The world's largest ESL market — and one of the most rewarding
China offers more ESL positions than any other country on earth. From rural public schools to elite Shanghai bilingual academies, the variety is staggering. Salaries have risen sharply over the past decade. Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities offer the best quality of life at the lowest cost.
The Z visa is the work visa for foreign teachers in China. You'll need an invitation letter from your school, a degree certificate authenticated by your country's foreign affairs ministry, a criminal background check, a health check certificate, and passport photos. Processing takes 4–8 weeks. Never work on a business or tourist visa.
Public school positions pay ¥8,000–15,000/month. Private language centres pay ¥15,000–20,000. International schools pay ¥18,000–28,000+. Tier-1 cities (Beijing, Shanghai) cost more to live in. Chengdu and Chongqing offer the best salary-to-living-cost ratio in my experience.
Beijing and Shanghai offer the most jobs and highest salaries but also the highest cost of living. Chengdu is my personal favourite — excellent food, friendly locals, lower costs, and a thriving expat community. Shenzhen and Guangzhou are good for those who want proximity to Hong Kong. Smaller cities like Xi'an and Hangzhou offer remarkable quality of life.
Degree certificate authenticated by your country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (not just notarised), criminal background check (authenticated), TEFL/CELTA certificate (authenticated for international schools), health check, passport photos. China's authentication requirements are stricter than most — your school's HR team should guide you through the process.
China requires patience — with bureaucracy, with technology restrictions (get a VPN sorted before you arrive), and with cultural adjustment. But the rewards are immense. Nine years there gave me some of my most formative professional experiences. The cities are increasingly modern and liveable, the food in Sichuan province is the best in the world (I will not apologise for that opinion), and the sheer scale and variety of the country is endlessly fascinating.