Job Discussion Forums

dan · Joined: 20 Mar 2003 Posts: 247 Location: shanghai

Hi Everyone
I am considering taking a job in Xi'an, so I was hoping I could tap into some of the wisdom and experience on this board for some advice, suggestions, impressions and the like...

I have experience teaching in Chengdu and Shanghai (albeit, about 6 years ago) so I am not new to China, just this particular city.

Thanks much!

SheZook · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 187

Hey Dan,

If you like big cities you'll love Xi'an. I've found it to be a lot cleaner than both Chengdu and Shanghai. The weather is comfortable all year round - summer can be hot but there's very little humidity and the winters are cold, occasionally with snow, but it's never bone-chilling. There's a lot to see and do, plenty of Western restaurants & bars, English bookstores, and shopping centres like Metro carry just about every kind of western food you'll ever crave. I'm not sure what the teaching job situation is like but there are plenty of training centres and schools so I'm sure you'll have no problem. Cost of living is probably cheaper than Chengdu and definitely cheaper than Shanghai.
The only bad thing I've been told about (but never experienced) is the pickpockets. Every Chinese person I meet in Xi'an tells me to watch out for pickpockets because they're supposedly really bad, especially around the train station. I'm in and out of the train station every month and have never had any problems but I am cautious. I guess that's all you can do. I've walked around the streets by myself, late at night, and have always felt perfectly safe.
Hope all goes well for you anyway!

Sade · Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 11

how much is a decent appartment in xian with utilities.. i have been offered a job there that pays 7000 rmb.. untaxed.. will i be able to survive.. ? how much can i expect to pay for rent and utilities..

goldhair · Joined: 17 Mar 2007 Posts: 23

Xian is a cool city depending where you are located. The south of the city is more developed than the north which is where I live. What is the name of the school that you are considering? Where is it located? When would you come here to teach? The weather right now is getting cold and winter like but from what I am told it starts to warm up by February.

PattyFlipper · Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 572

Another vote for Xi'an. I have only visited twice, but consider it to be one of my favourite cities in China, despite the fairly horrendous pollution. A nice mix of ethnicity and Westernization, traditional and modern. The large Muslim quarter is a fascinating place to wander around and has a very Central Asian feel to it. There seemed to be lots of interesting street life around the city as a whole. I found prices to be very reasonable - taxi flagfall is Y5, for example. There are a number of Western and non-Han eateries (almost had an orgasm when I found shwarma!), coffee shops, and a pleasant bar street with a couple of decent hostelries. As other posters have said, the supermarkets and specialty shops also have a reasonable selection of Western comforts. The city has over 50 universities and colleges, many of which attract foreign students, in addition to the usual motley assortment of FTs. It is therefore very unlikely that you will feel that you are the only foreigner for miles, though I suppose you could still 'pretend' if you feel that encountering white faces is an affront to your authentic China experience.

The Mandarin there seemed significantly different to that spoken in neighbouring Shanxi. To my (admittedly untutored) ear, it sounded like Mandarin spoken with a Cantonese accent. English is quite widely spoken though, even in places where you wouldn't really expect it such as a department store.

Sade · Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 11

From what it looks like .. I should be getting there at around Dec 6/7. The school doesn't provide housing although it will give me about 2000RMB + some crazy tax, as an allowance which should cover rent and utilities.. from the experience of people living there, is this enough for a decent apartment near town ? I still haven't signed the contract because of my uncertainty on this point. Any help will be much appreciated. Also I'll be working some 40 hours a week. Which means I'll be getting off work around 9nish.. hows the city like at night in terms of safety, entertainment and transportation etc..

Looking forward to your comments and seeing you there !!!

PattyFlipper · Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 572

Sade · Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 11

close....lol...Web

PattyFlipper · Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 572

^ I have no first hand knowledge of the cost of rented property in Xi'an, but I would say that 2000 is enough to get you something fairly habitable. Bear in mind though that you may also be required to pay rent in advance and deposits. This will vary, depending on the Landlord, but you should budget accordingly. Are the school at least going to help you find accommodation?

Sade · Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 11

Yeah, they said that they'll assist me in finding accommodation, however, as you mentioned they said that I might have to pay a deposit.. I have no idea what the costs are going to be.. but i guess ill soon find out.. how hard is it to live on the streets for a couple weeks.. lol..

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

In Xi'an it depends where you want to live. You can get a nice apartment in the south of the city for around 1000-1300 depending on how big. 2000 seems high, you should have no trouble getting a god place for that. Where is Web? I seem to remember it is near Gao Xin, that is a little pricier. People pay as low as 700 a month and their places are perfectly habitable.

Xi'an is a great city, main drawback is the pollution but not a deal breaker i ma sure...........

PattyFlipper · Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 572

This site provides some useful information for those contemplating a move to Xi'an:
http://www.chinagrooves.com/

DistantRelative · Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Posts: 367 Location: Shaanxi/Xian

In Xian 2000 is more than enough to rent a really nice apartment. In fact, in addition to the apartment you should have enough left over to pay all your utilities. I recently rented a brand new apartment a 10 minute cab ride from Gaoxin for 800 a month. It's not huge, 50sq meters, and it was unfurnished, but I absolutely love it. Having a lot of fun furnishing it on my own. In most cases you can expect to pay 6 months rent in advance. I balk at deposits, and thus far have been successful in foregoing any. Gaoxin is a decent area, but it is new Xian, and IMO lacks the ambiance of the traditional city, so, although I work at 3 different places in the area, I choose to live elsewhere. The buses service Gaoxin really well in that you can get transportation to just about anyplace worth going with a minimum of aggravation. If you have any other questions feel free to send me a private. IMO Xian is an awesome city, hope you enjoy your stay.

Zhuhao,

Shawn

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

DistantRelative · Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Posts: 367 Location: Shaanxi/Xian

Vikuk- As far as I'm concerned you can take all your negatives with regards to China, and/or Xian and place em where the sun don't shine! My opinion is just that, my opinion! What about that don't you understand?

HeHe! With regards to my preference for the manner in which I choose to negotiate the city, it has absolutely nothing to do with how much I make. It is simply how I choose to get around. Bus may not suit your tastes but it works just fine for me.

Unlike you Vikuk, some of us have chosen not to settle for the "typical" FT wage, and have instead made our own way here in China. Huge opportunity here if you know how to work it. With a minimum of effort I did 15,000 last month, and will approach that again in November. So as you so often are, again you were wrong.

There are a number of us here, yourself obviously not included, who have learned to work the system, and take full advantage of the opportunities available. Unlike you, we choose not to come here and whine about how low the wages are or how little the Chinese pay. Because the fact is, if you learn how to work it, that is not at all the case. Maybe that's the real problem. Guys like you that are willing to settle for the "typical" FT wage, and then spend all there time here bemoaning it! I suppose I should thank you. Leaves more room for us entrepreneurial types.

In the future, might be wise not to assume so much. That way you don't wind up looking so completely foolish!

Again to the OP. Despite what Vikuk says, IMO Xian is an awesome city.

Zhuhao,

Shawn