The destination for our InternChina Zhuhai trip last week was called Wailingding Dao – one of Zhuhai’s 146 islands.We left on Saturday around noon. The stormy weather did not stop us from pursuing our plans.
When we arrived, we dropped off our stuff at the hotel, got a bite to eat and started to explore the island. Without having a specific route in mind, we first explored the coastline of the island. The view was beautiful, in spite of the rain. Some pretty hard-core Chinese tourists even went into the sea for a swim!
Approx. 500 steps later, our route led us a little more inland. The walking track was a simple alley of trees and bushes. We hiked along it for almost an hour until we unsuspectingly identified horrendous creatures in the bushes (well at least according to some of the girls ;P). Others found them rather interesting: massive spiders. From that point on, we saw them everywhere. Next to us, above us… everywhere!
So after making the acquaintance of these charming insects we spotted remains from the island’s old military base as well as an abandoned quarry. There, our mission was to take the best IC-Flag picture ever! I guess we were pretty close, don’t you think?
One-hundred group pictures and selfies later, we thought it might be a good idea to head back to civilisation before sunset, and so we did. We walked all the way back through the spider jungle and all the while it was getting darker and darker. It was an unreal experience; very cool but at the same time a tiny bit scary as the creepy crawlies could have just fallen on our heads.
When we got back to the small area around the port, we watched the day fade away by sitting on the beach, and listening to the sound of the waves crashing in the sea.
Ni Hao,
Zhuhai has been voted the most livable and romantic city in China. Therefore, I would advise anyone who has never been to China, to make Zhuhai a must see destination! InternChina is always planning different activities and trips for all of the current interns. Let me give you a little bit of an insight of the trips I have been planning over this summer.
- Waterfall trip
The Waterfall Trip was organized by a friend of mine. I helped him organize it by bringing many interns on the trip. The waterfall was about an hour from Zhuhai. Once we arrived there, we had to hike for another hour to get to the waterfall. The water was splendid, the waterfall was beautiful. We were surrounded by nature with no one else but our big group. I would definitely recommend anyone coming to Zhuhai, to go to this waterfall.
- Taekwondo class
We had the incredible chance to participate in a Taekwondo class with the help of Henry, our customer relations staff. Many interns had never tried this sport discipline. I, myself was pretty impressed on how difficult the moves can be. Some interns were so interesting in it that they signed up to go to the classes twice a week. Come to Zhuhai, you’ll get to train with black belts and learn how to do some wonderful kicks!
- Movie night
Many of the interns had wanted to see a movie. Of course when Jurassic World came out, we jumped on the occasion to go watch it. We booked the tickets online and got our 3D glasses. The movie was spectacular, we only payed 49 RMB + 10 RMB glasses and it was totally worth it. The movie theatres in China are spectacular (well almost spectacular)! The seats can fall backwards laying almost all the way down. The downside of Chinese movie theatres is the people talking on their phones but if you pick the right seats, you should not hear them too much!
- Zhuhai International Circuit
All of the interns had the chance to go to the Pan Delta Super Race Festival. The festival took place at the Zhuhai International Circuit and was held from the 19th of June to the 21st of June. Zhuhai often hosts race festivals which is always interesting for the interns to see. If the interns want, there is also a go kart track available next to the circuit.
- Island trip
With the help of an agency, we were able to spend a lovely weekend on Dong’ao Island. The island was splendid, surrounded by nature and clear, clean water. We all spent a wonderful Saturday afternoon at the beach before sleeping in tents by the ocean. Zhuhai has hundreds of different islands to be discovered. Come to Zhuhai to explore these fantastic treasured islands!
- Chinese Corner
Many of the interns in Zhuhai do not speak Chinese. In fact most of the interns come to China with no Chinese language skills. Chinese Corner is a FREE class that is taught by kind Chinese ladies. The class can be joined by any foreigners and is always welcoming newbies. Recently we went on a field trip to the supermarket to apply what we had learned the week before about fruits and vegetables.
Thought these activities were fun? InternChina offers more than an internship! Hop on a plane and get to China, we are looking forward to meeting you!
Zhuhai – Romantic, Green, Clean
What most foreigners and local Chinese may have already known for a long time has finally become a reality. Zhuhai has officially been voted the most livable Chinese city. According to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Zhuhai bested Hong Kong in the overall ranking. The ranking consisted of criteria like environmental factors, housing prices and economic competitiveness. Just watch some of these photos taken by our interns.
It is not only the relaxed vibes you experience in Zhuhai, but also the overall slower pace of life compared to hustling and bustling cities like Guangzhou or Shanghai. The city is unbelievably green and thousands of palm trees cast their shadow over “Lover’s Road”, the beautiful coastline within the city.
