Xi'an, Shaanxi

[Lotus Eater]

I am a fan of Xi'an. (Sorry!)

Smack in the middle of China if you leave out a couple of protrusions like Tibet and Xinjiang - and there are people who want to leave them out! Transport to anywhere in China is easy from the middle. International airport.

Enough western things to make your life comfortable - Metro, Parkson etc. nightclubs, bars and coffee houses. Enough 'old China' to make the place fascinating. The City Wall is one of the oldest still around (and one of the newest - they have joined up the missing bit again just this year!). Markets, night markets, small alleyways, dodgy restaurants, plenty of street food.

Then of course there are the Warriors, Big and Small Wild Goose Pagodas, mausoleums everywhere, cave dwellings just outside the city, easy proximity to some gorgeous scenery - Hua Shan, Cui Hua Shan, Qinling Mtns. Countryside is an easy bus trip - no dramas.

Taxis are cheap - 6Y for the flagfall. Mototaxis are cheaper :>)) Buses run everywhere often. There are thousands of taxis - the only time it is difficult to catch a taxi is change over time when they only want to travel in the direction of the driver swap!

Plenty of educational institutions always looking for teachers and plenty of side offers for work if you want it.

Downside - pollution can stop you from seeing long distances. The occasional dust storm from the northwest in spring. The place is dusty.

Summer gets hot, winter is cold (but I am a Queenslander, so your cold will not be the same as my cold!!) Last winter was apparently the biggest snowfall they had for years - but I was here and WANTED lots of snow!! But it was still nothing like the snow in Canada or the US or even far south of Oz.

Heating - on in October and off in March - around the 15th for both.

It's a great place to come to.

[ilunga]

Hi Lotus. What are the best bars in Xi'an? I came across a place called Apollo on Dong Da Jie at the weekend but I think there must be better around. And for clubs? My outdated LP mentions 1+1 and Fashion Bar. Are these the best places? Is it boom-boom music?

How easy is it to find part-time work? Ideally in a kindergarten, working evenings or weekends. No more than a few hours a week.

One more thing. Do you rent an apartment? Is it reasonable to expect to be able to get a nice-ish place for 1000 a month or less? Two bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, living room. Fridge, T.V. etc thrown in.

I'm considering studying chinese at Jiao Tong Uni next semester. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Lotus Eater]

I've put a thing about the bars somewhere else - can't remember which thread.
But there are plenty of them around.

Part-time work is pretty easy - I am frequently offered it, but I don't want regular - just every once in awhile, so I generally say no thanks.

I am given an apartment by the university, but foreign students frequently rent and from what I gather you can get a reasonable apartment for around that price. I will check with some of the students at Jiaotong and see what they can tell me. Jiaotong also has a regular booze up meet and greet thing for foreigners. Friday and Saturdays from memory.

Happy to help.

[ilunga]

Thanks.

I'm trying to decide between Jiaotong and Shaanxi Normal Uni. Accomodation is pretty expensive Jiaotong, which is why I'd want to rent a place. Any ideas on which is better to study at? I hope to check them both out properly soon.

What's this booze-up thing? You mean they try to get the foreigners drunk twice a week? I get used to that.

[Lotus Eater]

Shaanxi Normal (generally called Shi Da) seems pretty good - I had a teacher mate who studied there after he got tired of teaching. It's next door to Xi'an International Studies University, so there will be plenty of foreigners to play with. There are also a number of other universities just around there so has services for whatever you need. Green Island Bar in Shida Lu (the road leading to the back gate of Shaanxi is a good bar as well. Easy walking/biking distance is Ming De Men - where a lot of the foreign students seem to rent apartments.

XISU also has a very strong Chinese teaching department - not sure of costs though.