Shanghai is the city with the largest number of expatriates in China. Here are some international communities with large expat populations.

Huacao International Community

Huacao International Community is located in Huacao town in Minhang district, and has 13 residential compounds with more than 9,000 expats from nearly 80 countries.

The community offers a range of services, including consultation, services for foreign residents, leisure facilities, and educational resources.

Biyun International Community

Situated in Jinqiao town in Pudong New Area, Biyun International Community is home to about 2,200 expats from over 50 countries and regions.

Schools in the community include the China Europe International Business School, Dulwich College Shanghai (Pudong campus), Shanghai Pinghe School, and Concordia International School Shanghai.

It also boasts advanced medical services at the Shanghai Pudong New Area Health Care Hospital for Women and Children and Huashan Hospital (Pudong Campus).

Gubei International Community

Gubei International Community in Changning district is one of Shanghai's largest and most renowned international communities. The community is especially attractive to expats because it's only a 10-minute drive to Hongqiao Airport. In the 1990s, it was one of China's first international communities.

The 2-sq-km area is home to 26,000 residents, about 46 percent of them from overseas.

Lianyang-Huamu International Community

The Lianyang-Huamu International Community is located in Pudong New Area.

As one of the oldest international residential neighborhoods in Pudong, it boasts convenient transportation, including access to Metro lines 2, 6, 7, 9, 16, and 18.

Zhangjiang Science City

Zhangjiang Science City has attracted around 24,000 enterprises, including nearly 2,000 high-tech companies, and currently hosts 197 foreign-funded research and development centers, and employs about 500,000 innovation professionals.

Updated Aug 26, 2026

Sources: China Daily, Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Civil Affairs, WeChat account "pudongshgz"