Coming to Hefei?

[samumar]

Hello everybody, this is my first post but maybe the first of a long series...
I've been offered a job in a new plant in the Italian Industrial Park area (Hefei). Is it far from the city center?
I'm feeling pretty anxious and doubtful since i don't know anything about the city and all my shanghainese friends told me Hefei is not the best place to live in, not a lively place, polluted, noisy and extremely humid.
My only experience in China were 6 months in Shanghai so i don't have a clue bout smaller cities like Hefei.
I guess living in Hefei will be far different from living in Shanghai.
I have to take my decision by the second week of January 09, that's why every single feedback from you guys is vital.
I'm a 26-year old italian guy and i can speak basic mandarin.
Can you give me some more info about the climate, the expat community, hefei lifestyle, environment and pollution, transportation, cost of life and so on? The more, the merrier!
Thank you very much in advance for your precious help!

Sam

[samumar]

Please guys!

In the meantime... Merry Christmas!

[小心地滑- Caution Slippy Floor]

Hi Sam,

I'll try to answer some of your questions:

The Italian Industrial Park isn't near the city centre but as Hefei is much smaller than Shanghai, the journey to the centre only takes about 20 minutes by taxi (35 minutes by bus). To be honest about Hefei- it is noisy, polluted and extremely humid in summer but after all it is a Chinese city. I hear many Shanghainese have bad opinions of Hefei (and many other cities in China) but the place is only as good as you make it. Compared to Shanghai the 'Western' influence is small, the nightlife is limited and the city is not as developed. There is, however,a great expat community that is probably better than any in Shanghai because everyone knows each other and people are always happy to sit down with a beer and chat with another foreign face. Many foreigners who came here for short-term work end up staying here-  maybe this gives a good indication?

Hefei is developing quickly and this has led to being able to see construction sites everywhere and this creates a huge amount of noise and dust etc. BUT the food is cheap and varied and (depending on what you like) there are some good sports facilities. The area of the Italian Industrial park is a relatively newly built area, the environment is better there, not as crowded and most of the facilities are better quality, however as it's new you can expect more building to begin and the need to go to the city centre for some things.

That's all for now, I should get back to work....

[samumar]

Thank you very much for your feedback, very appreciated.
I'm glad to hear that there's a small and friendly expat community in Hefei.
Regarding the Italian Ind. Park i was told it was closed to the city centre so your info is very important. Since i'm not working for the company who offered me this job at the moment i don't have the possibility to come to Hefei for some days and get an idea about living there before moving.
This decision is pretty tough cause at the end of the contract i will be 30. Moving to Shanghai wouldn't have been so difficult.
Anyway thank you very much again, if you think there are some other info i should know before do not hesitate to post here!

Sam