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mambawamba
Joined: 12 Jun 2012
Posts: 311
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 Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 8:47 am Post subject: |
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[quote="NoBillyNO"]good god ya'll[/quote]
Say it again! |
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mcloo7
Joined: 18 Aug 2009
Posts: 434
Location: Hangzhou
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| Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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What are some of the main differences between the cities around the Shanghai area, and those that are in southeastern China such as Guangzhou. Weather would be one obvious one, but what about lifestyle and other differences? Feel free to mention other areas too, like up north around Beijing, or central or western China.
Up to this point I had pretty much only been considering cities near Shanghai. But it seems like Southern cities are really popular on this forum. |
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mambawamba
Joined: 12 Jun 2012
Posts: 311
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| Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 1:05 am Post subject: |
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Morning, Mcloo7 sorry for digressing from your OP.
Personally I prefer the north of China, mainly because in the winter you get central heating and that makes a massive difference. Nanjing's a fantastic place but never been so cold in winter as we were there, we were putting the water in the fridge so it wouldn't freeze in the apartment. Ningbo meh, don't like it.
Qingdao's lovely, next to beach and the mountains but may be a bit limited in terms of work and wages. Harbin rocks but is bloody freezing. Beijing is one of my favourite cities in the world but not sure I could live there.
Mamba |
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mcloo7
Joined: 18 Aug 2009
Posts: 434
Location: Hangzhou
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| Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 2:54 am Post subject: |
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| mambawamba wrote: |
Morning, Mcloo7 sorry for digressing from your OP.
Personally I prefer the north of China, mainly because in the winter you get central heating and that makes a massive difference. Nanjing's a fantastic place but never been so cold in winter as we were there, we were putting the water in the fridge so it wouldn't freeze in the apartment. Ningbo meh, don't like it.
Qingdao's lovely, next to beach and the mountains but may be a bit limited in terms of work and wages. Harbin rocks but is bloody freezing. Beijing is one of my favourite cities in the world but not sure I could live there.
Mamba |
That's ok. It wasnt your fault. And Ive been known to do it myself. What cities in Northern China did you like living in? Having heat in places that get cold may be important to me, because while I dont mind cold weather at all, I have trouble sleeping in really cold rooms, my body cant relax. Although maybe I could get used to sleeping in layers.
I wasnt thinking about Beijing at all, but I heard about a highschool job in Beijing with a free apartment that sounds like it could be interesting. |
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roadwalker
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Posts: 1750
Location: Ch
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| Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 2:57 am Post subject: |
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mcloo7, I've lived in the north and the south, including the Shanghai area and in Guangdong. For me, it's all China. I liked the weather better in Henan because it is less humid than the coastal areas, but every place also has drawbacks. You may indeed end up preferring one are or city over others, but it might be based on friendships you make or a good working situation. My strategy suggestion is to find places that are linked by easy transportation, such as the main rail lines. The good news for that is that the infrastructure is growing and many places that were overnight trips from destinations are now a few hours away.
If you end up in an area where transportation to other areas is relatively easy and convenient, you will be able to compare places during a long weekend, for example. If you work for a public institution, your holidays will be long and you'll have time to check out other cities. Good (fast) rail cities lie between Beijing and Guangzhou/Shenzhen and between Shanghai/Hangzhou/Jiangsu areas and Beijing. There are others as well and there are more areas added all the time. China also has more airports cropping up continuously but the largest areas are already served. Airfares are often cheap when booked in advance. Less so for major national holidays. Travel to and compare places for possible future employment.
If you have a job offer, first find out how close to the named city it actually is (does it take an hour bus ride to reach the central core?) and also check how far it is from the nearest major airport and train station. Go to http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/ and plug in the potential location into the "search by destination" field to see how many cities are linked to it and travel times to expect.
In the end, you may prefer a "real China experience". Some teachers find schools that are out of the way precisely because they are out of the way. Some integrate themselves more into Chinese life, while others pull their hair out in such places. I don't like mega-cities but like the feeling of being able to hop on a train (or a bus ) and be in a metropolis in a matter of a few hours or less. I also like being near airports where I can find many flights to neighboring countries or distant Chinese cities for relatively cheap.
Good luck on your job search. |
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mcloo7
Joined: 18 Aug 2009
Posts: 434
Location: Hangzhou
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| Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 3:13 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks Roadwalker. I agree with you about being able to travel. |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 12:44 am Post subject: |
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Remember, if you live in a campus apartment in an area that requires central heating the heating will be OFF over Spring Break.
