Working in Nanjing - China's hidden gem
As one of the most attractive major cities in China, Nanjing (historically Nanking) is situated in the lower reach of the Yangtze River. It sports an ancient heritage and has served as the capital of six dynasties. Nanjing was the capital of Ming China and the Republican government, thus is the longest serving capital in Chinese history and the birthplace of many of its emperors, hence the moniker "City of Emperors".
Within the historic downtown area of Xinjiekou, you can easily find a variety of restaurants serving both authentic local cuisine (most notably salted duck) as well as many of the western chains you are used to (Starbucks, Burger King, Pizza Hut, etc.). Nanjing is a rank 2 city (with rank 1 being a major metropolitan city like Shanghai), so you will get the feeling of a big town without the overcrowdedness it brings with it.
Nanjing is also the focal university town of China, with more students and universities than any other locality, thus Nanjing features a predominantly younger population, and the oldest univeristy in China, Nanjing University, being the 2nd ranked school in the country.
City Statistics
Population: 8 million
Public Transportation: 2 major high-speed train stations, an international airport, 7 subway lines, hundreds of bus routes
Language: Mandarin, local Nanjing dialects
Climate: Temperate, with four distinct seasons
What makes Nanjing unique?
- A long history. You can visit the ancient city wall, Confucius Temple, the Ming tombs housing the remains of past emperors, founder of modern China Dr Sun-Yat-Sen’s mausoleum, and presidential palace that was the capital building before 1949 Nanjing’s nightlife also has lots to offer, with the famous 1912 district in the heart of town featuring a wide variety of western clubs
- Scenic areas like Xuan Wu lake and Purple Mountain allow you to escape the concrete without leaving the city. Both attractions are quite large, giving visitors the feeling as if they are miles away
- Interesting local dishes include Nanjing duck, spring onion pancake and tangbao, a large type of soup dumping
- A rapidly developing and large city that still manages to maintain the feeling of a small town with the amenities of a cosmopolitan area.
Nanjing EF Stats:
EF Nanjing Flagship opened in 2002
5 EF schools, with another 3 planned to open in 2018
All of the schools are accessible by subway or bus routes
Strong sense of community among local and international teachers, with most foreigners in Nanjing being English teachers
Interesting Links:
English First recruit throughout the year. Currently they are hiring over 70 teachers and staff for other positions. Find the jobsfor you by visiting teflhub's jobs pages (search China).
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