Job Discussion Forums

[ellsworth81]

I'm interested in going to a place that is relatively rural - not necessarily hanging out with the farmers - but just in a place that passes for a small city.

However, I wouldn't know which cities to go to - or if it's even recommended to be out in the hinterlands, especially since I wouldn't want to be in the US rural areas voluntarily.

So if anyone has any recommendations for places that aren't as large as places like Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, etc as well as some general impressions of being out in the areas I've described, I would greatly appreciate it. Especially places with less pollution, cars, noise, and crime.

TIA!

[Roger]

One guy, Rhinow, made a lot of positive fuss about his northern Guangdong turf; he liked it, and perhaps you would too. Can't remember the place - was it SHAOGUAN? I happened to spend a short time there, it has an university and is surrounded by mountains that host monasteries and attract tourists from Hong Kong.

Other smallish towns include: Huadu outside Guangzhou; COnghua: ditto (idyllic place, famed for its lychees); Zengcheng (again, just outside Guangzhou).
Personally, I would add Shunde (prosperous town but rather laid-back); or some place on Hainan (apart from Haikou).
As you will note, all these places are in the South; farther afield I can only recommend YANGSHUO - but who wouldn't want to be there???

Elsewhere - the availability of things you deem necessary might be a problem. ALso medical care. Guangdong offers you the option of going to Hong Kong or Macau for any emergency.

But, what is "small" anyway? SOme say, 1 million inhabitants or less; I say: if it has no McDonald's!
Unfortunately, Shunde with less than half a million people has a McDonald's...

[lagerlout2006]

You could play it safe and look for a smallish city not too far from a major...My first job was in a small town-100 000-600 000 depending on who you asked. Not a Mcdonalds but some Western-style places..UBC Coffee anyone? I thought it was great...I was new to China and a lot of fun exploring around-usually on a bike-and meeting the people who were friendly...Don't know if I could do it again though...When I got too bored Shanghai and Ningbo were close enough for overnite trips.
Keep in mind some jobs-maybe most can be far from the city you are officially in. I just finished a contract in Jinan...It was "in Jinan" like Niagara Falls is in Toronto (or Buffalo.) So this was rural living in a way.

Crime wont be a problem anywhere---pollution will be though...

[ilunga]

Are you thinking of a small city, ie 1-1.5m or a large town, ie a few hundred thousand?
I'm in a city of 1.5m and I couldn't face being anywhere smaller, it's just about right for me.
I agree with lagerlout about being out of the city. It's vital to check up on that before you commit to anything. You could essentially be stuck in a village an hour from the city and you wouldn't be any the wiser until you arrived.

[nolefan]

I have been pretty happy with Tangshan (Hebei) , so far. It might not be as small as you'd like (3 Mills) but it's the biggest small town you'll ever come across. It's got a few goodies like and italian restaurant, a brazillian churascaria and a few spots for coffee. It's pretty new and clean considering it was leveled down in 76 by a monster earthquake.

Beijing and Tianjin are within 2 hours....

I am spending the summer in Hefei (Anhui)and it ain't bad either. Being the capital of the province gives it a few perks but not much. Nanjing is within 3 hours.... I have barely seen one foreigner here in a 10 days.

[cheekygal]

Taizhou, Wenzhou in Zhejiang I am not a small-city person, but if you are looking for *peace and quiet* - these are the places