Job Discussion Forums

[JoeThePlumber]

I'm thinking of heading west to Chongqing or Chengdu for my next position.

Any comments generally about climate (I understand both cities have their share of gray and rainy days), pollution, ease of getting around or otherwise, and any specific comments about the universities in those areas will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Banner41]

I lived in a small city for a year before moving to Chengdu and I love it here. If you want a Chinese experience it is here. If you can't do without Western stuff...they have all that here as well with a large foreign business community located here (lots of IT high tech jobs). The weather hasn't been great this year unseasonably cool since November or so but Spring is slowly starting to peek its head out. Good luck in your decision.

[wangdaning]

I can only speak of Chengdu, never been to Chongqing (though my family lives in a small town about 30 minutes from the border).

The climate can be odd here. Variant, it can change from really hot/cold to really cold/hot within a day. None of this is out of control, clothes for the cold, less for the heat. You are right about grey days, it can get a bit depressing never seeing a blue sky.

Pollution, well, it is only getting worse in Chengdu. By far not the worst in China, but still. I wake up some mornings, open my window, and smell what seems to be burning plastic. I do live outside the main city, but that means I am avoiding the horrifying amount of vehicle exhaust.

Gets me to getting around here. If you are a bicycler it is ok. Public transport is ok, if you can forget that a bus load of people burnt to death a few years ago. Never experienced robbery, I am a bit paranoid though, which most times puts petty thieves off. Getting a taxi can be quite a chore, but this goes for many places in China. The traffic on the roads absolutely sucks. You can feel like you are on a LA freeway while you are inside town. Also, new taxi rule as I remember is sitting stationary for 5 minutes counts as a Km on the fare. This means you pay a lot to go not very far.

I could speculate on Chongqing, but hopefully someone working there will come to give you an idea.

Best of luck

[7969]

i'd move to chengdu just for the food.

[Mister Al]

Chongqing

Really cold and damp most of the winter and really hot most of the Summer. Fantastic food and even hotter women. Hardly any bikes because of the hills. Lots of luggage carriers around. The language in the street is generally local dialect and for me difficult to get a handle on. Chongqing really is what it is and not easy to forget. My wee girl was born there so may pay a visit when she's older if she's curious. But I think that's the only reason I'd go back.

[drrjon]

I am the Hr director for a training center in Chongqing and have lived there for almost four years. I also lived in Chengdu for one year and in fact I am in Chengdu now as we are opening a new center here. The weather in Chongqing is a bit harsher than Chengdu both in the summer and the winter. Chengdu has more diversity when it comes to food but Chongqing is catching up. Chengdu is more laid back than Chongqing. In Chongqing every thing is fast paced and the 3 Hs are hot weather, hot food, and hot women. Chengdu is flat and Chongqing is surrounded by mountains. The buildings in Chongqing are taller and more modern than Chengdu. Either place you pick will offer you a great experience.