Learn Chinese Through Vlogs: How Much to Retire in China — Senior Life in Beihai
About this video
Lala Chinese combines language learning with real-life insights in this vlog about retirement in Beihai, a coastal city in Guangxi. The video shows how much it costs to live comfortably as a senior, from housing to food, while introducing useful Chinese phrases. The atmosphere is calm and personal, with the host chatting naturally about daily routines like morning walks on the beach and visits to local markets. It is a unique resource for Chinese learners and anyone considering retiring in China, blending education with cultural exploration.
Video transcript
Hi everyone, I'm Lala. Welcome to learn Chinese with me! Actually, I hadn't decided what to film today, but this is my last week in Beihai, so I felt I had to film something. Beihai's economy is mainly based on tourism and retirement, so there are many retirees who come here to spend the winter because it's relatively warm. Let's go to the beach now, because there are many elderly people there singing, dancing, and playing various musical instruments. I think their lives are much richer than mine. Like this piece, how long does it take to learn? It's
easy to learn, it depends on how well you want to play it, right? Yes, that is to say, " Okay, what does 'okay' mean?" There isn't a fixed standard. There's always something better. Actually, this is generally considered to be one of the easier instruments to learn among Western wind instruments. It's relatively easy to get started. So, is your work related to music? Yes, I originally came here because I love music. I was just playing music. At first, I paid to stay here, but then I realized I'm not rich, so I found a job that was easy to do to cover my
living expenses and support myself. Yes, the cost of living here is relatively low. I usually look for jobs that include room and board. The salary doesn't matter, so I don't really need to spend much money on living expenses. Hmm, did you choose this place because of the good climate? Well, you could say that at first I was in Rizhao (Shandong), and I stayed there for a while. Then winter came and it got cold, so Rizhao wasn't a good place to stay. My friend suggested I go to Beihai. I have a house in Beihai that's unoccupied. It's not far from the
beach, so I came here. I've been here for several months now. It's been three years! Oh, three years! The environment here is quite nice. Yes , the environment is quite nice and the cost of living is low. It 's especially suitable for my future (retirement) considerations. I'm considering it. At least I can consider whether this is a good place to retire. I personally think this place is very suitable for retirement. It's very suitable for retirement because the prices are low, right? Yes, yes , this is perfect for retirement. This is the entrance to the
beach. Many elderly people dance here every day. In China, it's mostly the elderly who dance; you rarely see young people dancing. They're dancing Xinjiang dance, but they're not necessarily all from Xinjiang. Many people think Xinjiang dance is beautiful, so both ethnic minorities from Xinjiang and Han Chinese enjoy their dances. This is the beach in Beihai. To be honest, I don't think the beach is very pretty in winter. Maybe it's because the air quality isn't always good, so it looks grayish. It should be more beautiful in summer. When I first came,
the beach was much prettier then. Hmm. (On the way home) Many people also come to Beihai in RVs for travel or to spend the winter. Hi, let's continue today and take a look at the lives of retired elderly people. Sir, may I interview you? Sure, this is my dad. Say hello. Oh, hello. Why do you think so many people come to Beihai after retirement? Beihai has a good climate and a good environment; it's a great place for health and wellness . Are you speaking Mandarin now? ? Speak Mandarin! I don't speak Mandarin very well, so please try to speak Mandarin as
much as possible, okay? Okay, how much does it cost to live in Beihai for a month? Living expenses for one person are about 1,000 yuan per month. This includes food, water, electricity, and other utilities. Is it cheaper than in my hometown? Is it still similar to my hometown? It's much cheaper than back home. The rent alone is 1,400 yuan. Yes, the house we rent is 1,400 yuan a month. Beihai's economy mainly relies on tourism and real estate. My dad's hobbies here are playing chess and looking at houses. Are there any houses nearby? Yes, some do. Your
one-bedroom apartment, which is about 60 square meters, usually costs around 250,000 yuan. Is that the price? Almost, almost the same price. Around 250,000, right? I've been here for 7 years. Oh, you've been here for 7 years? I bought a house here. Oh, you bought a house? Houses here are much cheaper than in Hangzhou. Hangzhou is expensive. You're from Hangzhou, right? I'm from Hangzhou. Here's what I do : (In winter, I'm here.) When it gets hot, I'll drive to Tibet or Xinjiang. Oh, you don't necessarily live here all the time. (In summer) My house here
is empty. In winter, I stay here. Hmm. How much is your retirement pension? Dad, Dad, how much is the monthly retirement pension in Hefei? We have around 4,000 yuan, but I have 6,000. Oh, the retirement pension in Hangzhou is 6,000 yuan. Your base is higher. I cook for myself every day. I eat well. Yes, so I live a healthy life here. We take walks in the park. Okay. Do you want to buy a house in Beihai? I'm thinking about it, but my mom won't let me. She wants me to wait until the prices are right before buying. That uncle from Hangzhou just now said not
to buy a house here. He said it's not worth it now. Yes, a few years ago when the real estate market was booming, too many buildings were built, and now there are too many empty buildings. Is that small square in front where you often play chess? No, that's where people dance, play cards, and sometimes play chess. (When people are playing chess) I often go there to play. There are rental and sales ads everywhere. That's all for today's video! Thank you for watching! See you next time!