Zhuhai’s coastline itself is amazing enough, while being a small city even for European standards, there are astonishingly 690 kilometers of coastline belonging to the city. While there is usually a lot of bad news about air quality in China with hazy pictures of smog in the news, Zhuhai is ranked 10th in terms of air quality in China overall. Blue skies and beautiful clouds generate aholiday feeling all year round.
If that was not enough, there are no less than 146 beautiful islands belonging to the city. Imagine that you can make a trip to a tropical paradise island every weekend if you wanted to. Most of these islands are protected by the government to keep them beautiful and green in the age of ever-growing tourism. Zhuhai itself already gives you the feeling of living in one of these tropical paradises.
Zhuhai has its own flair, established as a city only in 1979, it was one of the first Special Economic Zones after the opening of China. In this regard, Zhuhai is an incredibly young and modern city that attracts a lot of young skilled workers from all over the country.
The proximity to Hong Kong and Macao also make the city one of the major tourist destinations in the region. People working in Hong Kong or Macao and other travelers take advantage of the convenient transportation systems and the chance to spend some free time relaxing in this lovable hidden gem.
With an annual average temperature of 22°c, you can imagine that most Zhuhai residents have never experienced snow in their life and most months of the year have a very comfortable and relaxed climate. Have a look at this little video we made for you.
We have talked about Qingdao(青岛) many times before, so some of you may wonder what does it mean in Chinese. Literally, Qīng (青) means “green” or “lush”, while dǎo (岛) means “island”. Lying across the Shandong Peninsula and facing the Yellow Sea, though Qingdao itself is not an island, it is a beautiful city with offshore islands and a coastline of length around 800 km (500 miles). Taking a walk along the seaside is definitely one of the best choices to spend one or more days in Qingdao. Then what are the places that you may go?
Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center（青岛奥帆中心）
The Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center, also called the Qingdao International Sailing Center, is a sailing marina located on the former site of the Beihai Shipyard by Qingdao’s Fushan Bay (浮山湾). It was constructed for the 2008 Summer Olympics and has hosted multiple Olympic and Paralympic Sailing competitions. Besides enjoying the sunshine during the day, watching the laser light show at night would also be pleasant.
Admission Fee: Free
Opening Hours: Whole day
May 4th Square (五四广场)
As a symbol of Qingdao, the May 4th Square is located between the municipal government building and Fushan Bay and it covers an area of 10 hectares (24.7 acres). Named after the nationwide protest May Fourth Movement that started in Qingdao, the square is best recognized by the spiral sculpture entitled “Wind of May”. During the day, it is filled with visitors on the ground and kites in the air. What’s more, with the moist air and soft sea breeze, it is a wonderful place to go for a walk after dinner.
Admission Fee: Free
Opening Hours: Whole day
Zhanqiao Pier (栈桥)
In addition to the May 4th Square, Zhanqiao Pier is another historic symbol of Qingdao and it can be regarded as old as Qingdao City. Currently, Zhanqiao Pier is the first stop for many travellers coming by train as it is just about 0.48 km (0.3 miles) from Qingdao Railway Station. At the south end of the bridge is a Chinese style octagon pavilion, called Huilan Pavilion, standing in contrast to European buildings in the background.
Admission Fee: Free for Zhanqiao Pier; CNY 4 for Huilan Pavilion
Opening Hours: Whole day for Zhanqiao Pier; 7:00 to 19:00 (peak season), and 8:00 to 17:30 (low season) for Huilan Pavilion
No. 1 Bathing Beach (第一海水浴场)
Reputed for its crystal water, gentle slope, mild waves and soft sand, the No.1 Bathing Beach is situated on Huiquan Bay (汇泉湾). The beach was first built in 1901 by the Germans. At present, the beach covers an area of 3.6 hectares (8.9 acres) and is well equipped with showers, entertainment such as bars and cafes as well as a security monitoring system covering the whole beach to ensure the safety of visitors. During summer, there are many people coming here to swim or simply enjoy the sunshine. For those who are interested, July, August and September is the best time to visit.
Admission Fee: Free
Opening Hours: Whole day
Want to enjoy the beautiful views mentioned above and get some work experience in Qingdao at the same time? Apply now to come and join us! Internship places are also available in Chengdu and Zhuhai.
Sources:
https://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/china-travel/china-top-10/top-10-qingdao-attractions-top-10-things-to-do-in-qingdao/
Nice to meet you everyone!
I’m Arthur and I’ve starting working as a new staff member at the InternChina Office in Zhuhai. I am a local and I will graduate from Guangdong Ocean University in July 2014, I will be graduating in administration management.
My first week at the InternChina office in Zhuhai was full of rain which seemed to make the week run slow, but starting last week I have been having a really great time.
My favourite sport is hiking and mountaineering, if you have interest in it too, maybe we can take a trip together during the holidays to Banzhang Mountain. On one hand, I like reading novels and on the other hand, I enjoy running around a track for at least 3 laps. Peaceful and energetic, are two words that best describe my personality.
