Chengdu or Qingdao

[garmongar]

Hi folks

 

I am a 22ys old university student and planning to take HSK3 on this March 20. I've sent mail to some universities in Chengdu ang Qingdao, which are recommended by my friends who lived and studied in Shanghai for a year and travelled almost all along the China. Host university of my university is Shanghai Univercity, which, I assume, means that I will definitely get a scholarship if I choose it. However I am not willing to study there for some reasons and Cheng du or Qingdao both seems good to me.

The universities I mailed to were Sichuan University, Sichuan Normal University, Qingdao University and Ocean University. Only Sichuan University replied by far(positively).

Any information about the location of universities, city life, rental prices, accents, past experience, local people etc.. will be appreciated.

 

Best regards and thanks in advance

garmongar

[abcdefg]

However I am not willing to study there for some reasons and Cheng du or Qingdao both seems good to me.

 

What do you dislike about Shanghai? If we know what you are trying to avoid there, maybe we can suggest whether Chengdu or Qingdao has less of that undesirable feature. (For example, is it size? Is it climate? And so on.)

[Frederik451]

if it's because you are afraid that everybody in Shanghai speak english and you will have absolutely no chance of practicing your chinese here, then don't worry! most people who say that are people who never actually went to shanghai. Of course i don't know if that's what you dislike about the city, but i have met so many foreigners in China who avoid Shanghai for that reason, so i thought that might be why

 

cheers

[garmongar]

Thanks for your replies and here are the reasons why I am disinclined to choose Shanghai Univesity;

Not because everyone speaks English, but because I will find out people with whom I can speak English(just as a survival instinct, which doesn't seem to be a problem at the beginning may be settled for a long time later on). At least tgis was what happened to my friends who have already been there. Another reason is that I prefer to live off-campus and Shanghai rental prices are pretty high compared to my city(Istanbul). Finally, I am not a big city person at all. I know Istanbul, Chengdu are big cities too but I can find rest here that is told impossible in Shanghai. This may not seem like good reason but very important for me. I have a condition, basicly like that constant exposure to noise, lights and active social life make me headaches and cause me lack energy and interests in daily life.

[Chris Two Times]

Chengdu is indeed a big city, but despite that, I generally found it to be very manageable, e.g., easier to get taxis more hassle-free than here in Beijing, taxi fare is cheaper, subways and buses get the job done nicely in moving around the city at a relatively quick pace, the city is pretty walkable, lots of great (not cheap though) shopping malls to generally get everything you want/need, food and day-to-day costs can be cheap compared to Beijing, locals are generally agreeable, food and restaurants are endlessly fantastic, lots of great parks here (well, that can be said for many Chinese cities, but Chengdu has that too!), city is relaxed but still hard-working and developing and constantly improving its infrastructure, Chengdu can be a nice jumping off point for travel throughout the grand Southwest empire...

 

...and AND AND!

 

What's not to love?

 

Chengdu! Chengdo! Try it and see.

 

Warm regards,

Chris Two Times

[Chris Two Times]

Coincidentally, with all of the above being said, after having spent five years at two very different times in Chengdu (2000 to 2003 & 2012 to 2014), I am looking to try a new place in China; Qingdao has come up on my radar. I am going to visit QD in January to see if it's to my liking.

 

Warm regards,

Chris Two Times

[Chris Two Times]

I find this website to be an excellent read for getting a better sense of living in Chengdu:

 

http://www.chengduliving.com

 

Warm regards,

Chris Two Times

[Mindmaxd]

I just went to Qingdao last month,I think that city is good,if you like sea and seafood qingdao is a good place to go,the people is kind there,if you like spicy food go to chongqing

[889]

I'd say your instincts about avoiding Shanghai are well-based. Too many foreigners. Too many Shanghai people speaking English. Too much Shanghai accent when they do condescend to speak Putonghua with you.

 

Between Chengdu and Qingdao, it's a hard choice: they're among the better places to base yourself in China. I'd probably go for Qingdao -- it's a smaller place, easier to get a handle on, and has somewhat more character left than Chengdu. But yes, the food of Sichuan is a mighty attraction. Of course if it's seafood you like, then Qingdao is great.

 

Also, Chengdu is often afflicted with a cloudy mugginess, though hardly so badly as Chongqing. The climate in Qingdao is generally refreshing.

[abcdefg]

I have a condition, basicly like that constant exposure to noise, lights and active social life make me headaches and cause me lack energy and interests in daily life.

 

OP -- How much sunshine do you require to maintain your psychological equilibrium? @889 raised a good point in the post just above.

 

Also, Chengdu is often afflicted with a cloudy mugginess, though hardly so badly as Chongqing. The climate in Qingdao is generally refreshing.

[Chris Two Times]

^^^ For that point above, most (all?) Chinese cities are quite hectic and noisy. Subways and buses are crowded, for instance. Will your condition be exacerbated in China?

 

Warm regards,

Chris Two Times

[garmongar]

Thanks to you all guys, replies are quite helpful and encouraing. As to the sunshine issue, I really haven't thought before. I have a quite pale skin if this is the question.

I think I'll get over daily hurly-burly, if I can have a place to get enough rest.

[abcdefg]

As to the sunshine issue, I really haven't thought before. I have a quite pale skin if this is the question.

 

That's not really what I had in mind. People who get easily depressed (especially SAD -- Seasonal Affective Disorder) often do better living somewhere that has a mostly clear, sunny climate. This may or may not be relevant for you. (I am not trying to offer medical advice.)

[gato]

You might also consider Xiamen, which is a pretty seaside city, has a slower pace of life, and has more sunshine than Qingdao or Chengdu.