Job Discussion Forums

[wilco]

Not wishing to stir up a well-beaten red rag, and having read older posts, I'd appreciate a little info please.

On 5000 yuan can a couple live comfortably (on-campus flat, no booze nor fags, eat out twice a week) and still save? If so, how much is a reasonable expectation. I am new to China but know a bit of the world so:

Are there Western-style shops/restaurants in the city?
Is pub transport easy for local trips out and about the city?
Can I expect Western progs on sat tv?
Is there enough demand for an expat club/meeting place/etc?

Thanks,

Dave

[dan]

I was there about 8 years ago and there wasnt much going on there in terms of what you inquired about. its a typical river town with heavy industry cramming the banks of the river and a permenant cloud of toxins hovering overhead. I poked around for a few hours on two seperate occassions and found the people to be extremely friendly and talkative. I think one could do well there if they wanted to get away from the western trappings and comforts of shanghai, beijing, etc. however, if you're not interested in putting some distance between yourself and the gregarious expatriate masses, you might look elsewhere--i didnt see much of anything that would satisfy your listed interests and concerns.

[dan]

I glossed over your question about public transport: its good, very good. the buses are plentiful and timely, and the train station is relatively clean and feels safe.

[Voldermort]

I've lived here for 5 years now. While the city suits my needs I would not wish it upon any new-comer to China.

The inner-city public transport is great with buses every few minutes costing only 1 yuan, but bear in mind you will only ever have one destination, downtown.

The pollution here is not as bad as places like Shandong but after a few weeks you will notice yourself hacking up every morning. The weather ranges from hot hot hot to "I need to wear a pullover". We're at a high altitude so breathing can sometimes become a problem if you're not used to it.

If you want to see China and it's sights, well there is nothing here. Kunming is a 6 hour bus/train ride away, Lijiang 8 hour bus ride and Chengdu a good 14 hours on the train. If you want to get out and about on your days off then there is little chance to go anywhere.

Panzhihua is an industrial city with Iron and steel refinaries dotted all over the place. There are two semi decent western restaurants and nothing in the way of western goods in the supermarket. If you like butter on your toast then forget about it. The foreign community is small, only six of us. Most of the locals, though they are friendly, cannot speak English. Because this city is so far out of the way, things here tend to be very expensive.

On another note there are only 3 schools here with the ability to hire foreigners and only one of those is currently looking for a new teacher. My advice is to do some serious research before signing a contract. This forum has a lengthy post about them.

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

i've been to panzhihua, spent a couple of weeks there in 2006. i thought the place was ok.

[A man called Roger]

I have lived in Sichuan for 6 years - - have traveled extensively in almost every corner - and of all the cities in Sichuan, Panzhihua, well at least its industrial outskirts, make for one of the most depressing sites in the whole province.
like Voldy says - this really is out in the sticks as far as Sichuan is concerned, the Dadu river valley has been trashed in this area with various industrial developments, its a "cough cough" coal mining area, and, unlike every ordinary Chinese traveler, you can't even travel down the whole road length of the Dadu towards Leshan and Chengdu, because the Dadu Gorge is a military area (site of rocket silos) - so unless you have some real pressing need to live in this city - such as Voldy and his marriage - then I can't think of a single reason why anybody would want to live there.

[wilco]

Thanks folks, very enlightening.

[thefuzz]

[senorfay]

could THE Roger be back?