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Hi everyone. As I've noted previously, I have an opportunity to move to China in the fall that I'm most likely going to take. I need an adventure - badly. I have a good friend who's lived in Guangzhou for a few years and is now a higher-up at a language school who will be helping facilitate my move and employment, and up to this point, the plan was that I'd be living in GZ.
However, he messaged me a few days ago and told me that his company has a few good opportunities in Shenzhen. I asked him what he thought of it there, and he admitted that he had only been there for a couple days total meeting with school administrators, and so his knowledge was really sparse. He said that it was cleaner and had better air than GZ, and it felt more "Western" to him.
So, to those of you who are familiar with both, which do you prefer overall, and why? I'm a single guy who will have just turned 30. Some nightlife in terms of bars and whatnot would be great, but I'm largely past the club phase. Does one city have a better arts scene than the other?
Guangzhou is more traditional, Shenzhen is more modern. It really depends on your preference. Personally, I always prefer Guangzhou because it's the center of Cantonese culture and cuisine.
Guangzhou is more traditional, Shenzhen is more modern. It really depends on your preference. Personally, I always prefer Guangzhou because it's the center of Cantonese culture and cuisine.
That's good to know. Part of the whole point of my moving to the East is to experience that culture; I don't necessarily want to live in a more "Western" place... I'm already planning on spending as many of my days off as possible visiting some of the ancient towns (Lijiang, Furong, Yongdind, Dali, etc.), and would love to explore more of China's interior when I have extended days off. I've even bought a better DSLR and more optics in anticipation...
Since my friend lives in GZ, I'll probably move there, if nothing else just so that I'm not entirely alone over there.
That's good to know. Part of the whole point of my moving to the East is to experience that culture; I don't necessarily want to live in a more "Western" place... I'm already planning on spending as many of my days off as possible visiting some of the ancient towns (Lijiang, Furong, Yongdind, Dali, etc.), and would love to explore more of China's interior when I have extended days off. I've even bought a better DSLR and more optics in anticipation...
Since my friend lives in GZ, I'll probably move there, if nothing else just so that I'm not entirely alone over there.
Shenzhen is a relatively new city with most of its residents relocated from other parts of China, that's why Mandarin is the primary language in Shenzhen. Guangzhou, on the other hand, is authentic Cantonese. Both Mandarin and Cantonese are probably equally foreign to you, but Cantonese is what makes Guangdong province special. To fully experience Guangzhou, you have to eat dim sum!
^ pretty much the same synopsis that my friend and other expat acquaintances over there have said. I'd certainly be open to dating but am not specifically looking to get laid, and also apprehensive about getting involved with a woman who expects that if things are good a few weeks in, we will get married
Guangzhou is quite messy and very hard to get a cab, you can spend like an hour waiting for a cab.
What I just like about Guangzhou are the international restaurants ( Indonesian, Turkish, Indian ) that are just all close to eachother.
I've met tons of expats. He's meeting all 'untrusting' Chinese girls, because he's an untrusty guy.
Most likely true. I'm confident about my ability to meet decent women pretty much anywhere, because I'm a decent guy with a good BS meter. I tend to lean towards LTR's over flings, and that's the main thing that makes me apprehensive... I'd hate to get super-serious with a girl who had no desire or plans to leave China, when I have no desire or plans to stay there.
And because of that, dating isn't really a very big concern to me. I'm more concerned about the availability of corn flour, black beans, chili powders, and various types of cheese that are stable ingredients of the homemade vegetarian Mexican food that make up the bulk of my diet
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