Murray's surprise third-round defeat by Stanislas Wawrinka at Flushing Meadows last month had been followed by a listless display against Ivan Ljubicic in Beijing just nine days ago, but a kind draw in Shanghai helped the Scot work his way back into some form during the early rounds and secure a place at the end-of-season ATP World Tour Finals in London.

BBC: Andy Murray beats Roger Federer to win Shanghai Masters

"My feeling is that Singapore isn't foreigner-friendly anymore, " said Alan Chen, 37 years old, who is from Shanghai and moved to Singapore five years ago to work in the logistics industry.

WSJ: Singapore Fee Stings Wealthy House Buyers��Except Americans

Hefei offers a well-educated work force, sometimes for about a third of the cost of hiring in Shanghai.

NPR: China Seeks Cheaper Labor Within Its Borders

Yu found some work as a tour guide for a trickle of curious American Jews seeking what signs remained of the Jewish community in Shanghai.

CNN: The Ghosts of Shanghai