Teaching and Living in Xi'an
Xi'an is one of the most famous cities in China. Ever heard of the Terracotta Soldiers? A larger than life size army of soldier statues the were found buried just outside Xi'an. The scope of the army of soldiers is absolutely massive and the awe of it is something to behold. Xi'an is more than just the Terracotta Soldiers though, there is the Great City Gate and numerous other pagodas. Xi'an is a great spot for teachers and for passersby.
The culture is amazing and the people are great. I found that that level of English was better here than in many places I have visited in China which is probably because so many tourists flock to Xi'an for the Terracota Soldiers.
Bars of note in the city centre are based along Dong Dajie, several nightclubs along here, the best of which is "1 to 1", while "The Old Gun Club" and "The Ferryman" feature live music every evening. A "Lap Dancing Bar" (ahem) exists along Heping Lu just around the corner from the Hyatt. We of course have conducted research into this and can advise this is a form of "Shaanxi" rather than Californian dancing, and is ethnic rather than erotic. But make sure you take the bills out of your trouser pockets before you go home - you don't want to get into unnecessary trouble with the spouse as the chits have "Lap Dancing Bar" written on them! The "Royal Opera" club, again just close to the Hyatt is also a busy joint and good fun, while Chaplin's in the Bell Tower Hotel gets a variety of expats checking in as well.
Food-wise, Xian has a sizable Muslim population (from the old Silk Road trading days) which offer some great restaurants and belly dancing style activities and music in the Muslim quarter itself - you can tell the Muslim restaurants as they're the ones with blue, rather than red, lanterns hanging outside. There is also a trendy Portugese and French restaurant in the Northern end of town - close to the Bell Tower Hotel.
If you don't end up teaching in Xi'an, make sure you take a trip there and spend at least 3 days. There is a LOT to see.
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