the travel/work tour.

[Juggler]

I have had this idea in the back of my mind about going to a dozen or so places around china and getting temp jobs teaching while getting to see the area.

Places I'd like to check out.

Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Yunnan province, sichuan province, Chongqing and a few more.

Is this really a crazy idea or just my need for something new. I wouldn't be surprised if someone has already done this a multiple of times.

If any of you are in any of these cities I have listed I would like to hear about what its like there and how the work is for you.

Beijing is a cool city, I guess(its 6 am), but I think i need to expand my horizons and see this country before I settle down some more.

[Newbs]

G'day Juggler from paradise on earth, Hangzhou. (Do not confuse it with that fraudulent, wannabe paradise on Earth, oops, I mean the wonderful place where the ESL conference is being held)

Yeah, look Hangzhou is good, and pretty scenic. At the same time West Lake is not sooo fantastic that I have to go and change my pants after looking at it.

Suzhou I know fairly well, and, joking aside, actually isn't a bad complement to Hangzhou.

Have a think about Nanjing. Some don't think much of it, but I like it. History, great restaurant district, not too hard to get around, and hills to the east of the city where you can lose yourself for a day or two.

IMHO Zhejiang seems to be the capital of the summer camps in China, so it can be a good place to go to for only a month or so and then move on. I think they're advertising now.

[Juggler]

ive heard hangzhou is really nice. as well as suzhou.

how long have you been teaching in china for?

[Newbs]

G'day Juggler

I've done short stints of a month or so in Nanjing on about 4 occasions, and quite liked it. During that time I visited Suzhou a number of times, and I have to say it seems to be a nice place, bit of a buzz to it, but doesn't have the big city feel of Shanghai, (thank goodness).

I've been in Hangzhou since September and still finding good places to visit.

What I was trying to say in my last post was that they are not identical twins. I think Hangzhou is a lot bigger for one thing. But they do complement each other. Hangzhou has the lake and hills, Suzhou has the canals and, at least in part, a real timeless quality to it.

At least it will have until May the first when the tribe hit the town.

[Juggler]

yea.

too bad i cant go. i wanted to but i refuse to travel during chinese holidays. too many people trying to get out of beijing at that time of year.