alizaya
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« on: July 29, 2012, 11:40:49 AM » |
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I feel a bit intimidated by all the knowledgeable folk on the forum, but have decided to take the plunge and actually ask a question instead of spending hours sifting through posts. I could not find a single post about Jinan. Has anyone ever taught/lived there? I've been in touch with a visiting lecturer from Shandong U. who has offered to find me a position there during spring semester. Unlike you serious expats, I'm only going for the adventure of a sabbatical in China, and will scurry back to my position at a college at the end of the year. So I'd like to know whatever anyone can tell me about Jinan--which at first glance looks terribly polluted and cold in the winter (we come from Jerusalem, where winter weather rarely goes below 10C). Thanks, Aliza
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latefordinner
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« Reply #1 on: July 29, 2012, 12:59:57 PM » |
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George,weren't you and the Babe in that area for a while? Weren't you just boasting a short time ago about that student of yours, whatzizname, Kongzi something?
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The Local Dialect
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« Reply #2 on: July 29, 2012, 01:16:54 PM » |
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Yeah I think George is our resident Jinan expert. Maybe he'll chime in. Anyplace up north is going to be cold, but you'll have heat, which means that indoors at least you'll be warmer than your friends in the south, who do not have heat in their homes. I'm someone who had always lived in places with extremely mild climates until I moved to Beijing. Honestly the cold took some getting used to, and BJ is not as cold as Jinan. However, given that it would only be a year, I'd imagine you could tough it out. Imagine the reaction you'll get from folks back home when you tell them you survived -30C winters.  |
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AMonk
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« Reply #3 on: July 29, 2012, 02:09:51 PM » |
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Hi  Welcome to the Saloon. Yes, George (and the ever-lovely Babe)is our current "Ji'nan Expert". Hubby and I - from Bermuda - were there for a short visit in January of 2009. Yes, it was cold. Yes, it was polluted. Yes, we would go back to stay in a heartbeat if we were younger We loved the city. To us, it felt like a homecoming. Nothing like Home, you understand, but still with a feel-good atmosphere.  |
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Moderation....in most things...
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George
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« Reply #4 on: July 29, 2012, 08:56:10 PM » |
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G'day Alizaya, and welcome aboard. Yes indeed, I be the Saloons Jinan expert. Everybody else stayed far away because I was there. Jinan is a good place to live. The people are friendly, pollution is normal, and the winters are not too cold. -13, 14 is as bad as it gets, but heating is everywhere, and if you dress appropriately, it isn't a problem. Check out the Saloon photo album and you will find a lot of pics of various aspects of Jinan. I dunno which bit of Shandong Uni you are going to, but some of it is right in the centre of the City. http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=Jinan,+Shandong,+China&hl=en&ll=36.64487,117.025015&spn=0.012034,0.026157&sll=-37.860283,145.079616&sspn=1.515766,3.348083&oq=jinan&hnear=Jinan,+Shandong,+China&t=h&z=16 Find the above on Google maps and expand from there. You will enjoy your stay there, I'm sure. |
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alizaya
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« Reply #5 on: July 30, 2012, 10:36:07 PM » |
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Thanks for the input, and to George for his expert advice. 13-14 isn't intolerable, and central heating and friendly people (not necessarily in that order) are advantages that outweigh a bit of pollution. If we go further with this particular offer, George, I might return with requests for more detail (like cost of living, the surrounding area...but I'm getting ahead of things)
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George
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« Reply #6 on: July 30, 2012, 11:09:56 PM » |
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Cost of living is a bit out of my ken, these days. I left China in July 2010. I usually shopped for fruit and vegetables at local street markets, and only used supermarkets for meat and groceries. I suppose prices are higher now, but it shouldn't be a problem. Jinan is linked to almost everywhere by the fast trains, so you can get to Beijing, Qingdao, Shanghai, etc. reasonably quickly. It's a good place to live.
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bobrage
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« Reply #7 on: August 01, 2012, 12:01:14 PM » |
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Hi all.
I have visited Ji'nan about half a dozen times and I know it pretty well.
It is, as far as China goes, a very pleasant city in which to live I think. It has a decent Muslim quarter where you can get all of the usual tasty Hui food in addition to some butchers which serve up various cuts of meat you can't get in the supermarket. There are also a bunch of cheap-but-good places around the campus of Shan Da and the international students have taken to organizing the odd curry stall once in a while too. In the middle of town the obligatory obnoxious shopping center justifies its existence by containing a decent range of Japanese and southern Asian restaurants - which provide a nice once-a-fortnight treat.
If you have to, like me, then there are a couple of Starbucks where you can get real coffee.
Ji'nan has great transport links (the Eastern North-South fast train line runs through it) and is right next to Tai'an, which is cool for a day trip or two. Shandong province is generally pretty nice too and you are only a couple of hours from Qingdao.
The cost of living in Ji'nan isn't too bad if you don't have to rent your own place. Maybe it is a bit above Henan and Anhui but a good deal less than Beijing and Shanghai.
Also, if you are a true hardcore expat, you will no doubt enjoy a nightly swim in the hot springs which surround the "old" town in Ji'nan. A whole bunch of people can be found at various bathing spots all year round and the water is kept fairly clean by the city because of its popularity.
Any specific question, please ask away.
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piglet
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« Reply #8 on: August 06, 2012, 07:21:44 PM » |
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George is it 13 or MINUS13 ? Wikigod says "January is the coldest and driest month, with a mean temperature of −0.4 °C "  |
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For people who like peace and quiet - a phoneless cord
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George
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« Reply #9 on: August 06, 2012, 08:10:21 PM » |
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the winters are not too cold. -13, 14 That looks like minus 13 to me, Piglet! Ok I should have written...-13 -14  Obviously the "mean" temperature is the average, and Wikigod has never been to Jinan. That -13 was the coldest I have ever experienced, so it has become memorable. There is rarely a lot of snow in Jinan, because the heat of the city doesn't allow it, but around the city, in the countryside, it lasts for the winter. Dress properly, and winter is bearable. |
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AMonk
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« Reply #10 on: August 07, 2012, 10:48:02 AM » |
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Dress properly, and winter is bearable.
Yes. The key is layers of clothing  so that you can unwrap/uncover when you are indoors, and then wrap up again when you head back outside. Keep your chest, your feet and your head warm, and you should be just fine |
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alizaya
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« Reply #11 on: August 07, 2012, 02:49:46 PM » |
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Hmmm. Sounds like an 'authentic' (whatever that is) Chinese experience. And Jinan is obviously a transportation hub, making it convenient for quick getaways. It is probably better to be in a place where it is warm inside, rather than in a damp, drizzly area which the Chinese govt. has decided is not cold enough to warrant central heating. But what is this 'inversion' I read about....causes terrible pollution? Are there days you fear leaving home because you might drop dead of carbon monoxide (or similar...I'm not a chemist) poisoning? And does winter last through March? Sorry for all the 'angsting', but we only have one semester.
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George
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« Reply #12 on: August 07, 2012, 07:44:49 PM » |
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« Last Edit: August 07, 2012, 07:58:25 PM by George »
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alizaya
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« Reply #13 on: August 08, 2012, 12:24:52 PM » |
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George, thanks for posting the links to the pictures. It looks like a manageable city, lots of tree lined streets and open markets. Since we'll be there spring semester (whenever that starts...February?), the thaw will be just around the corner. So we may go for it. I appreciate all the info.
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