Why did Chinese actor Gong Jun buy a house in Chengdu and not in Beijing?
Michelle Topham 
Why did Gong Jun decide to buy a house in Chengdu?
With November 29th being Gong Jun’s 33rd birthday, I am honestly not even sure why half the planet, including Tencent Video, seems to be celebrating his birthday today — December 6th.
That being the case, however, those Gong Jun celebratory visuals popped up all over Weibo and X today, and, while surfing social media to look at them, I came across this video from back in 2021 of Gong Jun during a vlog explaining he had bought a house in Chengdu — and definitely not in Beijing.
gong jun is so fucking funny hes even discussing how he is a mortgage slave after buying a house ON LIVE pic.twitter.com/phcInIv9qD
— a (@muziqis) March 9, 2021
That being the case, and the Chinese actor’s insistence he couldn’t afford a house in Beijing, out of curiosity I decided to look into the average prices in both cities, so I could figure out why Gong Jun bought a house in Chengdu and not in Beijing.
Just look at the information DeepSeek gave me in response to my question about the purchase price differences in Beijing and Chengdu, and it becomes obvious quite quickly why the actor, who was 28-years-old at the time, chose Chengdu for his house purchase instead of Beijing.
Especially as this was before his most recent hits like Rising with the Wind (2023), The Legend of Anle (2023), and his recent smash hit Blood River (2025), and right after his breakout performance in Word of Honor (2021) grabbed so many C-drama fans’ hearts.
Other considerations for buying houses in Chengdu?
Note too that, while the purchase price of a home is often the most important consideration, Gong Jun obviously had other reasons for choosing Chengdu instead of somewhere like Beijing.
For one thing, he was born and raised in Chengdu, so the city is likely to be where his family and most of his friends still live. It is obviously also a city he knows like the back of his hand, and loves.
For another, a typical house in Chengdu is generally larger than a similar house in Beijing, Chengdu is a little more central than Beijing, which is much further north, and the city is slightly smaller (although not remotely small by western standards) as Chengdu has 20.9 million population versus Beijing’s 22.6 million.
A flight from Chengdu to Beijing also typically only takes around two and a half hours (973 miles)
Price-wise, however, here are some of the considerations Gong Jun probably looked at when deciding on where his first ever home purchase should be.
Just out of curiosity you understand, and nothing more, as why Gong Jun decided to buy a house in Chengdu instead of Beijing is none of my (or your) business, and entirely up to him.
Beijing property is around 2 1/2 times the average price of that in Chengdu
Here then is DeepSeek’s response to my question “What is the purchase price difference between a house in Beijing and Chengdu, and also the purchase price in those same cities for a 2-bedroom apartment?”
DeepSeek answer:
“The average purchase price of housing in China’s major cities is a complex topic due to varying reporting standards, the size of the cities, and the type of property. Here’s a breakdown using the latest available data (typically Q4 2023 – Q1 2024) and important context.”
Key Context First:
a) Prices are usually quoted in RMB per square meter (RMB/m²) for the primary (new) market.
b)”Average price” for an entire city can be misleading, as it includes distant suburbs. Central urban districts are significantly more expensive.
c) The secondary (resale) market is often more expensive in prime areas but can be cheaper in older suburbs.
d) Prices have been under pressure recently, with a general downward trend in 2023-2024, especially in non-core areas.
1. Average Purchase Price per Square Meter (RMB/m²)
These figures represent a rough city-wide average for new homes.
Beijing: Approximately 55,000 – 65,000 RMB/m²
China’s most expensive housing market after Shenzhen. Prices in core districts like Xicheng and Dongcheng can easily exceed 120,000 RMB/m², while outer suburbs (e.g., Daxing, Tongzhou) may range from 35,000 – 45,000 RMB/m².
Chengdu: Approximately 18,000 – 25,000 RMB/m²
A major “Tier-2” city with much more affordable housing. The high-tech south (Tianfu New Area) and the city center (Jinjiang, Qingyang) have prices around 25,000 – 40,000 RMB/m², while newer areas further out can be below 15,000 RMB/m².
2. Average Purchase Price for a 2-Bedroom Apartment
This requires estimating the typical size. In China, a standard 2-bedroom apartment is usually 70-90 square meters in Beijing/Shanghai, and slightly larger, 80-100 square meters, in Chengdu.
Formula: Average Price = (Average RMB/m²) x (Typical Area in m²)
Beijing:
Using a conservative average of 60,000 RMB/m² and an area of 80 m².
Average Total Price ≈ 4.8 million RMB (≈ $665,000 USD).
Range:* A basic apartment in the outer suburbs could be ~2.8 million RMB, while a nice one in a central area could be 10 million RMB+.
Chengdu:
Using an average of 22,000 RMB/m² and a slightly larger area of 90 m².
Average Total Price ≈ 2.0 million RMB (≈ $275,000 USD).
Range: Can be found for 1.2 – 1.5 million in emerging areas, up to 4-5 million for luxury units in the best locations (e.g., near Tianfu Square or in the High-Tech Zone).
Critical Considerations & Sources
1. Data Source: Reliable data can be found from:
China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS): Monthly reports on new home prices in 70 major cities.
Private Research Firms: Ke.com (Beike)** and CRIC are among the most trusted for market data and reports.
Local Real Estate Agencies: Lianjia (Linked with Beike) has the most comprehensive listing data for the secondary market.
2. Secondary Market: In prime locations of Beijing, resale apartments are often more expensive per m² than new ones due to better location, schools, and amenities.
3. Policy Impact: Purchases often require a 30-70% down payment depending on whether it’s your first home, second home, and local regulations. Non-local buyers face additional restrictions.
Disclaimer: The market is dynamic. For a precise evaluation for investment or purchase, you must consult recent, hyper-local data and a licensed agent, as prices can vary dramatically by street, building age, and school district. The figures above are estimates to illustrate the significant price differentials between these cities.
Now do you understand why Gong Jun bought a house in Chengdu?
So there you have it.
When you take out of the equation the fact that Gong Jun’s family and friends are likely still living in Chengdu, and that houses are bigger in the city, on just price alone there is a substantial difference between the cost of a house in Beijing and one in Chengdu.
For most people who, for varying reasons, could choose to live in either city then, it seems pretty obvious which many would likely choose.
Famous Chinese actor or not, eh?
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