Five Cool Things to See While Teaching English in China
by Douglas Berger Douglas Berger Psychiatrist Tokyo, M.D., Ph.D., isTeaching English in China
Five Cool Things to See While Teaching English in China
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China; the name itself invokes visions of a far-off land full of ancient wonders, rich
culture and spiritual mysticism. It has an extensive written history with
written records dating back about 4,000 years and is considered one of the four
great ancient civilizations of the world.
While China is
a popular tourist destination, there is an even better way to explore its
historical architecture and vibrant culture; by teaching
English in China. China has the highest demand for English teachers in the
world right now, more than any other country and is hands down the easiest
place in the world to land a job teaching English. China is also a huge country
both in terms of population and physical size and as such, makes it a great
place to travel on your weekends and holidays off from 9 to 5. Without further
ado, the 5 coolest things to see while teaching
English in China.
5. West Lake
Located in beautiful
Hangzhou in Eastern China, West lake is a sight to behold. Spread out over an
area of about 6.5 square kilometers, West Lake is a serene and beautiful spot
that is famous for its scenery and is a setting for many traditional Chinese romantic
legends. A great getaway for the ex-pat teaching English in one of the (many)
more populated and bustling cities in China, West Lake offers a chance to relax
and recuperate from the rat race of city life. There are many great activities
to participate in including viewing koi fish at the flower pond, visiting the
Leifeng pagoda and the mysterious “Three Pools Mirroring the Moon” section that
produces an optical illusion making it seem as if one is surrounded by multiple
moons.
4. Giant Pandas in Chengdu
Few animals are as
closely related to China as that of the giant panda, and no experience teaching
English there is complete without a visit to a panda reserve. Giant pandas are
gentle and placid creatures that spend the majority of their lives eating and
sleeping, a feat most of us can envy immensely. They live in bamboo forests
(bamboo being their main food source) and even without the pandas, the forests
themselves are a magnificent sight to behold. There are four main panda
reserves in Chengdu and you would do well to visit any one of them. They all do
great work, and it’s thanks to their efforts that giant pandas were taken off
the endangered species list in 2016 (they are now on the “vulnerable” list). So
take a break from teaching your students English and see what other wildlife
China has to offer! There are many different kinds of tours and activities
involving Pandas, some involving simply viewing the creatures and even more
immersive ones that last days where you can track wild pandas in their natural
habitats.
3. Li River
Flowing 83 kilometers
from Guilin to Yangshuo in Southern China, the Li River has been named one of
the “top ten watery wonders” by National geographic. The scenery is picturesque
and stunning with the view consisting mainly of wild Karst mountains. Like West
Lake, it’s a perfect spot to escape the hustle and bustle of teaching English
in a Chinese city. One of the most popular ways to explore the scenery is by
river cruise, an activity that attracts millions of tourists every year. These
cruises are about 4 to 5 hours and are extremely relaxed affairs with buffets
and minibars, and some of the fancier boats even boasting air conditioning and
TV screens. The more adventurous can take a bamboo rafting tour that takes
place much closer to the water offering a more authentic (albeit less
luxurious) nature experience.
2. The Terracotta Army
The terracotta army is a
collection of clay sculptures that were made with the purpose of protecting
Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife. The figures date back to the 3rd
century BCE and are located in Xi’an, the excavation site which has since been
turned into a museum. It is estimated that the terracotta army contains over
8000 soldiers, 130 chariots and 670 horses, the majority which is still buried
in the pits nearby to the main excavation site. There are also other
non-military figures buried to accompany the Emperor into the afterlife
including strongmen, acrobats, and musicians. The figures are life-sized and
vary immensely from one another in many ways including uniforms, hairstyles,
and even faces. The terracotta army is unlike anything in the world and makes a
great (even a little spooky!) little break from teaching
English in China on a weekend or holiday.
1. The Great Wall of China
Unsurprisingly, the
world-famous great wall tops the list of coolest things to see while teaching
English in China. Spanning approximately 20,900 kilometers, the great wall was
begun in the third century BC as a means of protection from barbarian nomads in
the North. One of the factors that makes it so amazing is the fact that it was
built before modern machinery and thusly, built entirely by hand out of brick,
stone, sand, and soil. Millions of the workers building the wall died in the
process and were buried under it lending it the nickname “The Longest Cemetery
on Earth.” The most famous section of the wall is called Badaling and is also
the busiest. For a less touristy experience, one can visit the wilder sections
like Jiankou or Simatai. There are many activities one can do on the great wall
like hiking, camping or even riding a roller coaster!
Five Cool Things to See While Teaching English in China
Click here
for more info about teaching English in China
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Created on Nov 11th 2019 04:18. Viewed 276 times.