Job Discussion Forums

[Canasian]

does anybody live in Shunde? if so, what is it like there in regards to weather, shopping, food and lifestyle?

[Steppenwolf]

The climate is much the same as in nearbyGuangzhou, Zhongshan, Dongguan or Foshan: subtropical, with basically 2 (some claim 4) distinct seasons year round: humid and warm to hot (from March through September) and dry and cool (rest of the year). Shunde is located just a little south of the tropic of cancer, and enjoys a climate influenced by maritime conditions.

Talking of SHUNDE, youmust first establish where in Shunde you are going to live; it's a cluster of townships, really. A little over ten years back it was a rural county.
If you will live in DALIANG you will probably enjoy living there: it's a fine little town (maybe 300'000 inhabitants), very few highrises (the tallest stand around 25 floors high in the downtown area), and a few time-honoured relics (a couple of temples and parks, old neighbourhoods of white-washed one-storey houses with very narrow lanes between them).

Shopping is unexpectedly great:there is a Park'N Shop, one McDonald's and one KFC. There also is an American kind of steakhouse (I forgot its exact name). A short street is lined by bars next to one of the two landmark parks (attracting lots of Hong Kong visitors). It's really quite cosmopolitan, clean and people are generally friendly and unhurried. Beware of the hundreds of rude panhandlers, though!

That is Daliang, ca. 25 or 30 kms from Guangzhou. If you are posted to Lecong, the story is different. There isn't much worth mentioning there, a lot of industries, a lot of busy blue and white ants. There also is Beijiao; sleepy, greener than the rest, with a golf course and a couple of luxury gated communities (but hardly any expats living there). The town with its low-rise residential blocks is uninspiring though safe and civilised. It must be a little boring in the evening and on weekends.

There are a few other places farther afield that I hardlyknow, and wouldn'twant to live in. Go for Daliang if you are given a choice - it's one of the nicest places in Guangdong! A lively expat scene there too!