Living + Learning mandarin in Yantai?

[kaitmba]

I have read all of the posts on here boasting the amazing cities of SH, BJ, Kunming, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Fuzhou, Xiamen, etc. etc.. and I would also love to live in these lively cities on the coastline with an eclectic history and culture. HOWEVER, I have been offered a reasonable job in Yantai, which seems like a city very overlooked (whomp whomp). It does look like a dreary industrial city, from what I have researched, but my main priority is to learn mandarin. I don't care about the nightlife or westerner party scene as I have grown out of that phase in life.

 

Has anyone lived here or visited here that can offer guidance on living in Yantai and whether it is a good place to learn mandarin?

 

Any advice greatly appreciated as there is limited info on this city found online!

 

Xie xie. 

[dementior]

Hi,

I have spent a few days in Yantai on my way back to Dalian two years ago. I think it could be a reasonably nice place to improve your mandarin skills if you find the right connections.

I was there sightseeing because I was going back to Dalian by boat, so I cannot offer any info about schools or teachers, but the town itself was pretty ok. You will get bored soon (there is one short street where all the "nightlife" is packed) but again you are not going to there to have the time of your life. Walking by the sea is nice and there are local wine producers as well if you are into that. 威海 is one hour away from Yantai and I have heard really good things about it (met a few locals as well) praising both the landscape and the seafood. 

 

On top of that, if you get bored, and you will, you can always take the boat to Dalian for the weekend or the bus to Qingdao (5 hours away), forget about Jinan... its not fun

I know a friendly Gansu lady working in Yantai, if you are interested I could get you in touch with her.

[889]

I've also made a brief visit to Yantai and concur with the above: not a bad place, but small by Chinese standards. If you prefer living in a city in that region, then look to Dalian or Qingdao. Nonetheless, some people prefer the small cities: your decision.

 

No, you don't want to live in Jinan, though. Or even visit there, if you can avoid it.

[onebir]

One downside of the smallness &/ peninsular location: rail connections aren't too fast/frequent & quite expensive by Chinese standards.

eg:

https://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/display.aspx?tp=9&fs=Beijing&ts=yantai&depDate=05%2F08%2F2016

https://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/display.aspx?tp=9&fs=Shanghai&ts=yantai&depDate=05%2F08%2F2016

[abcdefg]

Like others here, I've been there as a tourist and liked it. Pretty coastal city with excellent seafood. Remember touring a winery.

 

A few years ago there was a forum member here who taught at one of the universities. Search the forum and you will find her posts. (Sorry, I don't remember the name. She's no longer active.)

 

@Onebir makes an excellent point about the rail connections not being too great. I flew in and flew out.