- David Thyne
At the first Shanghai Get-Together I met several American expats. I am very grateful that they shared their experience with me.
Living in Tangshan
Expats living in Tangshan are living in a modern Chinese city, nicknamed “the Phoenix City” after it was rebuilt following the 1976 earthquake. Despite China’s economic difficulties at the time, money was diverted to help the inhabitants rebuild and recover, ensuring that Tangshan continues to be a place of opportunities where people live and work, just as it has for the last 4,000 years. If you like scenery, there is the Jingzhong Mountain, one of two hills that overlook Tangshan. You should also check out the Eastern Qing Tombs. This is one of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites, a massive burial site for emperors, empresses and concubines with elaborate burial temples laid out in feng shui alignment. The site will take an entire day, so organization is key. Contact fellow InterNations members stationed in Tangshan and see if anyone is planning a trip. Not only will you see some amazing sites, it is a good way to meet up with other expats in Tangshan, too.
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Moving to Tangshan
Tangshan is a quiet place with a less frenetic pace of life when compared to many of the growing cities in China. The airport here only serves domestic flights, so expatriates moving to Tangshan will generally fly into Beijing and then travel the 92 miles by road, or get a connecting flight from Shanghai into Tangshan Airport. Housing is cheaper in Tangshan than in bigger cities, and apartments are readily available. However, the city is growing rapidly so it may be worth contacting other expats via InterNations' forums to see if anyone is aware of good places to rent or buy, and to check out the best areas. And if your company is relocating you, they should put you in touch with a local agent who will guide you through the process of finding an apartment or house.
Working in Tangshan
The city is well served for your commute with two train stations and an intercity bus service. Unlike in many large cities, the public buses do not run after 9:30pm, so if you have enjoyed an expatriate networking session downtown, or been socializing late with other expats living in Tangshan, you will need to take a taxi or Pedi cab home, but these are cheap and readily available. International companies are coming to Tangshan, bringing opportunities and higher salaries with them, but it is not as cosmopolitan a city as somewhere like Beijing, so Westerns found working in Tangshan are still something of a novelty. InterNations is a great place to find other expatriates who may be able to offer the benefits of their experiences in Tangshan or other Chinese cities, and it is always fun to meet up with other people who are part of the global workforce.