Job Discussion Forums

goldhair · Joined: 17 Mar 2007 Posts: 23

I just got a job offer teaching English in the city of Xi'an. I would greatly appreciate if anyone can tell me about the city. Anyone info would be great. Thank you.

u24tc · Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 125 Location: Dalian, China

http://www.channel5.com/paulmerton/

click on Xi-An Wink

Songbird · Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:17 am Post subject:

Xian rocks, it's my fave city in all of China....then again, I'm biased, I live a couple of hours west Cool

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There's the 2000?? year old city wall that surrounds the whole city, you can still walk on it- all 24 kms of it, or cycle on it, is about 15Y I think. There's the Bell & Drum towers in the middle, I think also 15 for each. There's the Muslim Quarter, great for snacks, the Mosque is lovely to see.

There's also the infamous Terracotta Warriors about 2 hours east, I think it's 90 to get in but great to see.

Back to the city, there are now 3 Starbucks just opened, and also in the north left hand corner of the Bell Tower (looking FROM the South Gate), there is Ginwa supermarket, you can get lots of Western foods there, herbs, pasta, sauce, cheese, cereals, bacon....etc etc....there is also Metro way way down South, haven't been there but you need a membership card. Supposedly has a lot more variety. There is also Carrefour, north of Ginwa/ Post Office- go north, turn first right after Post office to get there. Apparently it isn't very exciting though.

chinaamber · Joined: 06 Jun 2006 Posts: 73 Location: Guiyang

Xi'an is a great city. It has a good mix of new and old China and good transport links both in the city and to others.

Paul Merton never came here, he went to Zhengzhou/Shaolin. Bit confused by the Xi'an reference on the webiste.

The biggest downside to Xi'an is the pollution but I think that is a general China problem.

Carrefour has moved to Xiao Zhai now and is not great.

The food is some of the best I have had in China and super cheap.

There are mountains to the south which are easy to get to for a bit of nature and a few interesting temples near Hua Shan which make good day trips.

Xi'an is a city on the move, you find a great place and the next wek it is gone but you can always find a replacement .

I lived there for a few years before heading south and I miss it so much I am looking to head back.

SheZook · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 187

I also love Xi'an - probably my favourite of the "big cities". I just hope the position offers a decent wage as it can be quite tempting to splurge, especially when feeling a bit homesick for Western goods.

upchuckles · Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 111

I just discoverd a really good resource for finding out information on Xian.. ready? http://google.com

jeffinflorida · Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 2:38 am Post subject:

I liked Xi'an and think I could do ok living there.

brsmith15 · Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1142 Location: New Hampshire USA

Visited Xi'an several years ago. Also went to the nearby city of Bao Ji. Great places. Great food and nice people. Be careful of the tourist sites like the warriors. Grubby old merchants will try and get you to buy their useless wares.

On one side trip between Baoji and Xi'an, I happened upon a few areas where the people lived in the side of small mountains. No electricity, no indoor plumbing, no TV, and certainly none of that bane of human folly, the cell phone. They seemed extraordinarly happy and content. If someone died, they just dragged the body outside somewhere and piled dirt and stones on it. Grew their own food. Ate an animal or two.

These folks were kindness plus. Went to a local fortune teller who tossed the sticks and told me my future. He was exactly right where almost no necromancer in the west even came close.

Now.........who is civilized?