The revealing appeal of China’s cheapest city

Hegang, a former mining town in China's far north, has become the country's cheapest city. Second-hand housing sells for 40 times cheaper than in Shenzhen. China faces a cost-of-living crisis, with urban Chinese homes becoming four times less affordable between 1998 and 2021.

March 23, 2023 . 8:58 AM

1 min read

Hegang, a former mining town in China's far north, has become the country's cheapest city by some measures.
The combination of a home-building drive and a shrinking population has propelled Hegang to this distinction.
Second-hand housing in Hegang sells for 40 times cheaper than in Shenzhen, a high-tech southern metropolis.
China is facing a cost-of-living crisis as urban Chinese homes became four times less affordable between 1998 and 2021.
Hegang is an accidental safety-valve for those looking for affordable homes and a change of lifestyle.