Job Discussion Forums

[Queenslander]

My first posting on Dave's - WOW!
G'day everyone, I've been reading your posts, opinions, disagreements and funny anecdotes for almost a year now. I don't know why I turn to you for help and advice - but where else can I go! I will be in China come September and need to choose between Dalian maritime Uni and Shandong Uni of Science and Technology. I've done the searches, read the opinions, and they all range from "Dalian Rules!" to "Dalian Sucks!"; "Qingdao has temperate climate" to "Freezing my rocks off in Qingdao." If there is an honest answer to be given, any advice or suggestion that may be helpful I will be truly grateful - honest!
Thanks! And thank you for the entertaining posts over the months.

[Robbie]

I don't know about Dalian, but I lived in Qingdao for 3 months July - Sept. First is is extremely humid during that time. According to some friends it gets down to almost freezing in the winter, so heating is a must and as far as I know heating is not a government provision as it is in say, Beijing. So you could be freezing your ***** off, if not careful. It is general practice to shrug off things like cold apartments as being part of the norm. There is also a severe lack of things to do in Qingdao. It is not the cultural centre of the World and even the touring companies don't make it that far.

[rwillmsen]

I'm at DMU, send me a private message if you want some info.

[Volodiya]

My hat's off to you, Queenslander, for taking the time to sort through the massive amounts of information and opinions that we've generated on just about everything that can be said about our experiences; and, you're right! Our opinions do vary. In a place as challenging, and different and, potentially, fun to be as China, that's what one would expect, I suppose.

Good luck in your decision, and I hope you enjoy China and your new job, where ever you decide to go.

[Captain Yossarian]

One thing to note about both Dalian and Qingdao is that although their mean winter temperatures are not anything like as low as cities further into Dongbei (Dandong, Shenyang, Changchun, Haerbin, Qiqihar etc) the wind chill whipped up from the sea can actually make them feel colder.

[JamesD]

Just to confuse you more, I've lived in both so here's my two cents. As objective as I can be.

Dalian is a better place to live, Qingdao is better for a visit.

Dalian - Cold winters with high wind chill factor but pretty good heating systems in most apartments. Little or no cultural venues beyond the aquarium and a very small history museum. Large number of foreigners; US, England, Germany, Korea, Japan. Very business-oriented city. In the middle of a building boom now, people are friendly and more familiar with foreigners but number one is the almighty RMB.

Qingdao - So-so winters but no government mandated heating requirements in houses. Beaches, bars for young people. Even though there are tourists in the summer I encountered many more comments and stares in Qingdao. People are laid back but there is more "attitude". Familiarity breeds contempt.

Beer in Qingdao is definitely better unless you ask a Brit which doesn't really count because Brits wouldn't know good beer if it was gushing out their tear ducts. (No flames, please. That's a personal joke/shot at a poster here whom I know.)

[Queenslander]

Thanks for all the feedback. I heard quite a few negatives about the Dalian school and quite a few positives about the Qingdao school. I guess in the end you could be in a great city, with many wonderful things to do in your spare time, but miserable at work. Personally, I'd rather be happy in my work - it is after all the main reason why I am gong to China.