Places in China

In China, cities are ranked according to their economic status, infrastructure, trade proximity, and, most importantly, population size, since the latter provides a strong indicator of a city's prominence. Finding the finest areas to teach English in China begins with familiarity of the Chinese City Tier System, and from there, you can go on to investigating individual cities.

Top Workplaces in Tier 1 Cities

Beijing, the capital of China, is the country's political and cultural epicenter. It is the second-most populous city in China. With a history stretching back over three millennia, this metropolis has a cosmopolitan and multiethnic population and some of the country's most popular tourist destinations, including the enchanted Forbidden Palace. As a result, educators may expect to find the highest salaries at the most prestigious, top-tier institutions in the globe. A year spent teaching in Beijing is equivalent to just two months spent teaching anyplace else since the city is so massive and has so many attractions. Visit our Beijing Teaching Guide to find out more.

Shanghai, the most populous city in China, can provide you with a teaching experience that will blow your mind. This pulsating metropolis is a sensory overload, but it also has the potential to be the most thrilling and memorable classroom setting ever. This is the holy grail of teaching positions in China for some foreign educators. Shanghai is without peer, with China's biggest expat population, an abundance of world-class cultural landmarks, convenient access to the rest of Asia, and surprisingly low living costs. You may earn well as an ESL instructor in Shanghai, particularly if you've landed a position at one of the city's top schools or colleges, provided you can control your expenditures. To learn more about this fascinating city, check out our Teacher's Guide to Shanghai.

Originally a fishing community, Shenzhen is now one of China's most alluring Tier 1 choices. A large number of English language instructors choose to live and work in the city due to its proximity to the shore and low cost of living. There's no doubting that if going out, shopping, and traveling are high on your list of priorities, then Shenzhen is the best place for you to live as a teacher. Shenzhen is famous for its beautiful outdoors, since it is surrounded by spectacular wildness and has about two dozen great beaches, and the continual sea breeze keeps pollution low, which surely helps attract foreign instructors. Check out our Guide to Teaching in Shenzhen for additional information about relocating here and getting settled here.

Canton - Guangzhou is one of the most powerful cities in China since it is one of the most populous and one of the most economically successful. As the most important city in southern China, it has a prime location on the coast of the South China Sea, only a stone's throw from Hong Kong and Macau. Guangzhou, unlike its other Tier 1 members listed above, is admired for its extensive parks and laid-back atmosphere. This Tier 1 city, which is heavily affected by its international sector, has a charming European vibe, a fantastic length of shoreline, a rather perfect temperature, and amazing travel chances. If you're interested in teaching abroad and would want to learn more about Guangzhou, check out our Guangzhou Teaching Guide.