Beijing or Shanghai?

[crossword]

Hi Everyone
This is my first post here. I’m interested in teaching English in China, preferably in some big city like Beijing or Shanghai.

I’ve read many blogs and articles about Beijing. From all I’ve read, it sounds like a very polluted city. I’ve read the streets are dirty and the traffic insane.

My brother, who went to Shanghai on a business trip, said from the little he saw of the city, it looked very clean and developed.

I’m wondering how these two cities compare. Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of teaching in both these cities? How do they compare in terms of cleanliess and pollution? Which city do you think is more interesting to live in, irrespective of how clean it is? Thanks.

[congo]

Well, Shanghai is the most populous city in China! It is a powerful modern city located in the south. Beijing is also quite huge, but more of a cultural city where the Emperors seat is in the north. So if you are after culture and the real China, head to Beijing.

The climate in Shanghai can be quite cold in winter. The buildings are predominantly made to suit the hot summers, so hence in winter, you will find little insulation.

Both those from Beijing and Shanghai are friendly, but I find the people from Shanghai are more up themselves.

Shanghai, being such a huge city, makes it more expensive to party in. Beijing has more affordable entertainment options.

So now the decision is yours - do you want the live in the north (Beijing) or the south (Shanghai)?

[Raoul]

I've lived in both and if I were to choose between these two, it'd be a no-brainer: Shanghai.

First of all, this is China. EVERY city here is dirty and polluted to some extent; some are just worse than others. Both of these cities have lots and lots of cars and the air, while better in both cases than many smaller nasty little industrial cities, is not all that great. Both cities have places that are clean and pretty; both cities have places that are nasty. Both cities have monstrous problems with traffic...growth in cars far outpaces growth in roads. Both cities are enormously expensive by Chinese standards to live in, with Shanghai somewhat more expensive (but also offering higher salaries...). Housing and transportation seem to cost more in Beijing on average, but everything else is higher in Shanghai.

However, I find Shanghai much more liveable. It's easier to get around in Shanghai- the subway system is vastly superior, although the Olympics should be improving that a lot in Beijing. I find the shopping, the bar scenes, the restaurants, and all the other big-city delights to be better in Shanghai. Shanghai has a slight edge in weather- BOTH are broiling hot in summer and quite cold in winter; Beijing gets much colder while the summers in Shanghai are frankly horrible. However, I find that Shanghai stays in the comfortable range longer than Beijing does. Shanghai has a MUCH more relaxed attitude than Beijing does. They take that Communism $#!+ SERIOUS in Beijing! Shanghai is easier to get and maintain a visa/residence permit in, and offers more freedom of movement and residence. Shanghai also seems to offer more job opportunities at higher pay, althogh BJ is not far behind.

For tourism, there's no question...Beijing has many of the things you can't leave China without seeing. For daily living, however, I find there's no comparison...Shanghai is the better place to live.

[crossword]

Thanks a lot, Congo. Do house and schools in Beijing and Shanghai have air conditioners and heaters?

“So if you are after culture and the real China, head to Beijing.”

What I’m really after is...see my reply to Raoul.

[crossword]

Thanks a lot, Raoul. It’s great to hear from people who have lived in these cities.

One reason I was interested in Beijing was the Olympics. Though I take little interest in sports, the Olympics are big, naturally, and I thought it would be an experience to witness them.

I don’t drink and seldom party, so bars and nightclubs are useless to me. I enjoy shopping in flea markets, but avoid big shops.

“Shanghai has a MUCH more relaxed attitude than Beijing does. They take that Communism $#!+ SERIOUS in Beijing!”

I find that very interesting. Sounds like Shanghai is a more pleasant city to live in. however, I’m not necessarily looking for that. writing is one of my hobbies. I want to live in China for a while to experience another culture. But I also see every new experience as potential material for stories.

I’m interested in knowing which city is the most comfortable to live in, but ultimately I’ll make a choice based on which seems to provide the most material for my writing. in that sense, a less desirable city might actually provide more story material. I’m looking for the city that offers the most material in interesting people to meet and stories to tell.

Would you mind elaborating on how they take communism seriously? How does that impinge on a person’s daily life? there could be interesting material there.