‘Get me out of here’: Inside China’s expat exodus

‘Get me out of here’: Inside China’s historic expat exodus

Words: Will Glasgow Producer: Bianca Farmakis

It took three days in “Covid jail” for Australian expat Mason and his girlfriend to decide they were done with China. The bus trip back to their Shanghai apartment didn’t change their minds. Barricades surrounded the city’s famous old lane houses. Shops and parks were boarded up.

Mason, who had been teaching English in Shanghai, spent nine days in what the Chinese call a “fangcang hospital”, which translates as a “square-cabin hospital”. He prefers the term “Covid jail”.

Up to half China’s expats have left the country since the start of the pandemic.

As soon as they have found a home for their six cats, the Melburnian and his girlfriend will join a historic expat exodus. Video: Twitter | WumaoHub

COVID ZERO

Jorg Wuttke, president of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China, thinks the expat population will halve again by the end of the school year. Many of the rest are weighing their options under China’s hardline Covid policy, which President Xi Jinping says demonstrates the superiority of its one-party rule.

They are prisoners of their own narrative. It’s rather tragic. China was the first to get into the pandemic, and it’s the last to get out.

Jorg Wuttke, President of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China “

COVID JAIL

After spending much of the last decade on and off in Shanghai, Mason has a pretty high threshold for chaotic Chinese bureaucracy. “Covid jail” was something else. Everyone who gets Covid in Shanghai must go to an offsite quarantine centre, even those with mild symptoms like Mason and his girlfriend.

The pair were summoned to attend a facility at 2am, and packed into a giant shed with 600 people. On arrival, about 24 of the portaloos were usable. Within days, only eight were, and even those were often overflowing. There were no showers, ­just a hose. They saw a doctor only once during their nine-day stay.

LOCKED IN

People in hazmat suits – called Big Whites in China – would roam the centre and outdoor area, spraying bleach into the air. Like all inmates, Mason was known by his bed number, “E-44”. The day began with orders shrieked over loudspeaker, starting at 5.30am.

GETTING OUT

For Lena, an Australian freelance artist, it took a fortnight of Shanghai’s total lockdown to decide it was time to leave. She joined a WeChat group that shared tips on how to get out of China. The path is difficult and expensive. The airport cab fare can be up to $1000 (5000 RMB). Video: Twitter | Songpinganq

“There are all these layers of stress,”

Lena says, from the house she has been confined to as she waits for a flight out in mid-May. Those fleeing now need permission to leave their compound and can not return to their home – whether or not their plane takes off. Video: Twitter | WumaoHub