skyline and Bund; Metro network | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/shanghai | | 8 | Beijing | 54 | 1947 | 29.7 | Forbidden City and the Great Wall; One of the world's largest metros | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/beijing | | 9 | Hangzhou | 54 | 1850 (national estimate) | 18.5 | West Lake; Alibaba headquarters | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/hangzhou | | 10 | Suzhou | 53 | 1850 (national estimate) | 18.9 | UNESCO classical gardens; Canal-side old town | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/suzhou | | 11 | Nanjing | 53 | 1850 (national estimate) | 16.7 | Ming city wall; Purple Mountain | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/nanjing | | 12 | Qingdao | 52 | 1850 (national estimate) | 16.9 | Tsingtao brewery; City beaches and sailing harbour | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/qingdao | | 13 | Chengdu | 52 | 1896 | 12.9 | Pandas; Sichuan food | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/chengdu | | 14 | Chongqing | 52 | 1850 (national estimate) | 16.6 | Numbing Chongqing hotpot; Hongya Cave night skyline | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/chongqing | | 15 | Dali | 51 | 1850 (national estimate) | 17 | Erhai Lake and the Cang Mountains; China's digital nomad scene | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/dali | | 16 | Lijiang | 51 | 1850 (national estimate) | 17 | UNESCO old town; Jade Dragon Snow Mountain | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/lijiang | | 17 | Wuhan | 51 | 1850 (national estimate) | 20 | Yangtze River bridges; East Lake greenway | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/wuhan | | 18 | Xi'an | 50 | 1850 (national estimate) | 8.8 | Terracotta Army; Intact Ming city walls | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/xian | | 19 | Tianjin | 50 | 1850 (national estimate) | 17 | Five Great Avenues concession streets; Beijing in 30 minutes by rail | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/tianjin | | 20 | Guilin | 50 | 1850 (national estimate) | 17 | Li River cruise; Karst limestone peaks | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/guilin | | 21 | Harbin | 50 | 1850 (national estimate) | 17 | Ice and Snow Festival; Russian architecture on Central Street | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/harbin | | 22 | Changsha | 48 | 1850 (national estimate) | 14.4 | Spicy Hunan food; Late-night economy | https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/changsha | ## National figures shared by every city | Figure | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Homicide rate | 0.5 per 100,000 | Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year), 2020 | | Political stability | 66th percentile | Worldwide Governance Indicators — Political Stability and Absence of Violence (score 0–100), 2025 | | Health coverage index | 85/100 | UHC service coverage index, 2023 | | Life expectancy | 77.6 years | Life expectancy at birth (years), both sexes, 2021 | | Human Development Index | 0.797 | Human Development Index (HDR 2025, HDI 2023), 2023 | | English proficiency | low | EF English Proficiency Index 2024 (band), 2024 | ## Visas and entry | Passport | Entry rule | | --- | --- | | US | visa required | | EU (Germany) | 30 days visa-free | | UK | visa required | Source: Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations), 2026-02. No long-stay guide for China yet. ## Compare - https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/sanya-vs-shenzhen - https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/shenzhen-vs-zhuhai - https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/kunming-vs-shenzhen - https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/shenzhen-vs-xiamen ## FAQ ### Is China good for digital nomads? Shenzhen scores 59/100 under balanced weights, which ranks it 653 of 1,000 cities in the dataset. China's 22 cities average 52.9/100. Strongest factors in Shenzhen: getting there & around and healthcare; weakest: visa ease. ### What is the cheapest city in China for a remote worker? Chengdu, at about $1,896 a month for one person including rent (WhereNext city cost estimates 2026 (city pages), 2026-09). Shenzhen is the most expensive city-priced option at $2,152. ### Does China have a digital nomad visa? Not according to the sources the dataset uses. Short visits follow the entry rules for your passport. ### How long can a US, EU or UK citizen stay in China without a visa? US passport: visa required. EU passport (Germany as reference): 30 days visa-free. UK passport: visa required. Source: Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations), 2026-02. ### Which city in China has the fastest internet? Beijing, with a measured median download of 29.7 Mbps (M-Lab, 2024). Measured speeds run below advertised plans everywhere; 40 Mbps measured is already good. ### How safe is China? China records 0.5 homicides per 100,000 people (Victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (national data, latest year), 2020) and sits at the 66th percentile for political stability (World Bank WGI, 2025). These are national figures; city pages note local caveats. HTML page: https://nostos.navoy.io/countries/china