'Western-looking' tenants only, says Chengdu developer

• Source: Global Times
• [02:17 January 29 2010]
• Comments

Peter Goff, an Irish who is a co-owner of the Bookworm in Chengdu, said he wouldn't move there.

"I feel at home living with my Chinese neighbors," said Goff, who has been living in Chengdu for over three years. "If I move into such a community, then what's the point of living in a foreign country?"

The project, Tianfu International Community, covers 20,000 square meters and could accommodate 5,000 people. The first phase of the project will be completed in October.

There were about 20,000 foreigners as well as Chinese from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan living in Chengdu last year, and the number is increasing, said Zheng Xiaoming, head of the district's planning and construction bureau, Chengdu Daily reported Thursday.

He Weijian, sales director of the Centaline Property Agency, told Chongqing Times earlier that the housing market for foreigners has potential.

"Foreigners are long living in comfortable hotel rooms, but they don't feel like it's home," He said.