Asian urban preference?

[T2K]

Over the years I've noticed what seems to be a preference by Asians for city living (among those who have a choice).

What I mean is that affluent Asians always seem to want to live in a big mega-city.  "Country Homes" are not something which seem to be desired.  In Japan maybe, but other than that?

Contrasting that to Western nations where having a nice place on a lot of land in a rural area is considered the ideal by some, though certainly not all.

Is this economic (rural areas in Asian countries are often very undeveloped), geographic (many Asian countries are small), cultural (Asians like living in packed cities), or something else?

[Vulcanl]

My wife is Singaporean Chinese.  We lived in the States for 4 years.  She can't handle long drives (more than 2 hours), thinks it's too boring.  She intensely dislikes rural areas, as there's "nothing to do," and there is a fear factor, akin to feeling  stranded in the middle of nowhere.  In Singapore there is the feeling of physical closeness to friends and family, of not being 'alone.'

There also is a certain cache and status to living in the big city.    The glamour aspect, as it were.

So I think it is more a cultural phenomenon.

[T2K]

Definitely Singaporeans are like that - it's all they know.

But mainland Chinese, Indonesians, Indians, Thais...they have large hinterlands but I've never encountered any affluent ones that want to live there.  Meanwhile, I know lots of Brits, Americans and Aussies that want to retire to the country.

I agree it's likely cultural.

[TheWrathOfGrapes]

I think it has got to do with lack of infrastructure, amenities and employment opportunities in the countryside. Asia as a whole, except for Japan and Singapore, consists largely of developing countries. You can still see this trend in motion right at this very moment. Millions upon millions of migrant workers in China returning to their province of domicile for the Chinese New Year. The country side is still largely undeveloped, with limited job opportunities. For the affluent, this may not be a factor, but the lack of good schools, roads, social amenities etc, meant creature comfort is unlikely to be readily available. Travelling to the cities could take up half a day, or even days.

OTOH, in the developed West, if you are tired of your country home or chalet, you can always hop onto your CRV, limousine, speed boat, yacht, helicopter or private plane and get into the city within hours.

[JRG]

I don't think affluent Asians specifically have a preference for city living. The ones I know have chosen either city or country, due to a certain lifestyle they would like to lead.

Family A lives in a city apartment overlooking the beach because they travel quite a bit. They like the idea of not worrying too much about the apartment being unattended for a period of time. Family B has a young family and lives in the country where the parents wld like their daughters to have the freedom to explore and especially breathe in fresh air.

[working_mom]

Lack of infrastructure, amneities like schools, colleges, medical facilities push the earthy villager towards the city. Every year farmers in india are committing suicide due to failing monsoons. The govt. instead of adressing the root cause is doling out cash incentives and loan write-offs. This in turn pushes the farming populace to eek out living in cities. Unfortunately, they end up as cheap labourorers.

My long term plan will be to buy a small farmhouse in the foothills of himalayas and spend the retirement there  ...Quiet a long way to go...Both for retirement and buying a farmhouse (where the real estate costs will put some of the best condos in SG to shame!!) 

[PhiloSurfer]

After more than half a century of living in Singapore (and 5 in the UK), I managed to go back to the ancestral home in China for the first time 2 years ago.

Yes, it was fun. Terrifying fun. From Xiamen city, it was a four-hour hell-driving drive in a minibus to the village up in the mountain. The bus was honking all the way. Out of the city, the ride was one long winding journey up the mountain. Sheer cliff on one side and a bottomless plunge into the ravine on the other. And the mud track was just wide enough for the minibus. My wife dared not look out of the bus window.

The house was a 16-room mansion built on the hill top with fantastic panoramic view of the whole area. Lots of greenery. Basic modern sanitation are there. Pigs and chickens, ducks roam freely on the ground floor.  Lots of fresh air. No pollution.

Would I want to live there? Not in a thousand years. One trip in 50 years is good enough for me. Maybe I will make a return trip in another 50 years, if I live that long.

Lovely house. Can you imagine that - with the money my parents sent over the years, my relatives in China are able to build this 16-room mansion, while we in Singapore have to be contented with a 5-room HDB flat.