Author: life-china

The park was busy. There weren’t any tourists, but the residents of Chishan Lake National Wetland Park — tens of thousands of water birds — had things to do and places to go; it was breeding season. Greylag geese and egrets flew above the lotus ponds, gliding on long elegant wings; herons picked up small sticks to build nests. Springtime at the new Chishan Lake National Wetland Park is busy, and green. When I went, a few weeks ago, plants were unfolding fresh leaves and large swaths of lotus were on the cusp of blooming. Floating catkins...

Whether you’re considering Shanghai for your first teaching experience or you’ve worked in more countries than a universal socket adapter, this city offers a unique experience. There are countless opportunities here for teachers, but there are also some key things to consider before you book your flight to Pudong. Here’s SmartShanghai’s guide to teaching in China’s busiest city. Finding a Job For the widest range of possible job options, check out job listings sites and agencies. In the former category, Dave’s ESL Cafe has a broad range of listings for TEFL/ESOL/other-acronym-of-choice jobs. It also hosts a...

“The future of classical music is in China”, the renowned conductor Lorin Maazel once said. That claim was picked up by Gramophone and the Washington Post, praising the growth of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and Chinese music students. In about three decades, a few hundred classical music concerts per year has become the norm in Shanghai. The main concertgoers, thirty-somethings, aren’t just spending their time at night clubs. When it comes to the best places to see classical music in Shanghai, we have both retro-style music institutions and modern cultural hubs to choose from. Shanghai Symphony...