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2m01z · Joined: 18 May 2011 Posts: 28

I heard that Nanjing is good place to live. For those of you living there, what is it like? Culturally? Socially? Outdoors? Cost of living? Transportation?

Every little helps! Thanks!

sistercream · Joined: 18 Dec 2010 Posts: 497 Location: Pearl River Delta

Haven't actually been there for more than 30 years, but have sometimes been told it's known as one of the "4 furnaces of China" for its summer weather...

rogerwilco · Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 1549

I visit Nanjing often.
Very short Spring with many mosquitoes.
Very hot Summer.
Not as expensive as Shanghai or Beijing, but probably more
expensive than most cities in China.
Good subway system, but one of the worst cities for getting
a taxi. The taxis change drivers between 5 and 6pm, and it
can be very difficult to find a taxi.

randyj · Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2011 7:55 am Post subject:

Roger is correct on all counts. I teach there now. The city has a rich history and a good atmosphere. I consider Nanjing an excellent place to teach. A person can find anything he or she wants in Nanjing.

jibbs · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 452

chengdude · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 294

The "Nanjing is dry" post seems to have disappeared, perhaps for its gross inaccuracy. Nanjing is humid, which is especially miserable during the surprisingly cold winters. Just when you think you're over the hump in January, February is actually worse. Spring and fall are indeed the nicest times of the year, but the whole "they're short" thing is Chinese traditional claptrap. True again, summer is hot and humid, but in recent years Hangzhou has surpassed Nanjing is summertime suffering.

There are lots of expats and lots of foreign students, but the "scene" is nowhere near as developed or varied as in many other cities. There's been a recent (small) wave of "it's Nanjing's turn" media coverage, so supposedly things are getting better on the hip and cool front. That said, there's a bit of everything you might need from shopping to nightlife. Food-wise, Nanjing local specialties are terrible...or great if salty duck (think Beijing duck that looks like it's been bleached) and duck's blood noodles are your kind of thing. Costs are rising as everywhere else, but regionally, Hangzhou and, of course, Shanghai will put a much bigger dent in your wallet.

There's constant new building construction and the government is hellbent to open 15 more subway lines by 2030. There are two now, which makes life easier. Traffic is a mess; nothing new there you wouldn't find in any other Tier 1 city. Thankfully, there's still Xuanwu Lake and Purple Mountain for urban decompression. I fear for the city's historic and significant tree cover under the ever-growing pressure of traffic and construction.

Lots of jobs, but ask where you're going to be posted if you're looking at university positions. Like everywhere else in China, the schools have pushed out to the 'burbs to accommodate larger enrollments.

rogerwilco · Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 1549

chengdude · Joined: 13 Jun 2004 Posts: 294

True, but several offer the option of living on the central campus and commuting.

Metro Line 2 has shortened the commute to Xianlin in the east considerably.

2m01z · Joined: 18 May 2011 Posts: 28

thanks to all for your comments!

bryanjspen · Joined: 09 May 2011 Posts: 30 Location: Suzhou, China

From Downtown Xianlin is still 45 minutes at least travel.. but out by Xianlin there is a mall and some other stuff so it wouldn't be bad. I lived in Nanjing near Gulou and enjoyed myself. Plenty of foreigners and the locals aren't bad. If you live there make sure you visit Pisa Pizza on Shanghai Lu (near NanDa)...

Guerciotti · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2011 7:08 pm Post subject:

bryanjspen · Joined: 09 May 2011 Posts: 30 Location: Suzhou, China

Nanjing is fun but the weather sucks

bryanjspen · Joined: 09 May 2011 Posts: 30 Location: Suzhou, China

Also 1912 is the big bar/club spot ... saw no one had mentioned that

Miajiayou · Joined: 30 Apr 2011 Posts: 283 Location: Nanjing

I hate Nanjing. It has the WORST weather of any place I have ever lived. If you do work here, make sure your electricity is covered by the school. Since the buildings aren't constructed to hold in heat, due to the "furnace" factor, my apartment was almost unbearable in the winter. It was warmer inside the fridge than in my kitchen.

There are tourist sites, but as there is almost no time of the year when it is pleasant to trek around a mountain or a lake, I haven't enjoyed them the way I enjoyed sightseeing in other cities I've lived in.

HUGE student population, fairly big older expat population. If you are in your mid- to late-20s, it can be hard to find people and places you enjoy.

There are a lot of Western restaurants and stores, but this is 2011, so it isn't as big of a deal as it once was. I'm moving on to a bigger city and won't miss Nanjing very much.

koflax · Joined: 06 Jun 2011 Posts: 2

Nanjing is a pretty great city in my experience. I found the people there to be a little nicer than some of the more frequent expat haunts (Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin).