1. What types of residential houses are popular in China?
Most Chinese people prefer living in flats or apartments in high rise buildings. It’s especially the most popular living option for urban people. I suppose that the most important reason why Chinese people have this preference is that apartments are more affordable than a detached house430, even though most of them still carry the burden of a huge mortgage431 through buying an apartment. Plus, living in an apartment isn’t high-maintenance432. As long as it’s well-decorated, it can easily be a sweet home.
2. Do people prefer living in an apartment or a house?
I think it depends on the person, but usually people prefer living in an apartment. For one, apartments are a lot cheaper than houses. In general, families can afford to buy an apartment, even though most families will get saddled with a mortgage433. But it’s unrealistic to buy a house in China for an average family434. Plus, apartment buildings, especially the high-rises, are usually located in urban areas. Living in an apartment usually means being closer to the downtown area of a city, which means more convenience and easy access to a lot of public services.
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in an apartment or a flat?
A big advantage is that it’s a lot cheaper compared to living in a house. You don’t have to worry about up-keep435 as much. You can also get a cooler view if you’re living on a higher floor. But on the downside, apartments don’t have as much space as houses do. You get a small balcony instead of a big backyard. Plus, you might have noisy neighbors that would bug436 you more in an apartment than in a house.
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a house?
The first advantage that comes to mind is that you have lots of space when you live in a house. You
can have a large living room as well as multiple bedrooms. If it’s big enough, you can also put a gym
in there. Plus, living in a house usually means you have a front yard or a backyard where you can grow flowers or plants that you like. However, houses are way more expensive to live in. You usually have to get a mortgage, which really costs a pretty penny437.
5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in cities?
Off the top of my head, an advantage of living in a city is that you have access to lots of different things. There’s a variety of facilities and stores to go to. There are usually more job opportunities as well. But every rose has its thorn. Cities can be very crowded and expensive to live in. It’s very common to see people packed like sardines on public transportation in cities, especially during rush hour. Plus, a lot of urban people in China say the cost of living in a city makes them very stressed nowadays.
6. What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in the countryside?
One big plus of living in the countryside is that you get to be around nature438. Most of the time, you get to breathe fresh air and enjoy beautiful natural scenery. Another nice thing is that there’s lots of space. It isn’t all jam-packed with buildings. But on the downside, there may not be as many stores and facilities to enjoy. Life in the countryside tends to be very slow-paced, which can eventually
become boring.
7. What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a new house? How about living in an old house?
Well, when you live in a newly built house, everything is up-to-date and usually suits your tastes439. It’s really nice living in a place like that because it feels very modern and stylish. But that can be pretty expensive. Some new houses cost an arm and a leg to move into. Old houses are usually much cheaper. So they’re more affordable for average families. But they probably require a lot more maintenance to keep up.
430 a detached house:独立屋
431 carry the burden of a huge mortgage：承担巨额房贷
432 high-maintenance:维护费用不需要很高
433 get saddled with a mortgage:背负贷款，被贷款缠身
434 an average family:普通豕庭
435 up-keep:维护，维修
436 bug:烦恼，惹人烦
437 costs a pretty penny:花费一大笔钱
438 get to be around nature：亲近大自然
439 suits your tastes:适合你的口味，符合你的需求