Job Discussion Forums

oprah · Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 382

Those living and working in Schenzen, could you offer your comments on life and work there and is this a good place to be?

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

I lived in Shenzhen for three years.
As recently as the early 1980's, it was only marshland dotted with fishing and agricultural villages. Now it is a city of I do not know how many million people; it is more than that - it is a conglomeration of towns, some posh, some blue-collar worker dormitories and factory sites. Those latter ones are on the north side of a fence that divides the Special Economic Zone into two - rich south and poor north.
You will most probably get a job in the south, Shenzhen town or Shekou town.
This is an imitation of downtown Hong Kong though a lot shabbier.
There are lots of unreliable training centres. One is located in the Shenzhen CIty Library. The best jobs are probably with the local Education Department, and you would be working in primary schools - if that is your cup of tea (doing oral lessons with noisy youngsters, 40 to 60 crammed into a classroom).
Some experimental schools offer better conditions but they may be very picky in hiring expats.
Shenzhen is a lot more expensive than the rest of the country (minus SHanghai and Peking), but cheaper than nearby Hong Kong.
Recreation-wise, there is not a lot to recommend this place. There used to be a Hard Rock Cafe, but it folded due to low patronage (you can imagine why). The best bars are in the small town of Shekou, an oasis away from grotty Shenzhen.
You have trains from here to Guangzhou, even Shanghai and other cities in China, and excellent buses to Guangzhou and even to Guilin or Fuzhou. Ferries take you to Zhuhai across the Pearl RIver and to Hong Kong.
Shenzhen has a good airport, an excellent alternative to much more expensive Hong Kong (for domestic flights).
I did not like living in Shenzhen! Too boring, uncultured. Nice parks though (Lychee Park, Donghu Park and Fairy Park as well as theme parks such as Safari Park and SPlendid China - but they cost a leg and arm to enter).

Bertrand · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 293

I lived and worked in Shenzhen for a while while I was going across the border a lot looking for a job in Hong Kong. Shenzhen is an economic miracle but a social disaster. It is dangerous (Hong Kongers get kidnapped off the streets; on CCTV only last week there was a piece on the gangs that were targeting HKers), dirty, full of beggars, rip off joints and is damn expensive (taxis start at 12 Yuan!) The only good points are the money (you can earn 9,000, 10,000, or 11,000 a month just as a bog standard teacher which is okay for China) and its location, i.e., near to HK. One tip: be very careful with any notes over 10 Yuan (in HK now most shops will only accept the 10 Yuan note, nothing higher). What happens is this (I got caught out no less than 3 times before I caught on!): you pay for something with a note, let's say a 100 Yuan note. They take it away and then bring it back saying 'Please take this note back and give us another one as this is a fake' (they will bring out their machines to prove it is a fake, or they will encourage you to take it to a bank or they will call the police). Now, it IS a fake and they KNOW it is a fake because it is theirs. They swap your good money for their bad money AND then get you to pay again with good money so they get the cash and exchange a bad note for a good one. Taxis, bars, nightclubs, restaurants; they all do it.

BTW, it's SHENZHEN.

noodles · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 67

I am living in shenzhen now, well actually out in one of its districts called Baoan, which is just outside the SEZ, although it is being reported that the barriers are soon to disappear. I personally don't find it too bad, it is true it is not the most historic city in China and has little in the way of old sights to see. It does however have as Roger said some nice parks and there are a few good museums and art galleries which are worth a visit. I think the nightlife is ok, better than some cities i have visited. I chose to be in Shenzhen for its close proximity to both Hongkong and macau and its generally a good place to travel from. I'm not sure if i'd give it a glowing reference but i kinda like it.

Bertrand · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 293

I forgot to say that there is quite a good cultural village, Splendid China, and a cool resort called 'Window on the world' (or something similar). Both of these places are worth a visit, as is the dirty great big electric fence that surrounds the SEZ that used to keep non-visa holders out; it's really something.