Job Discussion Forums

[aotearoa]

Can someone please tell me whatever they know about Chengdu in Sichuan province? General and specific info please, whatever a foreign EFL teacher would need to know about the city. Thanks everyone

[Roger]

IT's one of the handful CHinese cities that I like - it's got some traditional things from before the 1949 sop-called Liberation and a lively teahouse culture, while modernism has made a big impact of late on the downtown area. You can see coffeehouses, good shopping malls and a mix of CHinese, Tibetans and expats.
It is subtropical, with relatively cool winters and very hot and humid summers.
There are numerous getaway places in the surrounding areas: Leshan Buddhist village, Wolong Nature Reserve, Emeishan, Dazu, Chongqing.
Chengdu is in a plain, and you can use a bicycle comfortably; it is another story in Chongqing, which lies on steep mountain slopes bordered by two rivers that meet there.

[dan]

I agree with Robert. Chengdu is a very pleasant city. for its size and burgeoning wealth, is still very laid back. echoing robert, there is vibrant tea house scene where some folks while away an entire day. there are also a few decent bars and some interesting expats seem to congregate in this city, too. i remember when i ran into a few business men who were in china for $$ and was intitial taken aback since i hadnt (thankfully) been exposed to such people in a long time. local people are great, and the food is among the best in china. however, i think more and more foreigners are in on the secret and are making their way there. it took me awhile to appreciate what chengdu has to offer. its not obvious, but with time, you'll probably come to really like the place.