Teach English in Hangzhou

Hangzhou is an excellent location for English instruction. This sophisticated city is home to outstanding schools and motivated students, and it is just an hour by quick train from Shanghai.

Most notably, Hangzhou is one of the most beautiful cities in China.

"In heaven there is paradise; on earth there is Suzhou and Hangzhou," says a well-known Chinese proverb.

It essentially indicates that Hangzhou is a real-life paradise!

In comparison to the amazing natural beauty of Australia (where I'm from), I don't totally agree with this statement.

However, when compared to other Chinese towns, I totally concur — Hangzhou is a heaven.

I've visited and worked in a number of Chinese cities, and Hangzhou is by far the most spectacular.

What stands out is the city's greenery. The atmosphere is lush and tropical, and the residents are concerned about the environment.

That is really essential to me. Who wants to teach English in a place where they don't feel at ease?

However, before you pack your bags to teach in Hangzhou, there are a few things you should be aware of.

Before you travel, take a TEFL course.

If you do not have a TEFL certificate, which is required to teach in China, some schools may ask you to take the course in Hangzhou before you begin teaching.

I highly advise against it.

Why? You could realize after a few courses that teaching is not for you. And, as lovely as Hangzhou is, you'll be in a strange setting.

Complete the course in your own nation, that is, before you pay for airfare and sign on the dotted line.

You'll be completely devoted to teaching in Hangzhou if you do it this way.

A TEFL certificate is also necessary as part of the Z visa application procedure in order to legally operate in China.

TEFL, on the other hand, is the bare minimum in China.

Take the bullet train.

Hangzhou is at a short distance from some of the world's most important cities.

This means you can see a lot of China in a weekend!

By high-speed rail, Shanghai is just one hour distant. It, if you want to see China's most cosmopolitan metropolis, you may accomplish so in a weekend or even a single day.

(Hangzhou, on the other hand, is rather cosmopolitan!)

A train ticket from Beijing to Shanghai may cost up to 80 yuan (US$11). Alternatively, for less than half the price, you may board a slower train that takes 2-3 hours.

So, save aside some money for travel fees, since you'll most likely spend some time outside of Hangzhou.

Ningbo, another city near to Hangzhou, is well worth a visit. It boasts one of the country's oldest libraries as well as a beautiful museum.

It has a laid-back attitude and isn't as touristic as Shanghai. That's probably why I enjoy it!

Shaoxing, which is approximately 20 minutes from Hangzhou, is also worth a visit.

You may sample a Shaoxing custard tart or rice-wine ice cream here (the city is known for its locally produced rice wine).

So, if you decide to teach English in Hangzhou, take advantage of its convenient access to other great cities by bullet train.

It's one of the perks of teaching in such a well-connected city.