TEFL Locations in China - Quick Reference
Cost of living, Foreign Embassies, Hospitals, Passport, Survival Guide
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If you are living in the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, for most part, it is an inexpensive place to live in or visit. Those on a budget in Phnom Penh can get by in about US$10 a day and accommodations can be as cheap as US$2. Food will come to about US$2 or US$3. Of course, if you want to travel out of the capital, expenses will be more as transport can be a major expense. TEFL teachers generally earn enough to lead a comfortable life in Cambodia. Basic costs of living are definitely lower than that of UK or US. Western food and beer are reasonably priced in Cambodia, so you can enjoy a good meal without having to stinge. Staple groceries also come cheap in supermarkets. Typical living expenses for an English teacher who earns about US$700
The cost of living in China can be very low, especially if you eat local food from local restaurants or food stalls and shop in local markets. 3 Chinese dishes and rice for 2 is roughly 30RMB in Shanghai. China can be very expensive if you eat in Western restaurants or 5 star hotels and shop in Western supermarkets. For instance, a TGI Friday Burger is around 100 RMB. The reality is TEFL teachers tend to eat local food most of the time and "splash out" on Western style meals once in awhile.
China has an excellent public transport system operating in most cities with most local journeys being between 1-3RMB. Teachers seem to prefer using trains for intercity travel. This roughly costs 400RMB per 1000km on a sleeper train. Flights are roughly 4 times the price averaging out at 1500RMB per 1000km. There is some seasonal variation and prices rise steeply during national holidays like Chinese New Year.
Imported products like deodorant or books, for example, are naturally more expensive than in your home country while local Chinese products like electronics and clothes, for example, are very reasonably priced. Traditionally, Chinese sizes are smaller than those in the Western world but tailors and related services remain very cheap in China.
You may sometimes need to visit your embassy in China for visa or other related services. Below is a list of embassies available in China.
Australian Embassy in Beijing, China
21 Dongzhimenwai Dajie
Sanlitun Beijing 100600
China Phone: (+86 10) 5140 4111
Web Site: http://www.china.embassy.gov.au/
Email: pubaff.beijing@dfat.gov.au
Office Hours: The Embassy will be open from 8:30 am to 4:51 pm Monday to Friday
except for public holidays. Consulate business hours are 8:30 am to 4:51 pm
Monday to Friday.
Australian Consulate-General Shanghai, China
Level 22, CITIC Square
1168 Nanjing Road West, 200041
Phone: +86 21 5292 5500
Web Site: http://www.shanghai.china.embassy.gov.au/
Email: immigration.shanghai@dfat.gov.au
Office Hours: Consulate business hours are 8:30 to 17:00 Monday to Friday
Australian Consulate-General Guangzhou,China
12th Floor, Development Centre
No. 3 Linjiang Road
Zhujiang New City
Guangzhou 510623
Phone: +86 20 38140111 (non-visa enquiries) / +86 20 38140250 (visa enquiries)
Web Site: http://www.guangzhou.china.embassy.gov.au
Email: guangzhou.consular@dfat.gov.au
Office Hours: 8:30 am - 17:00 pm except weekends and holidays
The Embassy of Canada to China
19 Dong Zhi Men Wai Street
Chao Yang District, Beijing 100600
Phone: +86(10) 5139-4000
Web Site: http://www.beijing.gc.ca
Email: beijing-immigration@international.gc.ca
Office Hours: Monday to Thursday 08:15 - 11:30 (for all enquiries) Monday to
Thursday 14:30 - 15:30 (for document pick-up)
The Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai, China
604, West Tower
1376 Nanjing Road (West)
Shanghai, 200040, China
Phone: (+86-21) 6279-8400
Web Site: http://www.shanghai.gc.ca
Email: shngi@international.gc.ca
Office Hours: Monday to Friday 08:30 - 12:00 and 13:00 – 17:00
The Consulate General of Canada in Guangzhou, China
Suite 801, China Hotel Office Tower, Liu Hua Lu
Guangzhou 510015
Phone: (86-20) 8666-0569
Web Site: http://www.guangzhou.gc.ca
Email: ganzu.consular-consulaire@international.gc.ca
Office Hours: Monday to Thursday 09:00 - 17:00 Friday 09:00 - 13:00
The Chinese medical system comprises mostly of public and private hospitals. Western medical treatment system is adopted in a good number of hospitals. In large Chinese cities such as Shanghai or Beijing, there are increasingly a large number of private clinics that are owned and managed by Western doctors or Chinese doctors who have graduated from a country such as USA or UK. Their treatment and management of patients are along those as practiced in these western countries but their fees tend to be high and most of their patients are expatriates working in China and the occasional Western tourist. Even in local Chinese hospitals, treatment are mostly Western medical techniques including diagnosis, medication, injection or the necessary scans. However, medications can be a mixture of Western and Chinese drugs. If you have a minor ailment such as a cough or flu, Chinese medicine (TCM) is surprisingly effective. Simply enter a medical hall in the streets and they are likely to have a TCM doctor in attendance. They will prescribe some herbal medication. However, if you have a major injury or illness, it is always better to seek Western medical help immediately. Some hospitals in Mainland China are listed below.
