Types of housing available:

Housing falls into three categories: pingfang (ground level one floor dwelling), loufang (apartment style in a high rise block), and villa, which might be shared with other families.

Some very nice homes can be found very easily but prices differ depending on location. A typical three roomed apartment, unfurnished, with kitchen, enclosed balcony and laundry will cost around 600 RMB per month in a good area, up to 1000 RMB or more nearer the centre of town. You can pay a lot more for larger, more well appointed homes.

All apartment style houses are centrally heated. Some, however, in the higher blocks, higher than the head available for heating water, require you to light a mini gas or coal furnace, probably in your kitchen.

Modern apartments are double-glazed. In some areas of town the heating is very inefficient. You must have an electric heater available as a standby and do not neglect to have spare blankets in case of emergency. It is not advised to attempt to buy a house unless you are married to a local Chinese and can do it through them.

One room apartments are available, also commonly two and three rooms. Roughly 70 - 90 square metres is common for a three room apartment. This type of dwelling has two bedrooms, a dining room, laundry, shower-toilet and balcony. There are some variances in the quality and type of amenities. It pays to look around. The enclosed balcony is often used for storage but items stored there must not be susceptible to extreme cold - although some balconies do have heating - and dust, which is a severe problem, particularly in spring.

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