looking at moving to Hefei

[TY]

Hi Mike. I am considering a job assignment in Hefei therefore would like to know more about this city.
Could you please assist on the following questions, based on your personal experience in Hefei:-

1) How's the air quality? I enjoy outdoor activity and job quite a lot therefore it will be a big let down if hefei is similar to Hong Kong / Shenzhen.

2) Pre-school education - I'm planning to move with my wife and daughter (3 year +). I'm hoping that there are some good quality kindergarden where my daughter can attend classes like painting and dancing. Appreciate if you can provide some information about this.

3) Private hospital - Is there any private hospital or clinics where the expatriates visit? especially pediatricians.

Thanks,
TY

[Aussie Mike]

1) How's the air quality? I enjoy outdoor activity and job quite a lot therefore it will be a big let down if hefei is similar to Hong Kong / Shenzhen.
 
A few years ago we had a couple with servere allergies who decided the day they arrived to move on...

The air is so much cleaner now as they have stopped buring plastics, food and everything else in the streets.  Hefei has also been on a cleaner air mission so I have certainly seen (or not seen) huge improvements over the years.  Some days though like any city especially around harvest time and Chinese New Year, you can't see far.

Still, there are may vehicles spewing out black smoke.


2) Pre-school education - I'm planning to move with my wife and daughter (3 year +). I'm hoping that there are some good quality kindergarden where my daughter can attend classes like painting and dancing. Appreciate if you can provide some information about this.

As I mentioned in another post Living with Kids n Hefei there is a Montessorie Kindergaten.

3) Private hospital - Is there any private hospital or clinics where the expatriates visit? especially pediatricians.

I can put you in contact with families who have children here.

Thanks,
TY

[sailor_luca]

Hi
im Luca, italian, im Hefei since 3 months. If you care your family and living style, I strongly suggest you not to move Hefei. Is really a shit place, not even close to basic life style. Hope it may help. Luca

[TY]

Mike,
Thanks, I have found the kindergarden from internet. I will be visiting Hefei on Sunday and Monday to "see" actual conditions.
Just one more question - is it common to utilize water filter at home? Or did you simply boil water from the tap for drinking? I'm a little over cautious as my daughter is rather young.

Regards,
TY

[Aussie Mike]

6RMB for 19lt of bottled water delivered, the dispensers are also cheap. Hot and cold.

Call me
138 667 39353

[TY]

Mike,
Thanks a lot. I have just came back from a visit to Hefei. This city central looks good but the housing is rather old, and far away from my work place which is the Economic Development Zone. Still I have rather good impression with the city. I misssed out your latest post therefore didnt call you, but most likely I'll contact you when I move over with my family in mid Oct. The only problem is hospital, I've checked with local colleagues and understand that I need to goto Shanghai for private hospital, my medical insurance card also not applicable for the public hospitals in hefei.

Very much appreciate your advice, my family will try out staying in Hefei for at least 3 months and we shall see if my wife prefer to stay put or move over to Shanghai - there'll be a 2 hr fast train between Hefei Shanghai soon, I was told.

Thanks again,
TY

[Andy72]

2 hrs train?
cool..
i should move to Sh and keep working here ;-)

[Aussie Mike]

The really fast train started running on the 1st of July but ticket are almost twice that of the fast train.

[junjuncayacap]

The really fast train started running on the 1st of July but ticket are almost twice that of the fast train.

Ohh the CRH train is the fast train and there is another really FAST train other than the CRH?


juncay

[junjuncayacap]

Hi
im Luca, italian, im Hefei since 3 months. If you care your family and living style, I strongly suggest you not to move Hefei. Is really a shit place, not even close to basic life style. Hope it may help. Luca

Hey Sailor Luca,
I just noticed your post today.

Maybe you are living in a shit low budget place then. Maybe you don't have the money to eat in Hilton or Holday Inn or Howard Johnson. Maybe you don't have the money to shop at Parkson or CBD. Or maybe you don't have the money to pay the taxi. Don't blame the place, blame yourself.

But anyway, you are entitled to your own opinion. Peace with my post above.

juncay

[TY]

I guess Luca is staying in the Economical Development Zone which I am also planning to stay at (most foreigners work around the industrial areas, I guess). I was very negative until I was brought to go around the lake area where the new government buildings will be located as well as the CBD and shopping street.

There is a  pizza hut next to the Parkson, and some decent cafetaria along the shopping street (Huai He Roard) if you pay attention.

Now, I am looking for advice for good restaurant (chinese or western) within the economic zone. Holiday Inn is nearby but I would like to have more choices.
Please let me know.

[chowder]

RE: Living in Hefei depends on how define life (if you used to live a life of bed of roses in your country then Hefei is not for you- take note, it is a city that is still starting to be develop in many ways). I live here for almost 5 years now with my family, every now and then we meet expats with families, according to them they are starting to like hefei as they discover what's in the city, just need a lot of adjustments which is normal when you are new in the city. Base on my accessment the number of expats here is rapidly increasing which is a good news because their is a big possibility that in time there will be international school that will open .

[TY]

International school will be a booster!

[junjuncayacap]

Hi TY,
Within Economic Zone.
1. Phoenix Restaurant (Feng Huang Luo, not sure with the Pingyin)- corner of Danxia Road and ShixinRoad (if I am not mistaken), next to ICBC.
2. 3rd Floor of Gentlefolk Hotel - Corner of Jinzai Road and Fanhua Road.
3. Brazilian BBQ- 1st floor Sofitel hotel along Fanhua Road.
4. Chinese Restaurant -3rd Floor of Sofitel Hotel along Fanhua Road.
5. Jiujiu Long (not sure of the spelling) -beside Brugge Hotel, near Lutos Supermarket.
6. By the Saina River - opposite Lotus Supermarket.
7. Another one beside Sofitel hotel but smaller though.
8. Another one near Phoenix Restaurant, at the end of Danxia Road.

juncay

[junjuncayacap]

Well, if Luca did had a bed of roses life back in Italy, he should not be working here in China in the 1st place.

Hefei may not be like Shanghai or Beijing but it is not a shit place. It is comparable (or even better to some) to Suzhou, Wuxi, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Wujiang, Jiading etc.


juncay