Beijing
Beijing AEA International Clinic
Building C, BITIC Leasing Center
No.1 North Road, Xing Fu San Cun
Chaoyang District
Beijing 100027
Tel: (010) 6462-9112
Beijing United Family Hospital
2 Jiangtai Lu
Chaoyang District
Beijing 100016
Tel: (010) 6433-3960
Shanghai
World Link Medical Centre
Suite 305 W, Portman Shanghai Centre,
1376 Nanjing West Road,
Shanghai 200040
Tel: (8621) 62798129
Immigration Medical Centre
455 PLA Hospital,
338 Huai Xi Road,
Shanghai 200052, China
Tel: 8621-62944497 or 8621-62944751
Fax: 8621-32260391
Guangdong
New Pioneer International Medical Centre
Out-Patient Unit
Guangzhou Air Force Hospital No. 458
801 Dong Feng Road (East)
Guangzhou 510400
Tel: (020) 8380-6820
A valid passport is required to enter and exit China. Those arriving without valid passports and the appropriate Chinese visa are not permitted to enter and will be subject to a fine and immediate deportation at the traveler's expense. The passport should be valid for at least 6 months depending on the type of visa you are applying for. Also, the passport should have at least one full blank page.
Custom & Etiquette
In whatever you do in China, be honest, patient and willing to accept mistakes
when you make them. Be open and flexible to do a variety of things. Be patient
and considerate of cultural differences. You may find that the simplest of
decisions take time to materialise. Accept the Chinese system as it is.
Generally speaking, the Chinese people think of themselves as belonging to a
group, whether as a nation, unit, team or political party. Therefore, you should
try and avoid portraying an individualistic outlook on life. This kind of
outlook can be alarming to the locals. In order to lessen the culture shock,
jump straight into the Chinese culture. If possible, try and learn Chinese and
mingle with the local community. Greetings are formal and the oldest person is
always greeted first. Nonetheless, handshakes are the most common form of
greeting with foreigners. Many Chinese will look towards the ground when
greeting someone. Address the person by an honorific title and their surname. If
they want to move to a first-name basis, they will advise you which name to use.
Healthcare - Be sure to find out on what vaccinations you may need before arriving in China. Your doctor will determine what you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities. Get your vaccinations at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for your vaccines to take effect and to start taking medicine to prevent malaria, if you need it. Although yellow fever is not a disease risk in China, the government requires travelers arriving from countries where yellow fever is present to present proof of yellow fever vaccination. If you will be traveling to one of these countries where yellow fever is present before arriving in China, this requirement must be taken into consideration.
Money & Banking - It is always safe to keep the local currency in hand. If you need to change money, do it at authorised money exchange counters. Cash advances are available on most common credit/debit cards e.g. American Express/Visa/MasterCard, but this facility is available only from the main branch of the Bank of China in most Chinese cities. A fee of 3%-4% will apply. The Bank of China has an ATM network that will allow cash advances from major credit / debit cards and ATM cards. Check with your credit card provider for this information before leaving your home country. It is advisable to change only the money that you need for you trip as it may be difficult to change back to you preferred currency. RMB is now readily convertible in Hong Kong. You can convert unused RMB to another currency in China by producing the receipts for your original purchase of RMB in China. This exchange is done at the airport as you leave China.
Eating Out - When it comes to eating out options, you will be spoilt for choice. Apart from authentic Chinese food, you can also find in abundance fast food and Western options. Until and unless your digestive system is immune to the local conditions, do not venture out to eat in roadside eateries.
Transportation- In China, getting around is not a problem. There are many
different choices to get around. You can travel around by pedi-cabs, bus, train,
taxi, subway and so on.