Job Discussion Forums

[nickpellatt]

I dont know if I would want to manage on 500 a month, but in my experience in smaller towns, 500 is easily enough per week, and this still includes eating the majority of meals out, and enjoying a beer or three too! Perhaps this is down to individual tastes of course ... I would dream of eating an over-priced steak or drinking a pint of imported draft lager for example.

[blitzkrig]

From having read this thread, i'd go with Sichuan if i was you.
Not too many foreigners, but still enough to make a few new friends.

Check out www.chinahush.com for a really cool article about Chongqing.
The city is the first western Chinese city to be developed. Apprently, there are a lot of riots and protests going in on in western china due to east/west income disparities. So they're trying to make the country more equal by relocating production to from Guangdong and the east coast. Chongqing is the first attempt. The city is big, but the expat population is small as this is not southern/eastern China.

Chongqing is under a needed renovation, both physically and mentally. This is (or was?) the capital of organized crime in China, so it got some rough edges.

Could be interesting?

[Non Sequitur]

My advice is stay on the coast until you get a handle on China. Anywhere Qingdao or south should be bearable in winter - if that's a big issue. It is for me.

[seamallowance]

I dunno about Qingdao, but if anyone offers you a job anywhere near Jining, run in the opposite direction. Very cold, very dry and incredibly dull.

[chinaroman]

[Non Sequitur]

Yep avoid the 3 Dongbei provinces.
As mentioned Qingdao or south and stick to coastal. Even on the crappy days you can imagine you're looking out to sea.