Job Discussion Forums

[yamahuh]

We'd like to move somewhere coastal for our next 'tour of duty' and would really appreciate advice from anybody out there who has found their own little slice of Nirvana by the sea.

We've been thinking of (in no particular order) Fuzhou, Wenzhou, Ningbo, Dalian, Maoming, Qingdao etc and I'm sure this is only the tip of the iceberg. So, any insights you've got whether they be good or bad would be mighty helpful.

[erinyes]

I live in a small town near Maoming.

It's a pretty nice city, and the cost of living is not bad, the Maoming prefecture reaches the ocean, but the main city in Maoming isn't by the ocean. It will take you 30 minutes by taxi to get there. There is also a pretty sizable city down by the ocean itself.

The beach itself isn't bad. I have seen only one beach in China, and if I compared it to the East Coast of Australia, then it's nothing special at all, but the day I went the waves were good, and the water wasn't bad.

The thing with Maoming (and the little town we live in called Gaozhou) is that there are not too many FT around the area. It's nice if you want to get away from it all, but there isn't a WALMART to be found, so you might miss some of the imported products.

I know that there is at least one university and a few language colleges looking for teachers at the moment. You can do a search for �Maoming College� or �David Hawk English School� for jobs in the area. I can vouch for �David Hawk� through a friend who was always treated well by them.

[richie122]

This past summer I visited Shandong province... Well actually Qingdao and Weihai. Qingdao is a fairly large city, with many FTs. The weather is usually very beautiful, and the beaches are wonderful.... From a distance. I must admit that I didn't swim at every beach in Qingdao, but I caught the jist of things... Used condoms and maxi-pads floating around as well as other bits of trash... That wrecked it for me.

About a three-hour bus ride to the north is Weihai. I fell in love with the city. It isn't too big, but quite modern. It also happens to be one of the cleanest cities in China. The beaches were pretty nice and most importantly there were no feminine products lurking around in the water. As far as FTs I don't really know. I saw a bunch of Russians, but I think they were on vacation.

That's all of my experience, but I've also heard that Sanya, Hainan is very nice.

[yamahuh]

[Roger]

I do not wish to be unfairly pessimistic, but MAOMING has been discussed here a number of times, never without people saying it is a dump. I don't know about GAOZHOU but I definitely have been to Maoming (albeit only in the railway station precinct), and I couldn't find anything pleaant about the town. It was in horrible socialist architectural style, with no mitigating circumstances at all. It looked grimy, drab,repulsive. My impression, not necessarily fair, I admit.

As for potential EMPLOYERS, I had some dealings in years long past that were highly indicative of probable pitfalls for the unsuspecting FT. There was a Chinese guy trying to pass himself off as an Aussie owner of a training centre in need of FTs. I am not sure it is the same Dave whatever you came across; I merely wish to alert you to the fact that caution is the mother of survival instincts.

If you really are after a nice locale along China's seashores, may I suggest the following places?
- BEIHAI, GUangxi A.R., about 300 kms west of Maoming; it's opposite
of Hainan island (which I recommend too).
Beihai is not overrun by Western tourist hordes,yet it was a Western-
controlled market town early in the last century; some Erupean architecture testifies to this. IT's lively and friendly, and the surroundign
areas are pretty, the beaches are sandy and the sea water is clear!
Warm year round!
- XIAMEN, FUjian province: a major Special Economic Zone and a
bustling small town with a quiet island district off limits to motorists,
that also was home to hundreds of Westerners when that part of town
was a foreign concession.
- I don't think NIngbo is particularly attractive...but then again, some
like it...
- DALIAN is by far the best and most attractive for anyone who wants
a big, modern town with good economic prospects. Temperate zone,
rather cold in winter!
- Some opt for QINGDAO in Shandong province. Famous for its beer
and German buildings.
- If you want to consider either SHENZHEN or ZHUHAI, both in Guang-
dong province, beware: the sea is fairly far out of town in both places.
Shenzhen is a hotbed of crime (these days) and Zhuhai is being
benignly neglected. Zhuhai wins hands down in the contest for
China's greenest, cleanest coastal town.

[erinyes]

[yamahuh]

Thanks for your comments.
We have considered Beihai as a good opportunity as well after spending Spring Festival there this year. The beach is absolutely stunning, by far the largest expanse of sand I have ever seen; and almost deserted in Frebruary even though the weather was warm enough to give me a suntan!!
We'll keep on looking and see what we can turn up but post more ideas and locales if they cross your minds.

[smalls]

Hey, Yamahuh, lived in Beihai for two years, still my favorite city in China, due to the beaches, barbecues, and weather. Will also being going there for New Years, fireworks everyone, and some of the cheapest around. Feel free to PM me, can let you know about school situation and whatever else. The city seems to be changing pretty quick these days, but will do my best.

[yamahuh]

[englishgibson]

Interesting points of view on Maoming and the area there, I must say.
Giving advice may not always be as easy since we have varieties of tastes or preferences.

Yamahuh, Maoming really is about half an hour from the seaside and you would not have to take a taxi. There are busses that'll take you all the way the the shore. However, these busses may be more rare in Winter period.
The schools above mantioned are there in Maoming and a few others from the public sector, but do inquire about what kind of "work permit" you will obtain once you get there. The public schools there DO NOT HAVE a STANDARD CHINESE PERMIT to hire foreign teachers in China. David Hawk school (private) only provides an "L" (tourist) or "F" (business visa) that does not legally allow you to work and recieve salary in China. It only allows you to reside here. In any case, you may not have a problem working there under any kind of documentation, since the "Chinese officials" do not get legislated there, but China's undergoing some structural changes with regards to exactly these issues and imagine if they do get the standardized legislation during your stay there.

Now, I do not wish to disencourage you from going there since it is a pretty safe part of China to live in and that seaside is quite nice. I just want you to know the facts of working with legal documents there. If you wish to work there for 6 months only, so be it. But if you plan on staying there/any other part of China for a longer period of time, consider my point here.

Cheers and beers