Over the span of two decades, China has emerged as one of the world’s most important countries in international education. Rising in tandem with the country’s population is the demand for foreign educators to provide quality education to a large number of outgoing international students from China.
Suzhou and Hangzhou are two of the many Chinese cities that present interesting opportunities for ex-pat teachers. Apart from amazing career opportunities, the two cities also offer scintillating natural and architectural beauty to their residents.
So much so that there’s a popular Chinese saying for the two cities:
上有天堂, 下有蘇杭 / 上有天堂, 下有苏杭
Which translates to “above, there is heaven; below, there is Suzhou and Hangzhou”, referring to the legendary beauty of this region.
Both cities are known to be the industrial as well as scenic gems of the mainland of China. Let us move on to discuss what advantages living in one may have over the other.
Intro to Suzhou
Located along the grand canal around 50 miles west of Shanghai in the south of the Jiangsu province, is Suzhou. The city is famous for its gardens and beautiful canals. Suzhou is also an architectural marvel of lakes and ponds connected by a series of canals.
The city is a popular tourist attraction housing world-famous gardens such as the Lingering Garden, one of the four famous Chinese gardens. The city’s economy is supported by a variety of textile industries, mainly silk, and cotton which throughout the years have been highly modernized. Additionally, the city has many factories producing machinery (iron and steel), electronics, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals which make it China’s second-largest manufacturing sector.
The city alongside being a popular tourist attraction is also a center of learning with above twenty educational institutes. To teach English in Suzhou means to be surrounded by rich Chinese culture and the beauty of nature and marvelous architecture. From lavish silk embroidery to beautiful classical gardens, the city has numerous gifts to share.
Hangzhou at a Glance
Hangzhou, the capital of the Zhejiang province, is situated at the head of Hangzhou Bay. The city lies in the northwest of the province. It is also the most populated city in Zhejiang province.
Forbes has dubbed Hangzhou as one of the best commercial cities in China. Furthermore, Hangzhou serves as headquarters to the Alibaba Group, a world-famous eCommerce retailer. It is also listed in the world’s top 100 financial centers.
Working in tandem with Hangzhou’s practical appeal is the city’s aesthetic appeal. Alike Suzhou, Hangzhou hosts many of its own tourist attractions such as the West Lake and the Lingyin Temple, one of the largest and most visited Buddhist temples in China.
Teaching in Hangzhou would allow you to experience one of China’s largest industrial hubs. It would also mean having research opportunities for one of Hangzhou’s notable educational institutes, Zhejiang University, which is a reputable public research university. From a financial perspective, Hangzhou offers higher-paid jobs than most other Chinese cities.
Why Choose Suzhou for Teaching in China
Suzhou, being a tourist attraction, brings more international attention than most other cities. Here are some reasons to opt for living and teaching in Suzhou.
1.Accessibility To Shanghai
Living in Suzhou makes the commute to Shanghai super accessible. One may choose to take a bus or car, however, the ideal way to travel would be through the Shanghai-Nanjing train that takes an average of 30 minutes for a one-way journey.
2.Diversity
Despite being a small city, Suzhou attracts major attention from tourists all year round. Suzhou hosts a lot of open-minded foreigners on an annual basis which for an educator means a lot of networking options.
3.Low Cost of Living
If your budget is tight you will be pleased to know that Suzhou is a relatively cheap place to live in. A single person’s monthly costs for living in the city are estimated to be around 630$ with rent being 13.3% cheaper than it would be in Hangzhou.
4.Low Population
Now if you’re a homebody or someone who enjoys keeping to themselves, it may pique your interest to know that Suzhou is not a heavily crowded city. In fact, there is so little congestion on the roads you might just hear the birds instead.
Why Choose Hangzhou for Teaching in China
Due to the unique mix of the city’s viewpoints and industrialism, Hangzhou is the perfect place to enjoy a busy day’s hustle and then a quiet stroll by the lake. Here are some reasons you may prefer Hangzhou to live in.
1.Modern Public Transportation
The city has a very efficient bus network as well as an accessible public bike rental system. Moreover, the taxis are in abundance and most of the drivers are friendly and accommodating. As a foreigner, the accessibility in traversing the city may be a plus point.
Hangzhou also has the busiest railway in China and a well-distributed domestic airline. All in all, as an educator, commuting in and out of Hangzhou is no problem at all.
2.A Subtle Blend of Modern and Antique
Hangzhou, while being a commercial city, has successfully preserved its scenic sites. The hills and valleys situated in the city house some ancient monasteries of historical interest. On the other hand, if one were to crave modernity they could venture to Qiangjiang.
3.Accommodation
Once again Hangzhou is an affordable option to live in compared to Shanghai. Hangzhou’s cost of living index rounds up to 46 in comparison to Shanghai’s 54. This makes Hangzhou much more feasible to live in and with a stable transport system, it is not out of budget to visit other cities when required.
4.International Education
As an educator, it would be in your best interests to note that due to Hangzhou’s commercial nature the city has quite a number of international schooling institutes. International institutes enrol non-Chinese students and offer curriculums such as IGCSE and A-Levels. This means more teaching opportunities in the English language as the IGCSE and A-Level curriculums are taught in English worldwide.
Conclusion:
At the end of the day, China has an incessant demand for foreign educators especially those who are proficient in the English language. If you’ve made it so far you are well equipped with the knowledge to decide between the two cities. Whether you choose the tranquil and quiet lifestyle of Suzhou or the busy but beautiful ambiance of Hangzhou, the choice is up to you.