Job Discussion Forums

hughesie · Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 63

Hello to everyone,

I'm working in Korea at the moment and have a BA (Hons) Language Studies and TEFL degree from the University of Wales in Swansea.

Basically - I know that getting a job (at a university) in China for next year will not be a problem and having looked through this board and others. I would like some help where would be a good place to settle into my first Chinese experience.

I thought Guangdong sounded like a decent place, Southern China meaning it is nice and warm (I like nice and warm as regards climate) near Hong Kong but from reading these posts and others - a lot of people seem to hate Guangdong and the main city of Guangzhou.

So if anyone could tell me a place I should aim for - Nice and warm, by the sea (if possible) safe and with decent amenities such as gyms, good supermarkets and if possible a decent array of nightclubs and restaraunts.

Thank you in adavance!

Moon Over Parma · Joined: 20 May 2007 Posts: 819

You may never get everything you're looking for in some cities, but you may get a few of the things you want. The final decision is what offers you receive that are worth pursuing. Xiamen and Fuzhou in Fujian province, Zhuhai in Guangdong province, Hainan island, and Beihai in Guangxi are all near the sea and get hot. If you're not so hellbent on being near the sea there's Liuzhou in Guangxi, Kunming in Yunnan, and Chengdu in Sichuan.

You are aware that it snowed in Guangzhou this year, aren't you? Mother nature's schizophrenic ways!

Teatime of Soul · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 905

I spent a day in Guangzhou during a stopover to Thailand a few months back. And it snowed that day too.

It struck me as a toxic city marked by rubble and fetid brown air.

Did I miss the pristine parts? Please tell me that all of the city is not what I saw from the airport to the downtown area. It was frightful.

hairuo · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 473 Location: Somewhere in China

The scenery doesn't change much. In Panyu, there is a canal that is affected by the tides. When the tide is out, the dark smelly sludge is visible... when the tide is in, the water looks black and dead. Dont know long this canal is, but I dont want to know.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

hairuo · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 473 Location: Somewhere in China

No. Not even dragonflies.

This canal passes along side a couple of schools. I wonder if the smell or worse, affects the students.

The other scary reality is this canal drains eventually into the Pacific Ocean.