Is China the new Land of Opportunity?
Hao Ge (pronounced How Guh) is perhaps China’s most unlikely pop star: he is Nigerian, and he sings in Mandarin. His real name is Emmanuel Uwechue, though he is better known by his stage name, which sounds like the words for “good song” in Chinese. Mr. Uwechue, 33, has developed quite a fan base, particularly among the children and middle-aged women who watch “Xin Guang Da Dao,” the “American Idol” knockoff show, where he first gained notice a few years after his arrival here almost a decade ago. He has performed alongside a host of Chinese superstars — including Sun Nan, Na Ying and Han Hong — and has been enthusiastically embraced by the Chinese media.
The success story of Hao Ge is perhaps unusual in its magnitude, yet it is not unusual in the sense that China is becoming a more attractive choice for foreigners who wish to fulfill their long-life dreams. It is strange, for some people, to think of China as a Land of Opportunity – a place in which a person can fulfill and execute dreams, yet it makes perfect sense when considering the direction that China has taken and the opportunities that it entails.
The World is Changing
Up until recently, the phrase “The Land of Opportunity” has been attributed to the United States of America, and the “American Dream” has been attributed to immigrants that came to the United States looking for financial success. According to Wikipedia, “The American Dream “is the national Dream of the United States in which freedom includes a promise of the possibility of prosperity and success”. The phrase “The American Dream” was coined by James Truslow Adams in 1931. He said: “Life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement, regardless of social class or circumstances of birth”. The idea of the American Dream is rooted in the United States Declaration of Independence which proclaims that “all men are created equal” and that they are “endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights” including “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
China, unlike the United States, is not known as “The Land of Opportunity”, and success has not been defined in the declaration of independence; Yet, nowadays, success in China is perhaps more prominent and accessible than it is in the United States. As global economy changes and as the United States economy has been suffering from stagnation, China has become more attractive with its high percentage growth rate and with its hunger for a more western and modern lifestyle. This change in taste provides much room for entrepreneurs and others to fulfill their dreams, only if they are up to the challenge of dealing with difficulties such as adjusting to local flavors and mastering the Chinese language.
Another famous China success story is Mark Rowswell – DaShan. While relatively unknown in the West
, Dashan is perhaps the most famous Western personality in China’s media industry. DaShan started studying Chinese in Canada, but it was only when he came to Beijing to further his studies in 1988 that he came to prominence. That year, he performed a comic skit on national television in front of an estimated audience of 550 million people. In an interview for the BBC, DaShan said: “I was in the right place at the right time; You’d seen foreigners in entertainment before, but they usually played the bad guy getting their heads kicked in a kung fu movie or an evil imperialist.” Dashan built on his initial success, hosting television shows, acting, endorsing products and mastering “crosstalk”, a form of Chinese stand-up comedy in which actors amaze audiences with their verbal dexterity. While most Chinese people cannot master “crosstalk”, DaShan has mastered it and has achieved great success. Since then, Mark Rowswell has successfully marketed his alter ego – Dashan, the inoffensive foreigner who looks like the guy next door. Dashan was smart enough to recognize that China might be the new Land of Opportunity.
China – The Land of Opportunity
As China is becoming more open to western influence and culture, room is created for western professionals and for entrepreneurs to penetrate the market. Even industries and businesses that are very known in the west are sometimes not known in China, and the hunger that Chinese people have for foreign influence can supply growth. Such is the case, for example, for foreign foods, nightlife clubs and bars, and other entertainment businesses that are popping up like mushrooms after the rain; Foreigners who recognize that China is in a very special transition stage in which a vast range of opportunities is available to them, will profit from the transition.
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Lior Paritzky is the Editor in Chief and Manager of Laowaiblog, an internet platform that provides opinion and views about social phenomena in modern China. Look for Lior on Twitter: Liorpari 
It is true that China is increasingly a more attractive place for entrepreneurs, but one must not forget that the real freedom to create and to innovate is in the United States. That is why China will never be a global leader
To position China as a place of entrepreneurship is out of place. We all know that China is a country that still represses freedom of creativity (isn’t that the definition of entrepreneurship?) and that the Chinese culture cherishes obedience and stability. I disagree with this article, despite the examples given.
Confucianism does value obedience and stability, but it is only part of the Chinese culture. Chinese culture is multifaceted, and is increasingly becoming westernized. Most of the Chinese urbanites today will tell you that a good chuck of Confucians value (including obedience) doesn’t really apply today anymore.
Does China repress freedom of creativity? Yes, we’ve seen concrete evidences of that. But then again, we are also seeing more and more successful entrepreneurs snapping up BMWs and Chateau Latour. Mark Rowswell is just one example, there are countless other Westerners who have gone to China and struck gold.
Has China replace US as global leader in innovations? Maybe not at this moment. But Is China a land of opportunity and a place for entrepreneurs? Absolutely.
William, I agree with you. I just want to add that I think in the very near future China could become a global innovator, not necessarily because of the Chinese culture, but more because of the challenges that China faces (see this article that was just published: http://laowaiblog.com/the-new-china). These challenges will force China to innovate new ways to deal with issues such as water shortages, pollution etc etc..
If you want to be an entrepreneur in China you can, but it is all up to you. no one (not the school or your work place) will support it. That’s why it is so hard. But it is changing…
Hi Derek,
That’s not necessarily true. In many places in China, especially where there are many young people, entrepreneurship is encouraged! The culture is changing…
It’s funny and amazing how China is becoming the place for entrepreneurship nowadays. The opportunities here are vast, because so many things that are seen in the west are yet to be seen here and because so many problems will need creative thinking to solve.
The advantage about China, in my opinion at least, is that it welcomes foreigners and their ideas. It might not be easy to succeed, but China knows what its missing and attracts foreign companies and individuals that can problem solve and innovate
I agree with William above. China is THE place right now for entrepreneurship. there are so many opportunities, and the window is quickly closing. If you are an entrepreneur, just go there. You’ll see what I’m talking about
I strongly agree with the view that China provides a large amount of opportunities ,but the question I want to ask is ,for whom?
While I look and think from the che same point of view of the author(Laowai),that is ,suppose I were a foreigner,who has been well educated and got a great skills,I would feel that lots of opportunities are waiting for me in China. ’cause you know,not all the children who was born in China has the opportunity to be well educated or trained to be skillful for anything. If we aren’t equal in pursuing the opportunities,how can it be really called “opportunities”?
What’s more,nowadays,the entire China society is hardening,which means poorly borned people has less chance to become successful.That’s a even larger range of inequality.
so ,I think ,only when all the people get equal chance to pursue the opportunities created by the rapid development of Chinese ecomomy can we call China “a land of opportunity”,just as the U.S.
Land of opportunity? Without a doubt. Plenty of opportunities here in China. I started a business here three years ago simply to fulfill a need that I saw that was not being filled. It was a simple idea that has proven to be extremely good. That one business is now expanding into other areas and services as well.
Opportunity is where ever you look for it. All you have to do is be creative. What makes China special is that there are so many areas that one can be creative and find a marketplace for. Finding a special niche for a business has a lot of benefits – especially the ability to get a fairly hassle free Visa.
The best recommendation is to find a good lawyer to guide you through the maze of regulations. Once you have done that, and incorporated, the sky is the limit.
China is the Only Successful Country of the world right now —
China’s Focus is Business and Economy — while Respecting the other Countries and People
That itself is the Biggest Motivation for any Positive, Energetic, Productive people and
Businessmen to Explore the Opportunities that China has to Offer —