- Pro – Personal safety
When it comes to personal safety, China’s as good as it gets for ex-pats. This is inarguably one of the safest countries in the world. You can walk the streets at night on your own without fear and need only ever worry about petty-thefts and the trending tea-house scams. Learn more about the safety issues in China and you’ll see we also tackle the current COVID-19 topic.
- Con – internet restrictions
Yes, it’s a bummer, but nothing that a hardy VPN can’t fix. Take a look at the unfortunately long list of banned websites in China and you’ll see that a VPN is essential for dodging the so-called Great Firewall of China!
- Pro – Exciting BIG city life & sensational wilderness
Move to teach English in China and you can find your own corner of life-heaven: whether that be in an exciting megacity or a quieter village. The choice of teaching destinations in China is insanely extensive, each option offering a wealth of unique experiences. The one thing you absolutely MUST do, however, is discover the obscenely underrated wilderness. Just take a look at Matador’s List of Best Hiking in China and you’ll see what we mean. If you’re an outdoorsy type, we suggest you may even want to choose a teaching destination based on its proximity to amazing national forests and parks.
- Con – Pollution
China’s trying hard to combat pollution but it is still a major problem in major cities. Not every single day of the year but enough that locals invest in an air purifier for their apartment. So, there’s always that…
- Pro – Extensive ex-pat social networks
China’s popularity as a rewarding teaching destination means the country is home to more than HALF A MILLION foreign teachers. That’s a lot of potential new friends, right? Well, you won’t get the chance to meet them all but you will have the chance to find plenty of social groups, no matter where you are. Tight-knit ex-pat groups are a definite advantage of living in China, and you’ll find your new-found group of friends will likely be multi-cultural and exciting. Fellow expats can help you navigate your way through Chinese life and will be a great source of comfort when that homesickness and culture-shock get a little overwhelming.
- Con – Getting stuck in an ex-pat bubble
Just don’t fall into the trap of only experiencing living in China through your ex-pat goggles. The ex-pat ‘bubble’ is a real thing and it can be as detrimental as it is comforting. Just like the overall advantages and disadvantages of living in China, it’s about finding the perfect balance between the new and the familiar. Enjoy your ex-pat friends but make sure you dedicate plenty of time to discovering the local culture and making local connections too. This is an ex-pat dance you’ll no-doubt be practising for a while.
- Pro – Inexpensive domestic travel
Outside of peak-travel times (Chinese NY and school holidays) domestic travel is super affordable in China. Sneaky weekends away and short flights to outer provinces won’t break the bank like they might do in Europe or North America. This is fab news for anyone who’s coming here specifically to discover China’s insane array of world-class attractions. All up, China boasts 50 outstanding UNESCO-listed cultural and heritage sites – visit one every two weeks and that’s almost two years of domestic travel sorted!
- Con – Expensive and time-absorbing trips back home
International travel has taken a major hit in the last two years and it seems as if all the airlines are intent on making up their losses in a matter of months. Flight prices to Australia, Europe, the US and South Africa have increased in China, which means many teachers currently in the country are having to postpone their homecoming visits. This, of course, is added to the fact that quarantine restrictions are still in place: a two-week trip back home is essentially just a one-week visit, followed by a one-week quarantine. For many, it simply isn’t worth flying home right now.
- Pro – Booming demand for English-speaking teachers
The demand for qualified English-speaking teachers in China has been on the rise for decades. The COVID pandemic, however, has sent it into overdrive. Why? Because countless foreign workers packed up and returned home the moment worldwide lockdowns started. The fear of getting stuck in China for dog-knows how long caused an immediate wave of expat exodus. People panicked and left and many have simply never returned. The silver lining, of course, is that it’s become an ESL teacher’s market: positions can’t be filled fast enough and there are only so many foreign teachers in the country that can be poached. This means salaries are on the up and up, and teaching packages are getting rosier by the day.
- Con – Cost of living is on the rise
As mentioned earlier, China offers an enviable standard of living yet there’s no denying the cost of living is rising here too, especially in Tier 1 cities. Luckily, the rise in teaching salaries ought to make up for the shortfall in that regard. Given the biggest price hikes have been in rental properties, it’s now become even more pivotal to negotiate for a housing subsidy.
We hope our list of pros and cons of living in China has inspired you to form a well-balanced picture of what life is like for foreigners in this fascinating, challenging, frustrating and amazing teaching destination.
Want to enjoy it, embrace it and squeeze every experience out of it? Then read our Complete Guide to Teaching in China and contact us for more personalized advice.