Discover Urumqi:
teaching English in Urumqi

Why Urumqi

Highlights and interesting facts

Urumqi sits in a geographic basin surrounded by snow-capped peaks, with public areas like Hongshan, or Red Mountain, offering views of the city skyline and mountains. The Grand Bazaar is the focus of local commercial and cultural life, featuring Islamic architecture and filled with stalls selling nuts, dried fruits, carpets, and local crafts. The city is also famous for its proximity to Heavenly Lake, a high-altitude alpine lake in the Tian Shan range that is a popular weekend getaway for residents.

The local culture is a blend of various ethnic groups, particularly Uyghur, Han, Kazakh, and Hui, which is reflected in the gastronomy and music. Local food is cheap and popular, with dishes like hand-pulled noodles, mutton skewers, and fresh flatbread being daily staples in street markets and local diners. The Xinjiang Regional Museum is another major cultural site, famous for its archaeological collection and ancient mummies that document the region's Silk Road history.

The teaching scene

One of the region's fastest-growing markets

The teaching market runs on public middle schools, private language centres, and universities, with some opportunities in bilingual schools. For early-career teachers, finding a position in a private training centre or a public middle school is the most common path. To legally teach here, you must obtain a work permit from the regional government, which requires you to follow the guidelines in the Z-visa guide to get all documents authenticated. Public schools offer stable schedules, national holidays, and a supportive environment for new teachers.

For those who want higher compensation, the international and bilingual schools in the city are a primary target. These positions usually require formal home-country qualifications, so you should check the degree requirements before you apply. When you finalize a contract, you will need to prepare your personal files, and the apostille guide explains how to get your credentials verified. Universities in the city, such as Xinjiang University and Xinjiang Normal University, also recruit foreign lecturers, offering relaxed schedules and long vacations, although the base pay is lower than in the private sector.

Cost of living

A tier 2 city at a fraction of the rent

Living costs are low, especially when compared to coastal first-tier cities or nearby provincial capitals. Housing is highly affordable, and a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre costs a fraction of the rent in a megacity. Many teachers choose to live in the central Tianshan District for its access to markets and shopping, while others prefer the newer Saybagh District for its modern apartment complexes. Utilities, internet, and mobile phone services are cheap, so they represent only a minor part of a teacher's monthly budget.

Daily expenses like food and local transportation are also low. You can eat a filling meal of local lagman noodles or fresh flatbread at a neighbourhood restaurant for a low price, which makes it easy to eat out regularly. Western cafes, restaurants, and imported goods are concentrated in the shopping centres around the Zhongshan Road and the high-tech zones. While these cost more than local options, they remain inexpensive. Because rent and food require so little of your income, a standard teaching salary allows you to save money while maintaining a comfortable lifestyle.

Climate through the year

July summers and seasonal weather

The local climate is semi-arid continental, with four distinct seasons that reflect the inland geography of northwest China. Summers are warm and dry, and temperatures peak in July, when the surrounding mountains provide a scenic backdrop to warm days. Winters are long, cold, and dry, and temperatures in January drop significantly below freezing, and the city experiences regular snowfall that covers the valleys. Because central heating is standard in the city, apartments are warm and comfortable during the winter months.

Spring and autumn are the most pleasant times of the year, offering mild temperatures and clear skies. The transition periods are short but beautiful, with mountain snow melting in the spring and cool breezes in the autumn. The region experiences dry weather with wind in late spring, which can occasionally bring dust from the surrounding plains. Arriving in late August or early September is ideal, as it allows you to settle into your new home during the comfortable autumn months.

Getting around

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

Navigating the city is simple because of a modern subway system and an extensive Bus Rapid Transit network that connects the major districts. The BRT lines run along dedicated lanes down the main avenues, which links the residential areas to the old town and the railway stations. Fares are cheap and based on distance, and you can pay easily with mobile applications on your phone. For short journeys, public shared bicycles are parked on almost every corner, which provides a convenient way to travel.

Buses cover the areas not reached by the subway, offering cheap routes across the city. Taxis and ride-hailing services are plentiful and inexpensive, especially for late-night travel when public transport is closed. The city is a major railway hub, and high-speed trains connect you to Lanzhou in about eleven hours and to Beijing. Urumqi Diwopu International Airport, located northwest of the city, offers flights to major domestic cities and central Asian destinations, which makes it easy to plan trips during holidays.