Best Cities to Work as an ESL Teacher in China

In terms of land area, China is the fourth-largest country in the world. It also has the most people in the world, though (with almost 1.4 billion people as of 2019). As there is so much to do in China, it sounds like a great place for people who like to go on trips. It has a lot of different landscapes, rich history, unique cultures, a lot of cultural heritage sites, and great food. Take a look at our list of the best cities in China to teach English:

1. Beijing

Beijing, the capital of China, is one of the top four cities in China for foreign teachers of English as a second language to live and work in. The Forbidden City and the Great Wall are both in Beijing. It has a unique culture, beautiful buildings that date back hundreds of years, a wide range of people, and delicious food. There is an average salary for an English teacher in Beijing of about $36,643 per year, according to Payscale.

In Beijing, the best places to go are as shown in the following table:

In China, there is the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. There is also the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, and the Great Hall of the People.

It's a must to eat Peking Roast Duck, Zhajiangmian (Soybean Paste Noodle), and Jiaozi in Beijing (Dumpling)

2. Shanghai

Shanghai was once called the best city in the world by CNN Travel. It was also called the "Pearl of the Orient." Shanghai is the largest city in China, with more than 26 million people living there. Foreign ESL teachers like the mix of the East and the West in this city, with tall skyscrapers and old colonial buildings. There are many people from other countries who want to live and work in China because of its lively international hub and progressive culture.

People who teach English in Shanghai make between $27,807 and $59, 562 a year on Payscale. If you're looking for a job as an English teacher in China, Shanghai is a great place to go. There are so many things to do and an easy-to-fit-in way of life for foreigners.

Places to go in Shanghai: The Bund, the Pearl TV Tower, Nanjing Road, the Yu Garden, the Jade Buddha Temple, People's Square, and more are some of the best things to do in the city.

If you want to eat some of the best food in Shanghai, you need to try these: Xielongbao (Soup Dumplings), Shengjianbao (Fried Pork Dumpling), Hongshao - braised pork, Fried Pork Buns (Fried Dim Sum), Steamed Squid and Crab.

3. Guangzhou

Following Beijing and Shanghai, Guangzhou is the third-largest city in China. It is also one of the four top cities for ESL teachers in China. As a result of its evergreen climate, it is known as "the City of Flowers." This is because beautiful flowers can grow there all year long. Around 13 million people live there now. There are a lot of people living in the Guangzhou municipality area because it also includes the cities of Shenzhen, Foshan and Dongguan (about 44 million people).

Guangzhou is a major port city, a trading and manufacturing center, and a big part of China's economy. The average salary for an English teacher in Guangzhou is between $1,600 and $2,500 per month. There is, however, a lower cost of living in Beijing or Shanghai than there is in the United States.

The best places to visit in Guangzhou are the Canton Tower, Huacheng Square, Yuyin Garden, Shamian Island, and so on.

Shao Wei (Cantonese Barbecue), Dim Sum (Breakfast Dumplings and Snacks), and Har Gao and Xia Jiao are some of the most famous foods in Guangzhou. You can't miss them (Shrimp Dumpling)

4. Shenzhen

This city has grown a lot in the last 40 years. Shenzhen used to be a small fishing town with a few hundred thousand people. Now, it has more than 13 million people and is full of huge skylines, metros, and bullet trains. In Shenzhen, there are a lot of successful high-tech and manufacturing businesses that have been very successful. When people talk about this place, they call it the Silicon Valley of China. When it comes to money, this city is the richest in China, even though it's only the seventh-largest. People who teach English as a second language in Shenzhen make between $1,000 and $3,000 a month. There are a lot of people who can live well in Shenzhen for less than $1,000 per month.

In Shenzhen, the best places to go are the following:

Tienshou Temple, Nanshan Mountain, Futian City Center, and Widow of the World are some of the places you'll find.

In Shenzhen, there are some foods that everyone should try.

Shào Wei, Dim Sum (Breakfast Dishes and Snacks) like Cheon Fen (Rice Noodle Roll), Char Sui Bao (BBQ Pork Buns, Siu Mai Dumplings, Har Gao, or Xia Jiao (Shrimp Dumpling)

5. Chengdu

This big and fast-growing city is the financial and economic center of China, as well as the country's best-known place for food. Around 7.8 million people live there. This was the beginning of the Southern Silk Road, which made it easy to send tea, iron, and silk from Chengdu to countries like Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, and the Middle East. As a second-tier city in China, many people think it's the new first-tier city. People who teach English as a second language in Chengdu make from about $1,400 to $2,000 a month.

Mount Qingcheng, Du Fu Thatched Cottage, and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System are three of the best places to visit in Chengdu, China.

Chengdu's most famous food: Liang Ban Ji (Cold Chicken in Chili Oil), Shuang Jiao Tu (Rabbit Fried with Peppers), La Xiang Chang (Smoked Sausage), Hong You Chao Shou (Sichuan Dumplings in Chili Oil, Chengdu Hot Pot), and Shuang Jiao Tu.