Job Discussion Forums

wiebke · Joined: 15 Mar 2007 Posts: 8 Location: Europe

There's sunshine, salt air, and sea breezes. Walks on the beach and the sound of the surf and seagulls. There's the full moon over the water and, of course, there's guiness.

A'Moo · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 9:10 pm Post subject:

And a never-ending stream of harrassment from street people......

in_asia_bill · Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Posts: 197

Forget Zhuhai! Go to Dangan Island (adminstered by Zhuhai authorities)! Its a great place if you like barbershops and Chinese businessmen! Theres even a popular expression in Chinese 'to take a boat to Dangan and have your hair washed'!

Tiger Beer · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 778 Location: Hong Kong

It seems the general assessment is that Zhuhai is pretty good for living in China, but not a destination by any means.

How about Xiamen?

Also, are there any good beaches anywhere in the Hong Korea area?

jwbhomer · Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 876 Location: CANADA

I spent a decade in Zhuhai in July '05. Be sure to see the Fisher Girl.

Orrin · Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 206 Location: Zhuhai, China

I�ve been living and working as a teacher and DOS in Zhuhai for 5 years, and I support the comment someone made about it being one of the most livable cities in China. Is it perfect? Hell no! But I challenge anyone to point out any city in China that is. There are plenty of ESL opportunities at all levels available in Zhuhai. If there are any genuine, qualified teachers out there who are seriously interested in coming to Zhuhai to work (�work�, "genuine", and "qualified" being the key words) PM me and I�ll fill you in on the details.

texafari · Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 11:03 pm Post subject:

What is the cost of living like in Zhuhai? Do they speak Mandarin in taxis and shops or is there a local dialect?

Orrin · Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 206 Location: Zhuhai, China

The average income in Zhuhai is something less than 2000rmb/month. Therefore, the living costs are quite reasonable. Although the first language of most of the locals is cantonese, there are no problems communicating in manderin. I've only had one taxi driver in 5 years with whom I couldn't communicate in manderin. The problem was easily solved because I had learned the cantonese name for the place I wanted him to take me to.

lf_aristotle69 · Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 546 Location: HangZhou, China

I've only visited ZhuHai for a few days in early 2005, but I got a great impression of a nice spread out city on the coast.

As I walked along the riverbank looking over at the smallish, dirty looking buildings in Macau, I wondered how jealous the Macau residents must be of the gleaming, modern city rising so near to them. I also imagined how 20 years earlier (or even just 10) it was probably just the opposite...

I later walked over the border into Macau and spent half a day wandering and bussing around. It was a very nice, quaint place and I'm sure that the recent massive upswell in casino investment will modernise it no end, for better or, more likely, worse...

I think I read an article saying that GuangDong residents are restricted to 2 visits to Macau a month now. And, they can't go there on a trip where they also enter Hong Kong... Maybe they have just a little bit of a gambling addiction...?

I did find a small bar area in ZhuHai (next to some huge trees...?), but I wasn't there long enough to check it out at night.

The Fisher Girl statue is nice... but she's no Sydney Opera House, Statue of Liberty or Eiffel Tower...

To answer other posters. XiaMen's lovely too. I've passed through there 3 or 4 times and it has a lot to offer. I haven't tried swimming there though.

I did "try" swimming in BeiHai in southern GuangXi province at Silver Beach in May 2006 though... and failed. After wading out 30m and sweeping aside plastic bags, bottles, paper and a lot of other rubbish (such as half eaten shrimp) at literally EVERY step, I gave up and went back to the hotel pool. That rubbish didn't stop many Chinese young and old from swimming at the beach though. I was also worried about the sewage issue. I'm glad I didn't get to test it out...

I'm all for beachside/on beach restaurants... but clean up after yourselves and your guests... PLEASE! Don't just scrape the leftovers onto the sand and leave it there! Jeez! Take some pride in your environment and community.

One wonders how long it will take the Chinese tourists to demand better sanitation at their beaches. The more sophisticated travellers would already have discovered Thailand, the Philippines, Bali, and Australia I suppose, and they should be blogging about how discusting Chinese beaches are in comparison.

I'm surprised local governments don't think long term and clean these problems up... haven't they heard of tertiary treated sewage in China? You can drink that sh1t... seriously!

LFA

eddy-cool · Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 1008

jwbhomer · Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 876 Location: CANADA

harbinde · Joined: 31 May 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Harbin

I am thinking of moving with my family from Harbin to Zhuhai. I would like to know what the weather is like and the price of houses to buy or rent.

Ahchoo · Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 606 Location: Earth

Orrin · Joined: 02 Apr 2005 Posts: 206 Location: Zhuhai, China

@Achoo,

Actually, one can rent a nice apartment from about 1500/mo. Mine is in Wanzaisha, for slightly less than that, and it provides a beautiful view of the sea and Yeli Island. Certainly, for someone with children, about 2000 and up might be more realistic.

cheekygal · Joined: 04 Mar 2003 Posts: 1987 Location: China, Zhuhai

I live in Zhuhai now. It is nice comparatively. Due to heavy rains this year I wouldn't recommend anyone swimming in the sea - the color is dirty green. But there is a natural pool at the beach where people swim plus there are few places in mountain areas and on islands with hot springs and clean pools.
In summer it is quite hot and gets very humid.
Rent depends on where you rent and what kind of house it is. We have seen decent apartments for 1700-more for a 2-bedroom (total living area 75-90 square meters).
I am not sure about buying a house but it is definitely cheaper than most of the major cities. You will find that Zhuhai is expensive in some terms (e.g. taxi, buses, imported food) and cheap in other (clothes, general groceries...).
Macao is next door so you can always make a short trip.
Medical care is alright. They have few hospitals and they don't charge foreigners like in Beijing 20 times more than Chinese. They also try to assist you at the hospitals and find doctors who speak English. I can't say it is all excellent but it is really not bad.
Foreign teacher's salaries aren't high. But there are always plenty of people who want private classes so one can make a reasonable amount of money. Schools usually try to provide you with proper documentation once you are employed with them full time. Some still provide with a valid Z visa even if you work part-time but you pay yourself (that's what my husband's kindy does).
There are lots of parks and mountains. Not much night club's entertainment.
Hope the information was helpful Smile