Over the years, China has emerged as a powerful and influential country. The country has one of the biggest growing markets for foreign educators, especially those that can teach English. Jobs in China are growing at an exponential rate and becoming more and more accessible for foreigners.
Teaching in China is one of the many upcoming job prospects. If you’re a native English speaker or proficient in the English language, being an English educator is a great opportunity available to you. English teachers in China currently are in high demand so if you’re willing to move for work, China is a competitive candidate.
One city that you could consider working in is Chengdu. Jobs in Chengdu for expats include teaching positions, IT positions, and logistics-related positions to name a few. In this article, you’ll find the perks of living in Chengdu as well as the considerable amount of job opportunities available to you as an expat.
Chengdu at a Glance
Chengdu is located in the center of mainland China. It is a landlocked city and is surrounded by mountains. Chengdu is the capital city of Sichuan province. The city is famed as China’s panda capital as it is home to the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding and Research Centres which are the city’s highlight.
The city is one of the most important economic, cultural, and communication centers in China. Chengdu hosts more than 14 consulates as well as many international companies.
Chengdu has around 56 universities and colleges which help it in making the world’s top 40 cities by scientific research output. Notable institutes in Chengdu are Chengdu University of Technology, Sichuan University, and Xihua University to name a few.
The city is home to Sichuan culture. The city has many historical landmarks and natural attractions to offer. The Jinsha Site museum dates back to the Shang and Zhou dynasties and hosts cultural relics. Alongside the museum, there is also the Wuhou Shrine. By visiting the shrine you’ll be learning about the Tree Kingdom Periods. Finally, one can take a stroll down Chunxi Road which is the most prosperous pedestrian street.
Chengdu is also home to Sichuan cuisine. The city was recognized by UNESCO as a city of gastronomy. Tasting authentic Sichuan cuisine is one of the top things to do while in the city. Dishes that are well known over the world such as Kung Pao Chicken, MaPo Tofu, and Sliced Beef Chilli are available readily in the city.
Reasons to Consider Living or Travelling in Chengdu
Now that you’re aware of what Chengdu’s cultural and modern significance is, here are some reasons to consider living in Chengdu:
1. Cost of Living in Chengdu
Chengdu is approximately 86% cheaper to live in compared to Hong Kong. It is one of the go-to teaching destinations for expats. If you’re able to land a well-paying job based in Chengdu chances are you’ll be saving a lot of money compared to if you’re living in any other modern city.
2. Outdoor activities and entertainment
As mentioned above, Chengdu has a lot of beautiful landmarks to enjoy. During your free time, you can enjoy spending time at the Wuhou Shrine. Nearly all pedestrian streets are filled with food stalls, boutiques, and tea houses. Living in Chengdu will never be boring for you.
3. Friendly Locals
Chengdu is regarded as China’s ‘friendliest city’. The locals are very hospitable and helpful. Although picking up the Sichuanese dialect will be considerably difficult as an expat knowing a little Mandarin will help you assimilate with the locals. Though the expat scene is growing in the city, foreigners are still considered a new sight for the locals.
4. Transportation
The city boasts a tremendous transport system. Chengdu is the primary railway hub city in southwestern China. The city’s international airport is the busiest in the province so much so that it was ranked as the 2nd busiest airport in China in 2021. Intercity travel is made easy by the city’s metro system. In addition to that, Chengdu has around 400 bus lines.
5. Culture
Despite being a metropolis, you can find a lot of Chinese traditional life whilst living in Chengdu. Old folk music can be found playing outside of tea houses. Locals will be playing Mahjong and conversing in the Sichuanese dialect in the streets. If you’re a foodie that enjoys indulging in spicy food, you’ll love the food stalls littered all over the city. Moreover, you will be able to enjoy Sichuan Opera which is a form of Chinese traditional opera.
6. Home to the Pandas
One additional thing to note about the city is the Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. One of the top things to do in the city is to visit the panda sanctuaries. Pandas are a national treasure in China and are generally adorable creatures. Be sure not to miss the opportunity to see panda families up close.
Reasons to Consider Teaching in Chengdu
As mentioned above, Chengdu has several educational institutes. This makes finding teaching jobs in Chengdu easy to find. Chengdu attaches great focus to higher education and while there are not as many universities in the city, there are more universities offering teaching positions when compared to cities like Beijing. This makes teaching jobs in universities much more accessible in Chengdu.
Currently, there are 47 international schools in Chengdu. International schools are more likely to hire expat educators for subjects. Though such jobs may have stricter requirements they come with the bonuses of salary housing and medical coverage. Moreover, you can find part-time jobs readily in Chengdu such as tutoring students in the English language.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, being an educator in China means living in one of the biggest and most important cities in the world. If you’ve made it this far you’ll be pleased to know China’s need for English speakers is only increasing. This makes it an important country when it comes to international education. Therefore, Chengdu is one of the options available to you when choosing a city to teach in.
