Thinking of moving to China for 3 or 4 years to learn Mandarin,,,

[zozzen]

What about going to Kunming, Yunnan?

There's a big enough expat community and cost of living is affordable.

Rental payment for an apartment is around RMB500-1500 on average, and you can share it with other classmates.

Food is cheap as long as you don't go to cafe and bar every day and night. I mean, three days a week is good enough. Dining in an average decent restaurant is around RMB25-30 per head, but a bottle of beer in a bar can cost you RMB8- 30.

[Loriquero]

- Hang out as much as possible with your Chinese friends rather than Western friends

I don´t know you guys, but for my chinese friends hangout plan is the typical KTV, 火锅， girls don´t pay and stuff that is not cheap here in Shanghai. With my western friends (students) I use to club almost for free, go back in the same cab, buy cheap beers in the store and drink in someone´s house and so on. My 手头 is not so good after I go out with my chinese friends...

Sorry for the offtopic

[aristotle1990]

I don´t know you guys, but for my chinese friends hangout plan is the typical KTV, 火锅， girls don´t pay and stuff that is not cheap here in Shanghai.

I went to a KTV in Beijing just last night, actually; for 7 people, it was 88 kuai for singing 'till midnight and a buffet afterwards, certainly not a bad price. It was a little seedy, but not bad at all.

[Loriquero]

Here is about 500, near 人民广场...