China is a country riding the wave of a booming economy - one of the fastest growing in the world. The cities are becoming more and more popular with foreign investors and property values are skyrocketing - though it isn't really possible to get incredible bargains in Shanghai or Beijing any more there are still plenty of 'tier 2' cities prime for investment, with predicted value increases sometimes around the 20 percent per year mark. The Chinese government is doing their utmost to encourage foreign investment, making it easier than it has ever been for a potential off plan investor to pick themselves up a bargain - it may be hard to come by and it may take a bit of fixing up, but the potential is definitely there. The increasing presence of China as a tourist destination also helps when it comes to potential investments, as properties rented out can yield extra returns on top of the natural growth in value, and prime locations can fetch premium rates of rent. It isn't all financial, however, with the stunning, mystical beauty of the country more alluring than any financial profit could hope to be, some fine, interesting and dazzling cuisine and a people of friendly nature - it all adds up to a fantastic package.

While Beijing is the capital and the city that a great deal of traffic goes through, the real hub of property dealing has to be Shanghai. One of the largest cities in the world, it has been the focal point of a boom that has lasted a few years now - as a result it is unlikely that any genuine bargains will be found, but the potential for growth is something a prospective off plan investor should not overlook. Elsewhere in the country there are some real hotpots of potential that the speculative investor should give a look to - Zhuhai, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Chengdu and Sanya all come highly recommended for potential investors, amongst the many other cities and provinces throughout China. Property in the more rural regions isn't really something that many will look into, but those that have the time, patience and know-how are sure to find some absolute steals - they aren't likely to appreciate in value to the same degree as those in the growing cities and resorts, but for a second home they could prove ideal.

Potential is what China is all about right now - with a relatively young property market and a position on a global scale as a 'developing nation', the Asian giant is ripe for the pickings if the right regions are checked out. With the government encouraging investment - and actually artificially slowing down the rate of growth to help stop the economy from being harmed - it is plain for anyone to see that China is a country bursting with potential. It is a country full of a magical history and one that should be on the list of any serious investor looking to make a smart move.