Job Discussion Forums

[Gorm]

Of course this will be subjective, but what is your favorite part of China or favorite city/town and why? What is there to do there? Etc...

I'm trying to decide on an area and/or city to choose. I don't want to be the only foreigner in the city (but also not in a place overrun with foreigners), I want access to social life once in a while - whether Chinese or expat (hopefully both) - grocery stores, movie theatres, clubs, gyms, shopping malls; things I consider basic urban amenities. I can't choose a large metro (Beijing, Shanghai, HK, Guangzhou...) due to living cost vs. salary issues, since I want to have at least a decent sum put away when the year is out.

A Chinese friend told me Chengdu is a good place (his home town), since living is comparatively cheap with regards the amount of money one can make. Is this true for an ESL teacher though?

I realize this is a rather tricky question, but which Chinese cities do you guys find to be best to work in to make & save money, to socialize (I'm not looking for the best party town or anything, but a place that at least has basic entertainment and social venues for teens-20s crowd - I'm 22), somewhere with an average age of 35 or younger (I've lived in a metro where the average age was 44, and there were social venues, but they were usually dead - so there was that feeling downtown of isolation, boredom, etc), and somewhere where one can find both traditional and more Westernized thinking.

[Malsol]

How many times have we done this?

Use search function

[Roger]

What's "location SoCal"?

[7969]

[vikdk]

don't know about that 7969 - according to my very complicated theories on phonetics I think the OP is Chinese and has written the post while riding a bicycle

[Sinobear]

You want foreign amenities without too many foreigners? Believe it or not, China is rather Chinese. With a great number of foreigners present, you will have foreign amenities. No (or just a handful of) foreigners, it's Chinese all the way.
If you go to cities other than the major ones, your income will be less than the major cities, and also your cost of living; however, if you are looking for nightlife, that can easily eat up any savings that you might envision.
Your age might be detrimental...what are your qualifications? If you're considering Guangdong - especially GZ, you must have (at least, on paper) two years teaching experience.

Good luck, anyhoo!

[7969]

[vikdk]

no 7969 still here riding my ESL SoCal

Cities the most amazing thing about average Chinese cities if you were placed slap bang in the middle of one is how alike they are - of course apart from factors such as climate - bit like how us europeans are surprised by the sameness factor of the average city in The US. But then of course you have those special cities - which are talked about constanly here.... and like 7969 suggests its kinda hard to give an objective answer on that which suits all tastes (as individuals we aint seen 'em all- and anyway it's horses for courses) - a holiday before starting work - taking a look - is maybe the best answer!!!!
But for some of us it's not only the city that counts, but the ability to get out of it and visit exciting areas during your free-time that's equally important - in this respect Chengdu is good, Kunmimg even better

[Malsol]

Chinese cities tend to reflect the Chinese mentality in the copying department.

If you have seen one, you have seen them all.

[KWhitehead]

try any Chinatown, USA. very clean compared to the "real thing".

[ela_loves_china]

i heard dalian is beautiful with many foreigners. a friend of mind left his 9,000 rmb job in guangzhou...to teach for 3,500 in dalian(had experience teaching there already)....so, it must have been worth it for him!

[Gorm]

[Gorm]

[Malsol]

Shanghai is New York with Chinese characteristics

Dalian is Chicago with Chinese characteristics

Wuhan is los Angeles with Chinese characteristics

[Russell123]

China is USA with Chinese characteristics.