I want to teach English in China and am overwhelmed by the places I could work? What are the best cities to live in? The important things to me: an ex-pat community where I can make friends, an active culture(I love to do things like hike and run), and a city that is not super fast paced. What do you guys think.

I would suggest you look into Nanjing. It's big enough that it has a nice Expat community, It has lots of schools so there is lots of jobs there to do, It's got tons of history and a couple nice parks for relaxing and BBQ (which the expats often organize)and it's not too big so it's no crazy or stressful.

Beijing is alright but too big and too many foreigners so people aren't so friendly to each other, in Nanjing if you go out you quickly get to meet everyone and everyone is pretty friendly usually.

Shanghai has little culture and is way too expensive and stressful.

There are tons of other cities that would also be pretty good. What I would suggest if you want a moderately big city look for one about the size of Nanjing, it's big enough to not stare at you continuously but still small enough to still get a great foreigner in China experience.

What kind of weather/seasons/temperature/rainfall do you want?

come to clifford ,more than 10000 expats living here
if you need help to find an apartment
amy198567@gmail.com

Look no further than Yantai.

I think Suzhou is the best for you to stay. It's called "human paradise on earth", beatiful city.

-----------signature---------------
David W
Shanghai, China
MSN: W.X.CHUAN AT HOTMAIL.COM
QQ: 359998310
-----------------------------------

im seeking info about teachers in china. from all cities.
raouls saloon is long gone?

but where else did we all go?

Qingdao city is a good choice.

Just one thing about Shanghai
It's very modern. You can meet lot of people their from all around the world.
You fell very happy every day, when you see this beautifull highscrapers.
The night live in shanghai is delicious. So many places, clubs bars...


But the weather is awfull. Foreigners don't stand it in the winter.
The air is always wet. because of the near sea.
In the winter even the modern building, even the luxury buildings,
don't have heating system. Just a loosy air conditioning. not efficient at all compare to an air conditioning system.


Everywhere in the winter, shops or offices or at home, you feel this cold and wet thinks. Go to your bones. Foreigners we all feel bad the winter here.
Every body wear a thick coat here 24 hours.
That's the only solution.

Beijing is far better for this part. Beijing climate is dry.
The winter they have equipment everywhere. Heating system in restaurants, offices, homes.
And that's important.