Teaching English in China is a career opportunity gaining popularity over the years. Many teachers are relocating to China to search for greener pastures. Teaching in Qingdao is one of the many routes that teachers take, and it has proved to earn them a great living.
Qingdao is a major city in China located in Shandong province and was occupied by the Germans from 1898 to 1914. It’s a significant seaport and financial center serving home to electronics companies such as Hisense. The architecture and the Tsingtao Brewery represent its historical German-style architecture.
What makes Qingdao an excellent place to teach English?
There are many reasons to teach English in China – Qingdao in particular. The city has nearly 10 million people, making it one of the most populated cities in China and one of the biggest cities in Asia. Although it’s an enormous metropolis, life in Qingdao still tends to be laid-back and easygoing, and it’s not often crowded, which makes it a beautiful city to live in.
From the time it was first inhabited in the seventh century BC, Qingdao has been a thriving tourist attraction. Tourists from all over China and around the world come to explore its history and enjoy the beautiful sea air. The city is also famous as one of the nation’s centers for education.
With so much to see and do, you may be wondering why you should teach English in Qingdao. Here are reasons why Qingdao is one of ten cities where English teachers long to teach:
1. There is a lot to explore in Qingdao
Qingdao is a popular tourist destination with many attractions and activities. If you’re traveling with your family, there are plenty of fun options. For example, you can enjoy the natural landscape in Laoshan Mountain. Suppose you are interested in culture and history. In that case, Gulangyu Island or Long Beach Park are destinations that offer great views of Qingdao Harbor and fascinating cultural sights like homes built in traditional Chinese style.
If there’s one thing to keep in mind when visiting Qingdao, it has a strong maritime tradition – notably fishing. Much of what you’ll see around Qingdao is influenced by its relationship with sea life, and this means you could visit Fisherman’s Wharf (Dayangzhou Fang) during your stay.
2. The climate is favorable
Qingdao has a humid subtropical climate with cool winters and hot summers. The average annual temperature is around 17°C (63°F). The lowest temperature ever recorded was -4.1°C (24°F) and the highest ever recorded was 41.2°C (106°F), so it’s considered to be a temperate city with four seasons.
The most popular seasons in Qingdao are spring and autumn when there is neither too much rain nor sun, and temperatures range from 13-25°C (55-77°F). Spring is charming because flowers bloom all over the town.
3. Tourist attractions
The city boasts many natural and cultural scenic areas, including Jiaozhou Bay National Tourism Resort Zone and Tiedong’an Island. The modern city is an essential seaport in Shandong province, connecting more than 80 countries and regions worldwide.
It was home to overseas Chinese revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen for five years before he returned to found his Republic of China (Taiwan). It has become a hot spot for foreign investment into China and is home to Qingdao Beer Group Co Ltd – one of China’s major breweries.
Lushan National Forest Park is home to lush forests and natural rock formations. Lushan National Forest Park offers visitors a chance to explore nature with its century-old trees, waterfalls, secluded valleys, caves, and more.
4. The cuisine
Qingdao cuisine is a representation of Shandong cuisine, which has local characteristics. The main ingredients are seafood, meat, and vegetables, and the cooking methods include braising, boiling, frying, smoking, and pickling.
There are four typical dishes in Qingdao cuisine: La Zi Ji (Laziji)、Dong Bao Rou 、Bian Lian Ji、Hai Tang Gao. La Zi Ji is a dumpling made from flour skin stuffed with pork, shrimp, ginger paste, and vegetables. Dong Bao Rou is made from stewed pork or beef with soy sauce, garlic, and sugar. Bian Lian Ji is a dish made with chopped pork meat fried with rice cake slices until brownish. Hai Tang Gao is a soup dish cooked by adding water to chopped fish slices, boiled almond slices, and ginger slices.
All the different foods in Qingdao allow you to enjoy your stay while trying good foods. Many international food options are available if you’re looking for something different.
5. Affordable, high-quality life
Qingdao’s economy booms because it is one of China’s major ports. The city has also seen substantial growth in its manufacturing industry due to exports. With GDP per capita levels at $7600 in 2010, the city ranks among China’s top 10 wealthiest cities. Quality of life is high because people are generally happy with the work-life balance.
It is fun to teach in Qingdao because there are plenty of opportunities for leisure activities like biking along the shoreline or playing traditional Chinese games like mahjong at local tea houses. Teachers can also take advantage of Qingdao’s proximity to Beijing by commuting every day for work – an hour away by train and its central location in China.
Qingdao has a high quality of life that is affordable, allowing you to spend while saving and not worrying about getting broke. Compared to the western countries, life in Qingdao is about 51.63% less expensive. Furthermore, safety in Qingdao is high. As a teacher, you can enjoy the nightlife without worrying about your safety.
Conclusion
With the cost of living far lower, Qingdao is an economically affordable city for many teachers to live in. In addition, Qingdao has been awarded Asia’s Top 10 cities for foreign ex-pats by Forbes every year since 2005, making it a popular choice for many international teachers.
The students are welcoming and love to learn English, and the schools are world-class. Most international schools in Qingdao are accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) or by Educational Records Bureau (ERO).
Teaching in Qingdao also offers you a chance to explore East Asia – from Chinese food to Japanese culture and gorgeous sandy beaches and mountainous countryside that are only an hour away by train. Overall, there is plenty to see and do in this vibrant city.
Before moving to Qingdao, ensure that you understand both the travel requirements and the qualifications you need to teach in China. This will help you plan your trip well and avoid any last-minute rushes.