Discover Shanghai:
teaching English in Shanghai

Why Shanghai

Highlights and interesting facts

Shanghai has grown from a historic fishing village into one of the largest cities in the world by population. It is a key global shipping hub, handling more container traffic than any other port. The city is famous for the Bund, a waterfront promenade lined with historical buildings that face the modern skyscrapers of the Lujiazui financial district. This view highlights the rapid pace of development that has defined the region.

Beyond the skyline, you can visit historical sites like the Jing'an Temple and the traditional Yuyuan Garden. The Former French Concession, with its tree-lined streets and historic lane houses, offers a quieter setting that contrasts with the fast-paced business districts. Shanghai is also a major culinary centre, featuring local specialties like pan-fried pork buns and soup dumplings, and a culture of eating out that runs late into the night. It is a city in constant motion, where historic alleys sit beside massive shopping complexes and the energy rarely lets up.

The teaching scene

One of the region's fastest-growing markets

Shanghai has the deepest and best-paid teaching market in mainland China, with the widest salary spread of any city. International schools, primarily located in districts like Minhang and Pudong, pay the highest rates in the country and typically require teachers to be certified in their home country. These schools expect candidates to meet all basic degree requirements and have at least two years of full-time teaching experience. Public schools and university programs offer more regular hours and longer holidays, making them popular with teachers who want a balanced schedule. The training-centre sector is also active, though it underwent significant changes after the implementation of new tutoring regulations. If you consider working for a private language school, make sure the operator is fully compliant and legally established.

Hiring in Shanghai peaks twice a year. The largest hiring cycle takes place before the start of the academic year, with most positions beginning in August. A secondary hiring wave occurs in January and February, right after the Spring Festival holiday. The process of securing a work permit is efficient but requires careful preparation. The local authorities strictly enforce national guidelines, meaning you will need to submit authenticated documents, including your degree and a clean criminal record check. You should consult a detailed apostille guide to ensure your papers are correctly processed in your home country before you travel. Once your documents are certified, the school will sponsor your work permit. Teachers must follow the steps in the Z-visa guide to obtain the correct entry visa, as teaching on tourist or business visas is illegal.

Cost of living

A tier 1 city at a fraction of the rent

While Shanghai is one of the most expensive cities in mainland China, the cost of living remains manageable for English teachers. Your largest monthly expense will be housing, and the price varies greatly by neighborhood. Living in central districts like Jing'an or Xuhui, particularly in the historic areas, comes with a premium. A small apartment in these central neighborhoods can consume a significant portion of a teacher's monthly income. To save money, many teachers choose to live in outer areas such as Minhang in the southwest. A spacious apartment in these suburban districts costs a fraction of central rents, and the extensive subway system keeps the commute to the city centre under an hour.

Other daily costs in Shanghai are highly reasonable. Eating at local restaurants, purchasing fresh produce at neighbourhood markets, and using public transit are very inexpensive. A typical local meal is highly affordable, whereas dining at Western restaurants or buying imported food at specialty supermarkets will quickly add up. A monthly subway pass is cheap, allowing you to travel across the city without worrying about transport costs. Because local goods and services are so cheap, teachers who live slightly outside the centre and eat local food can save a significant portion of their salary each month.

Climate through the year

August summers and seasonal weather

Shanghai has a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are long, hot, and highly humid. August is the hottest month, with average temperatures reaching around twenty-eight degrees Celsius. The humidity can make the heat feel much more intense, and heavy summer downpours are common.

Winters are relatively short but can feel very cold. January is the coldest month, with average temperatures around five degrees Celsius. Although temperatures rarely drop below freezing, the high humidity creates a damp, penetrating cold. Since older buildings in Shanghai do not have central heating, this dampness easily seeps into apartments. It is important to confirm that any flat you rent has functioning air conditioning units with heating capability before signing a lease. Arriving in late August or September allows you to settle in during the pleasant autumn months before the damp winter begins.

Getting around

A cheap flat outside the centre no longer means a painful commute

Shanghai features an exceptional public transportation system. The city metro is the largest in the world, clean, and highly efficient. Getting around is simple, as the trains connect nearly all residential areas and schools. For short trips, shared bicycles are available on almost every street corner and can be unlocked easily using a smartphone app. Taxis and ride-hailing services are also plentiful and cheap. For travel outside the city, high-speed trains connect Shanghai to nearby Suzhou in less than half an hour, making weekend trips very convenient.