Job Discussion Forums

[Mike S.]

My friend recommended it to me as a good place to live and teach ESL.
But she�s never been there just heard good stuff about it?

[Steppenwolf]

So, why don't you check out a travel guide to read up on what's alluring the travelling public?
IT's got the West Lake, the town itself is relatively small, and the quality of life is generally described in terms of pleasure and good vibes. On the other hand, you must be built to withstand sizzling summer months and tropical humidity.

[kev7161]

From mid to late October to early December, the weather is generally picture perfect. Same goes for around mid to late March to early May. The winters can be cold and dreary and damp while, as Roger says, the summers hot and sticky and nasty. There is a nice West Lake you'll want to visit occasionally. However, so does EVERYONE else (weekends, holidays, those aforementioned nice days) so the the crowds kind of offset the beauty.

There are plenty of restaurants with a HUGE variety of cuisine choices. There is shopping aplenty as well. Carrefour, Metro, and Trust Mart will let you find almost any staple you need. There are some movie theaters that show US films in English, often the latest blockbuster or two and as everywhere else, DVDs abound.

Here's the thing about Hangzhou though: it is one frikkin' crowded city. It has recently been one of those "it" cities for the country folk to migrate to. Traffic snarls are abundant and the crowds are so fierce in the downtown area, you could well go mad! A lot of people seem to be moving out to the 'burbs, so buses can be quite crowded. I heard a rumor that a subway is going in, but ????

I only visit Hangzhou rarely these days, but everytime I do, I seem to regret it. Now if you want my recommendation on SUZHOU . . .

[Mike S.]

Cheers, Mike

[brsmith15]

I love the place. My wife and I get there about 2x a year. Walk around Xi Hu (West lake), maybe rent a small motor boat in the evening. One very nice thing is that with an hour's walk (or a short bus ride) you're in the woods.

Yeah, the traffic can be fierce, but the local cops try to restrict the use of horns. If you didn't alrady know, the Chinese think a motor vehicle is a horn with an engine attached. Shanghai, where we are is maddening. These damn fools lean on their horns at the slighest whim. The really brin-dead action is a bus that's just pulled up behind another bus which s discharging and taking on passengers. The driver will keep that horn going until the first bus moves. Dumb!

[Mike S.]

Thanks to Dave too!

[therock]

When you are looking for jobs, if you work for a university in Hangzhou you could be working in the university district which is in Xiasha. There is nothing out there, just universities and colleges. Its a fair hike into Hangzhou itself.