On the back of Guangzhou's strong economy and in the wake of China's WTO entry, more and more Indians have chosen to set up companies in the city.

With these entrepreneurs have come families, Indian staff, restaurants and banks and other businesses looking to service this growing community. UCO Bank and Bank of Baroda, two of India's largest, have recently set up branches in Guangzhou.

While official numbers are hard to come by, residential enclaves in downtown Taojin Lu and Xiaobei Lu have experienced surges in recent years. Today there are an estimated 2,000 to 5,000 Indians living in the area.

But though in China, observers will find Indians follow traditional, rather than local, customs and culture. Rather than rolling up en-masse at a Chinese New Year's Day festival, Indian residents are more likely to be found socializing in large numbers behind closed doors in secluded restaurants.

The Indian community is very "close-knit", admits Yogesh Nagaonkar, manager and co-owner of Indian restaurant Haveli. While there is no structured community life, Indians venturing to the city are quickly absorbed into a low-key social group that is actually very open to insiders, he says.

"Welcoming new people is the way to network and build relationships for common benefit. It is part of our culture."

Frequent social gatherings and cross-patronage of businesses ensures everyone gets to know each other very quickly. And arrivals from home never appear without a name or a contact number at hand.

"China is a good country and Guangzhou a good city to do business in, so others want to join us. The environment is very comfortable and many people can now speak English, so it is easy to communicate," Nagaonkar says.

The newly wed restauranteur said his wife will be coming to live with him next month. "We are in a good location, there is shopping, transportation, schools. Everything is here. I feel like this is my home."

Of the many Indian companies setting up, most are in export or light manufacturing - garments, shoes, textiles and jewelry, while Indian importers trade in raw materials such as iron ore, says Bonwe Yeung, liaison officer of the local chapter of the Indian Chamber of Commerce.

"Indian companies come to Guangzhou because there are many advantages - a strong economy and so many resources. Wages are low and the environment is good for them.