News and Tips

Teaching in China comes with a lot of perks and benefits, thanks to both an overall lower cost of living, and the respect and admiration that the Chinese people have for their teachers.

In addition to your short daily commute to your new teaching job in China, you're going to want to find the best ways to runs errands, see the sights, and visit all the exciting places your new home has to offer.

Wherever you need to go, there are two things you'll notice right away. The first is much lower costs, and the second is a wider variety of public transportation options.

Bike Share

The average bike share rental in the US costs $3 for up to 30 minutes, but in China you pay only 15 cents for the same 30 minutes! Better yet, Chinese bike share services are dockless, meaning you don't have to find a drop off dock for the bike when you're done - you simply leave it at your destination! As you walk down the street, you'll notice large groups of colorful bikes parked around the city from apps like Mobike, Ofo, Hellobike and others. Bike share apps are extremely popular in China. All apps require that you use WeChat or Alipay. Both of these services require a Chinese bank card, but don't worry if you don't have one yet. Just ask a friend to send you money via WeChat wallet in exchange for cash.

Bus

The average bus fare in the US starts at a dollar, but in China it starts at only 15 cents! The bus is perhaps the most widely used form of public transportation in China. Bus stops are everywhere and easy to find, and they run frequently day and night. Over a decade ago, China began prioritizing electrification of its public transit. Today China has more than 400,000 electric buses, about 99% of the world's total.

Subway and Light Rail

The average subway fare in the US starts at two dollars, but in China it starts at just 44 cents! Seven of the world's 12 largest subway systems are now in China, and they just keep building thanks to massive investments into public infrastructure - over 15 times the US total transportation budget just for subways alone. Enjoy your clean, affordable, modern ride to your new teaching job.

Rideshare

The average rideshare cost in the US is about two dollars per mile, but in China you pay only 25 cents! Instead of Uber or Lyft, you'll use Didi in China. It still works the same, just download the app, attach a payment method, and you're ready to ride. Didi is great for those late nights when you're out after midnight and the subway is closed.

Taxi

The average cab fare in the US starts at $2-$5 base plus $2-$4 per mile, but in China it starts at just $1.50 base fare, plus only 46 cents per mile! The first thing you'll notice about taxis in China is their appearance. In general, they are cleaner and more modern than what we see in many cities here in the US.

High Speed Rail

A 200 mile one way trip from New York to Washington DC will set you back about $130. A 250 mile trip on China's high speed rail system is only about $35! Right away you'll notice that Chinese trains are cleaner, more modern, and much faster - achieving speeds of over 300 MPH. China's rail system is so extensive, you won't ever need airplanes. This is, of course, a direct result of the government's investment in high speed rail.

Moving to a new country during these unsure times can seem like a big risk. But when it comes to teaching English in China, the trends all point to the fact that it's much safer from Covid-19 than the USA. For one thing, the Chinese public appears more willing to follow government recommendations, such as business shutdowns, home quarantines, mask-wearing requirements and ubiquitous temperature checks. Yet the US seems constantly taken by surprise and always trying to play catch up, even after observing what unfolded in China for the past 6 months.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Linda Reed and Josh Liu, among many others, are seeing a stark difference in the way the US and China are handling the virus and protecting its people.

Josh Liu, an American dentist working in Shanghai, went through China’s original outbreak of Covid-19. He was visiting family in Sichuan province in late January when he told his wife: “We’ve got to get out of here.” They booked flights and took their 1-year-old son to Mr. Liu’s hometown near San Francisco. Every week, they considered whether or not to return to China. But soon the choice was clear. The outbreak was spreading rapidly in California, and he learned his Shanghai private practice was reopening soon. “We decided we were safer in China,” he said.

When his family arrived at a Shanghai airport, officials took their temperatures and asked where exactly in the US they had been and whether they had visited hospitals. Then they told them to go home to begin a 14 day quarantine. “People fall in line here a little more and they’re willing to handle or cope with very strict rules,” the 33 year old dentist said. “People are like, ‘It’s such a hassle,’ but that’s why it feels safer here.”

Linda Reed, a Nashville native teaching English in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing, wanted to go to Tennessee in April to be with her sister, who was about to give birth. Worried about contracting the corona virus during her journey and spreading it to her family, she contacted a Tennessee government epidemiologist to ask about quarantine requirements and other protocols. The epidemiologist said she could consider staying in a hotel and advised her to follow general guidelines.

The casual tone of the epidemiologist’s response concerned Ms. Reed, who then decided to cancel her trip. “It isn’t that he said anything wrong,” the 37 year old teacher said. “The problem is that the department was clearly unprepared for an outbreak.” While sad her family won’t get together for her niece’s birth, Ms. Reed said it would be safer for her elderly father to stay in eastern Washington state and for her to remain in Nanjing. “Of all the countries that have confirmed cases, I think China is the safest place to be right now,” she said.