If you stay on after the students have gone, or arrive back before them you literally will be chillin' |
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mcloo7
Joined: 18 Aug 2009
Posts: 434
Location: Hangzhou
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| Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 12:58 am Post subject: |
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| Do parts of Southern China get cold at all in the winter? It seems to me that they wouldn't. |
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roadwalker
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Posts: 1750
Location: Ch
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| Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 1:15 am Post subject: |
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| mcloo7 wrote: |
| Do parts of Southern China get cold at all in the winter? It seems to me that they wouldn't. |
Yes. Shanghai and environs can see snow on occasion. Even when it is too warm to snow or freeze over, the lack of interior heating in classrooms may mean teaching in a parka. It's not horrible by any stretch and you will be able to keep your apartment warm (though it won't be very insulated, so heating can be expensive.) Mainly you need to get used to layering indoors. Coming from the US, this took some getting used to for me.
Southern Guangdong and (I think) the Xiamen area of Fujian won't often see temperatures less than 10C degrees (50F), but it can still feel cold if it is usually warmer. You may see locals wearing winter gear at or above that temperature. |
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choudoufu
Joined: 25 May 2010
Posts: 3325
Location: Mao-berry, PRC
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| Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 1:22 am Post subject: |
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| mcloo7 wrote: |
| Do parts of Southern China get cold at all in the winter? It seems to me that they wouldn't. |
kunming (at 2000 meters) will have a month of 5-degree days. will
usually get a couple light dustings of snow that melt by noon.
here in hainan, we had a whole week of winter where the nighttime temps
dropped to 10 degrees, daytime temps a frigid 20 celcius. most of this
months days have been 25-30 degrees.
i have a small space heater i brought from kunming. haven't used it for
two winters. i'm more likely to run the AC in february. |
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Denim-Maniac
Joined: 31 Jan 2012
Posts: 1238
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| Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 9:28 am Post subject: |
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| mcloo7 wrote: |
| Do parts of Southern China get cold at all in the winter? It seems to me that they wouldn't. |
Just did a very quick search for Yangshuo temperatures in January and the first result showed an average low of 4/6c and a high of 11/13c. Sounds almost tropical doesnt it? Temperature alone isnt enough though
But its frecking freezing during those winter months! I have photos from Xmas 2011 showing my GF in bed wearing a down coat as it was so cold. I needed an electric blanket, a sleeping bag lines, a fluffy blanket as well as my quilt and Id still wear hat and gloves in bed. I've spent two winters there and GuangXi province is pretty southern. That cold spell lasts for around 10 weeks. There might be a few hot or warm days randomly thrown in, but one generally needs to prepare to be cold for at least two months I think. |
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lemak
Joined: 19 Nov 2011
Posts: 368
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| Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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| mambawamba wrote: |
Morning, Mcloo7 sorry for digressing from your OP.
Personally I prefer the north of China, mainly because in the winter you get central heating and that makes a massive difference. Nanjing's a fantastic place but never been so cold in winter as we were there, we were putting the water in the fridge so it wouldn't freeze in the apartment. Ningbo meh, don't like it. |
Haha...yeah I've lost track of how many mornings I've woken, opened the fridge and thought "Shit the thing is broken!" because it feels so warm inside. Only to remember that it's actually colder in the kitchen than the fridge.
I guess it's the love of concrete everything and absence of insulation. The walls and floors stay at almost freezing temperatures. In many apartments in "Southern" China in January it's often warmer outside than inside. Electric blankets are like gifts from the Gods. |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 7:31 pm Post subject: |
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This is a handy resource for temp/humidity etc
www.wunderground.com |
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mcloo7
Joined: 18 Aug 2009
Posts: 434
Location: Hangzhou
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| Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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| lemak wrote: |
| mambawamba wrote: |
Morning, Mcloo7 sorry for digressing from your OP.
Personally I prefer the north of China, mainly because in the winter you get central heating and that makes a massive difference. Nanjing's a fantastic place but never been so cold in winter as we were there, we were putting the water in the fridge so it wouldn't freeze in the apartment. Ningbo meh, don't like it. |
Haha...yeah I've lost track of how many mornings I've woken, opened the fridge and thought "Shit the thing is broken!" because it feels so warm inside. Only to remember that it's actually colder in the kitchen than the fridge.
I guess it's the love of concrete everything and absence of insulation. The walls and floors stay at almost freezing temperatures. In many apartments in "Southern" China in January it's often warmer outside than inside. Electric blankets are like gifts from the Gods. |
Youve got to be kidding. Arent there any kinds of heaters? What part of China was this? |
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rogerwilco
Joined: 10 Jun 2010
Posts: 1549
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| Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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| mcloo7 wrote: |
Youve got to be kidding. Arent there any kinds of heaters? What part of China was this? |
Yes, many types of heaters. But, because the apartments are not insulated they can be very drafty and never warm up no matter what type of heater that you use.
No insulation in the walls, and the windows are of a very poor quality.
My first apartment in China would never warm up despite my using both the air-con (heating) units. |
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