Comments on: China’s third-tier cities

By: liz

liz — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:03:02 +0000

I am toying with the idea of teaching in a second or third tier Chinese city. But I am quite particular about sanitary systems.

Does anyone think I will have a problem staying put for at least six months?

By: La Mano Gaucha

La Mano Gaucha — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:18:01 +0000

Your point of view is interesting, but it is one thing to visit these places and another thing altogether to actually live in them.

I lived in Dazhou, Sichuan (which you mentioned as one of the places you wanted to visit) for over two years and I can tell you that it is easily the ugliest, most disorganized, most corrupt, noisiest, dirtiest place I’ve ever lived in. I’ve been in China for many years and lived in various places, big and small in various provinces, but Dazhou definitely takes the prize for the biggest mess called a “city”. I still visit the place from time to time because I have family here (I’m writing this from Dazhou, btw), but man, what a disaster this place is, especially “South City”. Sad…

In sum, I think that it is a pity that grossly unplanned infrastructure messes like Dazhou are romanticised by some folks… The people of such places deserve a lot better than what they get, and people here definitely want better. It’s not “quaint” or cool to live in places like this.

By: orsino

orsino — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:43:44 +0000

Third tier cities are still too high-profile. To see the real quiet town life in China you need to got the forth-tier cities (county level). My suggestion is you may go to some small towns in near-west part of China ?Gansu and Ningxia). You’ll see some real honest people, but you also need to be careful about your safty since you’ll be very unique and eye-catching.

By: june wong

june wong — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:08:00 +0000

One of my friends from Ankang once showed me pictures of rivers there and they were beautiful. Hope the scenery has not been ruined there.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:20:19 +0000

I thought it was just me that liked those kinds of places

I know what you mean. Places like Yangshou you are just another laowai, but go to any other out of the way place and you can have some truly memorably experiences!