Overall Score
Kunshan is an urban county in Suzhou Municipality, Jiangsu Province, China.
When China was first unified into a single state, the Qin Empire, the Liuxian County (疁县) was established in this area in 221 BC. After the founding of the Han Empire, it was renamed Luoxian County (娄县) in 207 BC. During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, when these lands were part of the Liang state, Lawxian County was renamed Kunshan County (昆山县) in 536.
During the Mongol Yuan Empire, the county was raised in status in 1295, becoming Kunshan County (昆山州), but during the Chinese Ming Empire in 1369, the county was downgraded to a county again. During the Qing Empire, Xinyang County (新阳县) was separated from Kunshan County in 1726, but after the Xinhai Revolution it was reincorporated into Kunshan County in 1912.
In 1953, the Suzhou Special District (苏州专区) was formed and the county became part of it. In 1970, Suzhou Special District was renamed Suzhou County (苏州地区). In 1983, Suzhou City and Suzhou County were dissolved and Suzhou Metropolitan District was formed.
In 1989, Kunshan County was transformed into an urban county.
The urban county is divided into 10 townships.
The Shanghai subway runs through the city.
Overall Score
- Air quality: 77 US AQI Moderate. Air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
- Tap water: No, not drinkable
- Religious government: Non-religious
- Population: 750,000 people
- GDP: $8,126 / year
- Power outlets: 230V50Hz
- Internet: 2 Mbps Internet in Kunshan is fast averaging 16 Mbps but the Great Firewall slows down speeds to foreign websites by 8x to 2 Mbps.
- Best wireless: China Mobile
- Pay without cash: No, cash only esp. for foreigners because WeChat is very hard to set up
- Tipping: Tipping in China is generally uncommon and can even be considered rude or embarrassing in some circumstances. Seriously. Leaving money on a table in an authentic restaurant may confuse a staff member or cause them stress. … Even worse, gratuity is illegal in airports and some establishments.
- Apartment listings: Ganji
- Apartments: Airbnb
- Hotels: Booking.com
- More hotels: Hotels.com
- Best taxi: Didi
- Best coworking space: Regus
- Best short-haul air carrier: Hainan
- Best intl air carrier: China Southern Airlines
- Monthly costs for expat: $1200
- Monthly costs for family: $2800
- Monthly costs for local: $800
- Meal: $3.5
- Small Cola: $0.6
- Beer 1 Pint: $3.5
- Coffee: $4
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