Much like Hong Kong, Guangzhou also boasts a more amalgamated expat scene. Whilst you’ll find somewhat distinct British, Australian or Dutch expat communities in more prominent cities, Guangzhou and its (relative) diminutive size doesn’t lend itself well to separation: everyone’s thrown into the pot together so your soon-to-be social circles are likely to be a lot more diverse, a mixed-bag of all different nationalities that make life a little more colourful.

A sensational standard of living, fantastic travel opportunities and a wide array of neighbourhoods offering a wealth of scenes (from vibrant and trendy hoods ideal for young singe expats to family-friendly suburbs) Guangzhou has a ‘scene’ to suit every TEFL teacher. The benefits of a Tier 1 teaching destination with the added bonus of being a much more relaxing place to live.

What’s not to love about that?

Guangzhou as a TEFL destination – What’s life like for an expat?

Historically open to the world and welcoming of foreign trade since ancient times, Guangzhou is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in China. If it’s your first time teaching English abroad, you can consider this a ‘safe bet’ as far as culture-shock is concerned. Not only will you encounter plenty of foreigners every single day, but the local cuisine will be a lot more recognisable to you and the overall feel of the city, whilst still very authentically Chinese, will seem much more international. Because it is!

Here’s a quick overview of life in Guangzhou that’ll help you decide if this southern Chinese city is just the English-teaching destination for you.