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Volunteer English teacher program in Zhongdian (Gyalthang)

In 2005 we moved our volunteer English teacher program from Sichuan to Shangrila.  The place is called Gyalthang in Tibetan, has the old Chinese name of Zhongdian, and is located in Diqing Tibetan autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province.  Many ethnic groups - Tibetans, Lisu, Naxi, Bai and Yi - call this area as their home, although Tibetans are probably the most fascinating to outsiders and most numerous in villages outside the town.   Three snow capped mountains, Karwakapo (Meili), Baima and Haba, and the three rivers Yangzi, Mekong and Jingsha (Golden Sand) are the nature highlights of this area!  Shangrila/Gyalthang/Zhongdian is relatively easy to reach: it has an airport with daily flights to other places in southwest China.

 

The town Zhongdian, 3200m, is principally Tibetan but because of its on-going construction it is becoming a Han Chinese town. Fortunately the old town remains interesting with a strong Tibetan architectural character that has been recreated through a massive building campaign during the last few years - although unfortunately many older Tibetan residents have rented their homes to outsiders or been driven out by the higher rents brought by the tourism boom.  Tourists flock to Old Gyalthang because of its quaint old-fashioned guest houses, cafes serving international cuisine,  boutique shops, and lively night life.  By day tourists visit the nearby monastery Songzangling, large and splendid and home to about 800 Tibetan Buddhist monks.

Living conditions are more comfortable in Zhongdian itself, which will (probably) be less than one day's travel away and therefore visitable on weekends.  There are restaurants offering Chinese, Tibetan, Indian and Western food, Internet bars and Discount International Phone-call Bars. Nice flats with bathroom (including western toilet), kitchen, washing machine e.g. can be found in town, too! Although Zhongdian has several schools, Kham Aid volunteers are unlikely to be posted there because vacancies are very infrequent. 

We try to choose schools which are not too far away from Zhongdian, so at least during the weekend you can spend your time in town, check your email and visit with other foreigners.

For the foreign volunteer, life in the village can be quite isolated, especially if you don't have good language skills.  If you have a friend who also wants to teach, we encourage you to request postings in the same village, so you can support each other.

Timing

Volunteers are most needed during the academic school year, roughly from September to January and February to June.  The academic year does differ from school to school, and headmasters have been known to make last-minute changes, so it's difficult to say exactly when school starts and ends, and when holidays will occur. Most schools do close during the Spring Festival (week or two on either side of Chinese New Year), during the May Day holiday (first week of May), and the National Day Holiday (first week of October). Most schools have classes five or six days a week.  Volunteers wishing to be absent from class at other times, such as Christmas, will need to request leave. We have very few requests for teachers during the summer holiday although sometimes special classes can be created at a school that would otherwise be closed. Volunteers willing to commit to longer stays will find themselves in far more demand than volunteers who want to teach for only a few weeks. 

Travel Expenses to Zhongdian

Check www.flychina.com for information on international airfares to China.  Domestic airfare between Beijing and Kunming, the capital of Yunnnan province, runs about 1600 yuan (US$200) one-way, or you can take the train for roughly 1/3 that amount.  Airfare from Kunming to Shangri-La airport in Zhongdian is about 750 yuan (US$92) one-way, or you can take the bus (10-12 hours) for about $19 each way. There also buses from Zhongdian to the nearby towns of Lijiang, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Dali, Diqing, Xiangcheng, Daocheng,

Living expenses in Zhongdian and at your school

There is a wide range of hotels and guesthouses in town, the cheapest start with 20Yuan (U$2.4) per bed. For a meal you pay like 5Yuan (U$0.60) for very simple noodles, about 12Yuan (U$1.5) for one Chinese dish with rice.  During your stay at school, school will provide free lodging and also free food at the school canteen, though it will be very basic. If you don’t like the food they offer, you may cook for yourself and do your vegetable and meat shopping at the nearest market.  Cooking for yourself, you might spend 1-4 US dollars per day, depending on the amount of meat and processed foods you prefer.

See today's weather here.  The climate of Zhongdian can be classified as “subtropical highland monsoon”. You can leave your summer clothes at home, but bring your warmest and waterproof clothes with you!  Fleece jackets and long underwear are very useful in Zhongdian.  A few stores in town sell outdoor clothing such as fleece jackets and Goretex shells appropriate for the climate.  In the summer months (especially July-August) it rains almost every day. If you are lucky, the sun comes out once a day! In winter you will experience cold both outside and, frequently, inside classrooms and dwellings. As Yunnan is a province of South China where it is supposed to warm, heaters are found only in luxury hotels; ordinary people just sit close to the stove to stay warm.