While China may have once been a favored destination for expats seeking exotic experiences such as teaching English or learning Chinese, an increasing number of people are flocking eastward to realize their dreams. As the Chinese economy continues to grow, success is flourishing not only for entrepreneurial Chinese, but also for foreign residents with an eye for opportunity. This is the story of some of those intrepid foreigners who have shared in the "China dream" - the philanthropist, the actress, the restaurateur and the playwright.

For Charlotte Macinnis, also known as Ai Hua when she is hosting the China Central Television (CCTV) program Growing up with Chinese, the "China dream" started as a child when her family moved to the city of Nanjing to follow her father's career in publishing.

In 1988 at the age of 7, Macinnis was pushed out of a comfortable life in the United States and placed in a land that, at the time, few people in the West knew anything about.

"We didn't have the option of living a Western lifestyle in China, so we adopted a Chinese one," the 30-year-old actress said.

Gaining high proficiency in Mandarin after just two years in a Chinese middle school, Macinnis and her sister Mika began making a local name for themselves as the only expat performers to share the stage with China's well-known Little Red Flowers performing troupe.

After more than a decade in China, Macinnis returned to the US to attend Columbia University where her quirky Chinese mannerisms earned her the nickname "weird white Chinese girl" among her classmates, a title that sticks to this day.

Now, Macinnis is a recognized face in many Beijing households as the host of several programs on CCTV and a regular guest on Chinese talk shows.

"This is exactly where I want to be," she said. "I wouldn't know life anywhere else."

While her opportunity came at a young age, when there was still "an element of wow associated with being a foreigner", Macinnis said China is still teeming with possibilities for those looking to realize their dreams in showbiz.

"Definitely in entertainment there's a better chance at getting somewhere or being on TV here than you would in the United States," she said, adding that while many opportunities remain available for foreigners, employers are gradually getting more stringent regarding who they hire.

"But the caliber of people coming to China has risen, people are expecting more now. And that's good, that's what it should be."