Teaching English in Shenzhen

Shenzhen Overview

Shenzhen has more young people than any other Chinese city. So now you know it is going to be hip and fun teaching English in Shenzhen. And truly it is. One could prattle on and on all day about Shenzhen, a place that just 30 years ago was a small market town. Today, it’s one of the biggest and most bustling cities in the south of China. If you are teaching in Shenzhen, then congratulations, there are a lot it has to offer.

There’s plenty more where that came from too. Shenzhen is a wonderful city to stay and play in when you’re in China. Plus, it’s close to Hong Kong, so if you get that travel bug itch you just have to scratch, it’s very easy to hop on over for another adventure!

Facts About Shenzhen: Basic Stats

• Population: 12.53 million
• Public Transportation: 5 metro lines, 1000 bus routes, taxis
• Language: Mandarin, Cantonese
• Climate: Subtropical, with four seasons – hot summers with blue skies and mild winters (you can see tropical plants everywhere)
• Shenzhen is a city with very diverse cultures. You can meet people from various backgrounds.
• Has one of the biggest tech hubs in China
• Coastal city with easy access to more than a dozen natural beaches

Living in Shenzhen: Cost of Living

Public Transport

Even if you speak zero Chinese, getting around Shenzhen is remarkably simple, efficient, and joyfully inexpensive. You can flag down taxis with relative ease, hire a private driver, hop on a bus, or take the subway. The maps you can get here are in Chinese, however they’re detailed enough that they’re helpful.

Warmer Weather

If you’ve always wanted to move to China to teach but don’t want to wind up in a cold city, Shenzhen is ideal for you. It’s very hot and humid in the summers, and the winters are very mild. Big establishments like malls are well-air conditioned so you can always duck into them whenever the heat gets too much.

Things to do in Shenzhen

Shenzhen might just win the prize for having the most fun things to do in all of mainland China. If you’re teaching in Shenzhen, you’ll have plenty of time to do and see them all.

Some highlights include the Window of the World, a large theme park with about 130 mini replicas of famous world landmarks; Happy Valley theme park which is just next door to the Window of the World; Nanhai E-Cool for shopping, dining, and people-watching; and Dafen Oil Painting Village, which is the largest producer of oil paintings in the world and where you can get something cool to decorate your new digs. Museums, parks, cafes, restaurants, and loads of other modern conveniences will keep you happy here.

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Comparing Shenzhen, Beijing, and Shanghai >>