While it is my first time working with a diverse and international office, its still not easy to understand everyone’s accents, but with the help of others in the office, I believe that I will improve if I stay long enough in IC. I feel good about my colleagues, everyone in IC is nice and friendly, everyone can come up with his or her own idea and ask questions about each area, incorporating different mindsets and philosophies.
I really love the seafood in Zhuhai, and its cheapest if you buy it straight from fishermen or fishmongers. You can have a lot of fun the process. Not only is it a bargain but you can eat fresh oysters, abyssal fish, prawns and crabs as often as you like! You can enjoy yourself and spoil yourself in Zhuhai’s romantic seaside setting.
Arthur.
Come and join me in Zhuhai! Apply now for an internship.
China has a lot of beautiful places which are worth a visit but sometimes you may be looking for something new and adventurous. With a multiple entry visa you are able to discover all the amazing countries around China like Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and lots more. All these countries are just a 3-5 hour flight away, which include beautiful islands with amazing beaches to relax. If its winter in China you just get on the next plane to Bangkok, like I did.
temple in bangkokOne of my amazing experiences in China was sitting with a couple of friends having a BBQ in December even though it was super cold. We were having some beers and were enjoying our holidays, but we wanted to escape the winter and wanted something new. From nowhere, we had this idea to book a flight to Bangkok. So we started searching for flights, one of the websites I recommend is www.skyscanner.com, it is easy to find a cheap flight to another country around China, and of course we did find one for the very NEXT day. We booked the flights and everyone went home to pack for the next day’s flight to Bangkok. We didn’t worry about booking a hostel as we knew we will find something cheap and nice when we arrive. We spent 4 days sightseeing and crazy partying in Bangkok. It was the first time that I went for such a spontaneous trip but it was amazing and when you are in China EVERYTHING is possible!
My friends and I, enjoying the food on the famous bar street on Khao San Road in Bangkok
eating fried bugsFor example, when I decided to stay after my studies in China for an internship, the government changed their regulations and it was not possible anymore for me to apply for a new visa in Hong Kong, which would be for me the easiest way because I was living in Guangzhou. I was told that the only option I have is to go back to Germany to apply for a new visa, but I didn’t want to spend my money for an expensive flight back to Germany as I will be going anyway 6 months later. I found another solution which was way cheaper. I decided to go to Malaysia as it is pretty close to China and the flight tickets were really cheap.
Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur by nightSo I went to Kuala Lumpur to apply for my visa in the Chinese consulate and I had to wait 4 days, I decided to stay these 4 days on an island near Kuala Lumpur, which I could reach by bus and ferry. It was my first time in Malaysia, so I was really happy that I could get to know a new country, save money and solve my visa problems at the same time.
Island Pangkor in Malaysia
Sunset in MalaysiaIf you are working in China and you have like 2 weeks holidays you can do really nice and cheap (compared to Europe) trips. Especially when you are in the south of China everything is pretty close. You can take a 3 hours flight to Thailand and in Thailand you can get around really cheap with buses and trains. You are able to take buses and ferries to the beautiful islands in Thailand and then go by bus to Malaysia, as these countries are really small compared to China, and visit the capital Kuala Lumpur for sightseeing and Malaysia´s islands to relax. When you are in Malaysia you can take a bus to Singapore (but I recommend to stay in Singapore like 3 days, as this country is really expensive compared to Thailand and Malaysia.)
As you can see you have many options to come around when you are in China with the right visa. It is very cheap to travel and create amazing memories.
If you want to have an adventure like this, then apply now for an internship and discover new worlds during your holidays 🙂
Previously Stephan gave you good reasons to go to Qingdao, Today, I will focus on the seaside to give you more details about Qingdao´s beauty.
I arrived in September and in this time of the year Qingdao presents itself from its best side. The temperature is surprisingly mild and the sun is shining most of the time.
While most of Germany is already stuck in the middle of an uncomfortable autumn it feels like in Qingdao summer just don’t want to go.
And the best thing Qingdao has to offer in a time like this is definitely its sea.
If you have an hour or two take your time to discover the coastal area of Qingdao.
One small but nice little beach is only a short walk away from Marina City to feel a little more home.
Afterwards turn left and start your walk. Along the Sailing Centre, the Darling’s Pier and enjoy escaping the busy streets. While walking along the promenade have a look on the sea and enjoy the white flags of an uncountable number of small sailing boats or watch the fishers emptying their fishing net. Finish your walk by refreshing your toes in the water or go in there for a little swim.
It won’t take much time but these are definitely things you need to see whilst in Qingdao. So try it and discover Qingdao’s nice costal area yourself.
Qingdao is a beautiful city. We offer great internships as well, so apply now.
