HI Moving to China (KUNMING)

HI Moving to China (KUNMING)
Jun 4, 2008 14:03
CHINAGHOST Points: Join Date: May 19, 2008 Status: offline	Hi there everyone I am moving to the province of Kunming in August 2008 and have never been to China before but am looking very forward to it as it seems like such an exciting country. I have some basic questions which will probably seem laughable but I need to ask them. Is Kunming a very eastern province or is it quite modern? I love Eastern cultures and don't know what to expect once there. I need to know if there are laundry facilities as my apartment doesn't have a washing machine, therefore are laundry widely available or can you use hotel facilities also are they costly? Are transport links to other provinces good as I need to go from Shanghai to Kunming and I will like to travel when I get time off work. Can anyone suggest any good places to visit either in Kunming or not too far from it. What is the cost of living in China like but more so Kunming as that shall be my residence for about a year. Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated and I look forward to your responses. Ciao Shantelle xx

Jun 4, 2008 14:03

CHINAGHOST
Points:
Join Date: May 19, 2008
Status: offline

Hi there everyone

I am moving to the province of Kunming in August 2008 and have never been to China before but am looking very forward to it as it seems like such an exciting country.
I have some basic questions which will probably seem laughable but I need to ask them.

Is Kunming a very eastern province or is it quite modern? I love Eastern cultures and don't know what to expect once there.

I need to know if there are laundry facilities as my apartment doesn't have a washing machine, therefore are laundry widely available or can you use hotel facilities also are they costly?

Are transport links to other provinces good as I need to go from Shanghai to Kunming and I will like to travel when I get time off work.
Can anyone suggest any good places to visit either in Kunming or not too far from it.

What is the cost of living in China like but more so Kunming as that shall be my residence for about a year.

Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated and I look forward to your responses.

Ciao

Shantelle xx

Jun 4, 2008 17:34	#1
GUEST41951	sounds like you're no where near ready to move. You have lots of serious homework to do at a greater level of detail than what you will find on this board.

Jun 6, 2008 21:31

LEMONCACTUS
Points:
Join Date: Dec 8, 2005
Status: Offline

HI Shantelle,

Guest41951 is a little off the mark, but not wrong in his basic assumption that you should do some more research. A lot of the information you require is easy to find on the internet, but you're right to be asking abut cost of living and stuff and the best people to let you know that info are insiders.

This website has lots of information about Kunming, inlcuding climate, places of interest etc. You can find it on the city guide.

Kunming is a pretty nice city (NOT a province) and in a fabulous area, gorgeous scenery, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Lijiang are 2 places nearby well worth visiting. The city itself is very modern, as most cities in China are... by this I mean it has congestion, pollution (much less than many other cities though!), supermarkets, fast food joints, KTVs, internet cafes etc.

Of course there will be a laundry. You should ask your employer about that!

Transport is not a problem. Trains, buses, planes will get you to and from any long-distance destination. Taxis, mopeds/scooters, buses, bicycles etc will do for around the city.

Can't advise cost of living in Kunming, as I haven't lived there, but China is relatively cheap compared with the "west". You can live a very frugal life in China, and save a lot, even on a modest salary... or you can eat out every day, buy loads of stuff, travel loads and save nothing. Most salaries for foreigners in China are WAY more than what the locals are paid... but you might have to adjust your expectations.

Enjoy your time in China, Kunming is a great city to be based,

LC

Jun 7, 2008 16:35

KIWIS
Points:
Join Date: Aug 4, 2007
Status: Offline

Dear Shantelle,

We are moving to Kunming in August as well and have been visiting Kunming last year December. So I can't tell you yet what the cost of living are, but living in Kunming will be definitely interesting. I know of quite a few young single people living in Kunming therefore it will be easy to find friends and start a new life.

Where is your appartement located? And what knd of job are you going to do?

Regards
Elise

Jun 7, 2008 16:54	#4
KIWIS Points: Join Date: Aug 4, 2007 Status: Offline	Hi Shantelle Are you italian? This means that I can keep on practicing my Italian when we live in Kunming. We lived in Italy for a couple years and though I phone my Italian friend every two weeks some extra practice will help. Elise

Jun 8, 2008 16:54

CHINAGHOST
Points:
Join Date: May 19, 2008
Status: Offline

Greetings and thank you to all those individuals especially Lemoncactus who helped with the questions I had about Kunming and Guest 41951 I don't think your in a position to make such melodramatic comments without knowing who the person your communicating information to is.

On that note I have taken all the useful comments into consideration&will most definitely do my research before leaving but my intention for using the forum was to get insight from natives/ex-pats etc rather than relying solely on the internet as it isn't exactly true to form. Nethertheless the forum is a great way of signposting as well as networking with others and I will without a doubt be in touch again.

C.Ghost

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