Job Discussion Forums

[MMMatens]

My boyfriend and I are set on working in China, but there seem to be a lot of places to do it. We love natural settings (mountains, trees, forest) and are not afraid of cold weather. We don't mind smaller cities and hate huge ones. Does anyone have advice on a somewhere to apply? We understand we are looking at a February start date. Also, any opinions on working in Mongolia or Tibet?

Thanks so much!

[thefuzz]

Your best options would be either one of these cities: Kunming (in Yunnan Province) and Chengdu (in Sichuan Province). Especially Kunming if you're into nature as there's loads of stuff to do just outside the city limits (plus close enough to some wonderful destinations such as Dali, Lijiang and the like which you can visit during the weekends).

Chengdu, on the other hand, is a slightly larger city compared to Kunming, but it also offers more western amenities (which you'll crave after a while living in smaller cities in China). The thing I love about Chengdu is the unlimited travel possibilities in and around Sichuan Province. It makes for a great hub if you want to explore Tibetan areas outside of Tibet proper plus also access to Gansu and Qinghai Provinces in the far north (plus wonderful grasslands to explore in the northern region as well).

But the most important thing to consider living in one of these cities is the fact that you'll be able to make enough money to enjoy your time in China and travel when you feel like it. Lost of jobs both in Chengdu and Kunming, plus opportunities to make more doing private tutoring work (which is not always available in smaller towns).

As for Tibet there weren't many paid positions before and given the recent tensions and so forth, the government has cracked down even more. Unless you want to volunteer, not much in terms of paid teaching employment will be available.

As for Mongolia (and by this I think you mean the province of Inner Mongolia in China, yes?) there is work available in the main towns, but given its isolation and very cold winter months (I'm Canadian and I felt really cold visiting Inner Mongolia in the winter) it can be a hard on the spirit at times.

Anyway, I would choose Kunming as my most livable city in China. Here is a website you should check out:

http://www.gokunming.com/en/

And a website about Chengdu:

http://www.morechengdu.com/

Cheers and good luck picking that one great Chinese city.

[mondrian]

What makes for a "great" city?

I used to think that Leeds (or Sheffield) in the UK was a great city as it was so easy to get away from the filth into lovely surrounding countryside.
Here in Dalian you can easily reach the whole of NE China (if you want to!) and other pages on this website have extolled its charms

[MMMatens]

This is really excellent feedback. We appreciate your time and thoughtful response.

[Blingcosa]

Hope this helps:
http://community.travelchinaguide.com/forum2.asp?i=21188

With regard to Kunming - I've never been there, but a classmate of mine (who had already visited Beijing and Shenzhen) was so overwhelmed by how crowded Kunming was, that she needed friends to come from Thailand and rescue her!!

I do know that Kunming has a reputation for being an over-commercialised tourist place.

[vikuk]

[MMMatens]

I really appreciate the honest information on the environmental issues. I suppose I thought there would be some pollution, but perhaps I am seeking something too ideal. Is there a smaller city that is less ruined you could suggest?

[thefuzz]

[vikuk]

Smaller Sichuan cities that employ FT's - and are closer to a more acceptable version of the great outdoors - include Emei (South West Transport University Emei Campus) and Ya'an (there's an agricultural uni that legally employs FT's here) - but both of these places also suffer from pollution from nearby industry, and Ya'an is labeled as the wettest city in China - but you can quickly get to walking areas, and after a little exploring will soon be able to find paths into a less industrialised China.

If you want a lot of nature and outdoor experience - keep clear of Chengdu.

By the way my wife and I - among other things - conduct environmental impact studies focusing on bird populations (we've already put two new species on the Sichuan breeding list), sub-contracting for a major British Environmental consultancy firm that works in supplying environmental reports that are required by the Chinese govt. when foreign firms involved in Joint-venture projects develop green-field sites - we write honestly about the environment because we love "wild" China so deeply - and so heartbroken to see so much of it disappearing so quickly.

And anyway - whatever my views and feelings over China, whether I'm suitable or not to live in this country - have no impact whatsoever on the truth of the matter that can summed up in an indisputable - China has very serious environmental problems, which makes it extremely hard for FT's to find clean unpolluted living areas that give easy access to sites that allow for fresh-air countryside experiences away from the madding crowd.

[vikuk]

After thinking overnight what the best Sichuan site would be I plump for Ya'an - here you can get weekends at -

Wawu Shan - about 2 hours away if you use mini-bus taxis - on the country roads rather than the looping motorway route that the larger busses will take - here a primeval table-top forest gives sights of Red Panda (we got one here in late June) and if your birders mega-restricted species like Three-toedl and Grey-hooded Parrotbill. When you get to know the locals they'll guide you to places that don't need tickets.

Laba He - about 1.5 hours up the G318 (the Lhasa highway) again a ticketed area and expensive hotels but they have a camping option, and the staff are pretty friendly if you're regular visitors. Here you can see larger mammals - Samba Deer and Short-tailed Macaques are simple - but we've also seen Musk Deer, Indian Civet Cat, and Red Panda - Takin are also about but don't get in the way of these strange beasts they have a pretty nasty reputation. This park is at the end of the Giant Panda area that includes Wolong - Giant Panda must turn up out here - but modern records are sparse.

The old Erlang Road - another 40 mins up the G318 - is the old track, now replaced by a tunnel, that used to be the main road to Kangding. 30km's of walking here - and lots of possibility for camping. This area borders Laba He - so in effect its the park without a ticket (and no hotel or restaurant). Red panda and Takin are here - for the birders this is our best spot for Streaked Barwing.

Moxi - this is 4 hours from Ya'an - its being slowly trashed by tourist development - and favorite areas for trekking such as the Yanzi Valley are being closed off for bus only ticketed visits as in the Jiuzhaigou area. But if you explore you'll find paths - getting there is easy - there's a backpacker hostel with kitchen for 50rmb/night - but regular travel to this area is depressing with all the alterations and destruction!!!!!

There are also lots of other sites very close to Ya'an - a monastery (Honglingshan) - just oustside Tianquan - and another on the road south that heads off in the direction of Xichang. Last week we discovered a walk onto a table-top marshland - that's half way along the country route to Wawu - so there's a lot to do.

As for transport your own is best - we use 4 wheels - but a far cheaper alternative is motorbike.
But come with stout-heart - things can be awful saddening out here - what was a great site one day can quickly turn into a tangle of rubble and roots the next!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[drjtrekker]

Hey VIKUK....stop giving away our secret!!!

I am a Ya'an FT!! and Vikuk is right re: his assessment of Chengdu and the surrounding areas.
I have traveled all through Sichuan and know Chengdu well.

The other post responding to Vikuk i believe is a bit uh.....well, listen to Vikuk...and ME...I live HERE! Sorry mr. fuzz.

Anyways Matens....there are some small areas in Sichuan. Search it.
In ya'an...forget the uni. no chance. sorry.

There is however a middle school/high school, they might have an opening in feb. if the guy leaves. Next year the other guy may leave as well.
They only have 2 teachers...dunno if they can have more.

Dont know the name of the school off-hand.
And if there is 2 of you...well....good luck.

jd

[mandu]

Shenzhen is a great city

[nobleignoramus]

[vikuk]

[Boxcar Johnny]