10 Reasons to Come to China II
Last time we started presenting you our top 10 reasons for coming to China. Today we would like to enlarge our list by four more reasons. Here they are!
#4 Have fun at the Beach!
A beach may not be the first image that comes to your mind when you think about China. You will be surprised though about the warm and sunny weather you find in many coastal areas. Below you can see a picture of a beach in Zhuhai, Guangdong. If you are not lucky to be close to the sea check out Chengdu’s indoor beach at Global Center for some water fun!
#5 Ancient Architecture
The Great Wall is the most famous achievement of ancient Chinese architecture. The construction process started in the 7th century. During the following centuries the wall was amplified, rebuilt and restored. Most parts you can visit today have been built during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). If you are interested in visiting the Great Wall it is most convenient to start your trip in Beijing. Hostels usually organize tours where you can walk on a section of the Great Wall for a couple of hours.
#6 Chinas’s Economic Boom
For years China has been the fastest-growing major economy growing by an average of almost 10%. Recently the growth rate decreased but China still is on an economic upswing. Thanks to its high export rates China has become a global economic superpower no one can ignore anymore. With the constant economic progress many cities keep growing rapidly. New factories and large office buildings are being built everywhere.
#7 Beautiful Language
China’s positive economic performance is prompting more and more people to learn Chinese. It definitely takes some time before you can write Chinese signs by memory but it is worth investing the time. You will soon find out how to combine signs and create new words with a different meaning. The spoken language though is much easier to learn because grammar is quite easy. Chinese people really love foreigner talking Chinese, even it is just 你好(ni hao = hello) or 谢谢 (xiexie = thank you).
Learning Chinese will be a great experience. Look for an internship and apply now!
You may already be convinced on the idea of coming to Qingdao. Or you may be thinking about it – you want to do a big trip and make new experiences but you’re not sure if China and especially Qingdao is your thing. Below are some valuable reasons I think you should come to my current place to be, Qingdao.
The Food
Chinese food is delicious, cheap and spicy. You should better learn to eat with sticks too. If you are prepared for that you will have some great culinary experiences. In Qingdao you should especially not miss the seafood. On my first night I had a big Chinese BBQ. You can find it on nearly every corner of the city. Just be open-minded and enjoy.
The Landscape
In Qingdao you can really enjoy the nature. On the one side you have the sea and the beaches. It is great to walk along the beach and watch the sea or spend a chill out day with friends. On the other hand you have a lot of nice mountains to climb. The most famous is Laoshan. It is a great experience to go up and you can truly enjoy the view.
The Sights
Qingdao can also offer you some nice sights and cultural experiences. Come and check out some more interesting spots in Qingdao. For example Zhanshan temple: it is a Buddhist temple located on ZhiQuan Road. Especially during summer it is great to just go there to picnic and enjoy the day. Another good place to go is the Zhongshan Park. This is the main city park. Inside there is an amusement park, nature garden, carnival and petting Zoo and a Botanical Garden. Besides that Qingdao offers many other great places. Go out and explore!
The Lifestyle
Another big reason for coming to Qingdao is the lifestyle. You have a big city where you can always find a place to go out. You have great restaurants and the previously mentioned barbecue. For fans of the nightlife you have bars like LPG and Charlie’s as well as nightclubs like Muse and Ye Zhao. You will get to know a mixture of Western and Chinese people there. At the same time you have the opportunities to chill out on the beach or in the park. So whatever mood you are in, in Qingdao you can always find a place that makes you happy.
Would you like to join Stephan in Qingdao? Then apply now for an internship.
This weekend the Zhuhai InternChina office arranged a trip to Hebao island! It was an incredible island with sandy beaches and great water to swim in. We’d been concerned leading up to the trip because it had been heavily raining in Zhuhai all week. Luckily, when we got to the island we had good weather and were able to swim and even catch a tan!
After a long walk carrying all our camping equipment to the beach, we couldn’t wait to get in the water! As soon as we’d dumped our stuff on the beach we ran into the sea and stayed there for hours. The strong waves made it a lot of fun, (I was completely taken out by waves on numerous occasions!!)
When we’d finished playing in the sea and sunning ourselves on the beach it was time to set up the BBQ. The food was amazing! We sat around the BBQ eating and having a few beers which was so relaxing. It was also a great chance to get to know some of the new interns and hang out as a group.
When we woke up in the morning we were exhausted! A whole day of swimming and partying had taken its toll! However, what better way to freshen up than a morning swim in the sea?
We swam in the sea all morning before it was time to head home. It was definitely a good trip and I was glad that I’d been able to visit one of the hundreds of islands that surround Zhuhai! The only downside is that I’m now in agony from sunburn… but that is totally worth it for the amazing weekend we had!
Would you like to join Jack in Zhuhai? Apply now for the following internships!
