Wenzhou

Wenzhou (温州 Wēnzhōu) is a city in Zhejiang Province.

Understand
Wenzhou is the third city of Zhejiang Province and one of the economic power houses of the region. Famed for its businessmen and women of the night (and the Wenzhou model of business), Wenzhou is frequently used by Western media as a barometer of the Chinese export economy; among other things, Wenzhou manufactures around 90% of the world's spectacles and massive quantities of shoes. Wenzhou is not on many China tour itineraries and despite being a Chinese cultural hotspot, it is not the most foreigner friendly of cities (compared with Hangzhou and Ningbo, for example). However, there are plenty of things to do and see should you find yourself with time on your hands in Wenzhou. The city has a resident foreigner community that is below average for the city's size (100-200), although foreign businessmen often pass through.

Wenzhou is near the East China Sea (called East Ocean in Chinese) in the south-eastern part of China. It is a prosperous city with a rapid economic boom because Wenzhou was one of the first port cities to be opened to foreign trade after Deng Xiaoping took over China in the 1970s. Wenzhou is the biggest and most prosperous city in the south of Zhejiang Province, and considers the importance of education highly. Hence, many famous mathematicians have come from this city.

Climate
Wenzhou is a city with frequent rains, and the average annual temperature is around 17 °C.

Talk
Although Mandarin is widely spoken, the local dialect is Wenzhounese (温州话 Wēnzhōuhuà) and is regarded by Chinese nationals as one of the most difficult dialects in the country, so much so that Wenzhounese speakers were used by the Chinese resistance in World War II to communicate under the noses of the Japanese.

By plane


You can get from the airport to the city center by taxi or bus. Taxis are the most expensive and you should bargain hard; if they do not like the price you are offering they laugh at you and start shouting Bus!. If a taxi driver offers you a ride under ¥100 it can be regarded as a good deal. Taking the bus is now much easier due to a ticket desk in the new terminal opposite the exit gate. The bus costs ¥12 and drives through New City (新城; Xīnchéng), Xialüpu (下吕浦 Xiàlǚpǔ) and finally stops at a depot on Nanpu Road (南浦路 Nánpǔlù).

By train
serves most cities throughout China, although because of Wenzhou's mountains, train journeys are sometimes much longer than their bus counterparts. The train station is at the major junction of Wenzhou Avenue (温州大道 Wēnzhōudàdào) where it meets Chezhan Avenue (车站大道 Chēzhàndàdào).

is served by the high-speed trains that come from Shanghai, bound for Fuzhou and Xiamen. Some of the stations along the way are Hangzhou, Ningbo and Taizhou. This station is also served by trains via Jinhua-Wenzhou High-speed Railway.

By bus
Wenzhou's bus stations serve a variety of locations around the country. Arrivals from Shanghai and Fuzhou will find themselves at New South Station (新南站; Xīnnánzhàn) which is near the train station on Wenzhou Avenue (温州大道 Wēnzhōudàdào), arrivals from Hangzhou and Ningbo will find themselves at New City Station (新城站; Xīnchéngzhàn) which is in New City, and arrivals from places as varied as Yiwu and Qingdao will find themselves at Shuangyu Bus Station (双屿汽车站 Shuāngyǔqìchēzhàn) which is on the west side of the city near the suburb of Huanglong.

By metro
Although there is only one metro line, the Wenzhou Metro (WZ-MTR) is its useful to travelers. Line S1 connects the two train stations, the city centre and the airport.

By bus
Buses cost ¥1.5-2.5 within the city and can be very useful once you figure what number goes where. Useful buses include the 81 that goes between the old train station and the new south train station (¥2). The price is listed on the outside of the bus and on the bus stop sign. The bus stop sign also lists the stops on one side and shows a map on the other. Strangely, you will not find this in Beijing or Shanghai.

By taxi
Taxis are ¥11 for the first 4 km and ¥1 for each 500 m thereafter (after 11:30PM prices rise to ¥12+2 (gas charge) for the first 4 km and ¥1 for each 500 m thereafter). If you are outside the centre of the city, or in the centre trying to get elsewhere, you will not be able to catch a taxi between 4:30PM and 6PM. This is because of the driver shift change. If you are taking a longer-distance ride or travelling during rush hour, expect to "share" your taxi ride with others going to same section of the city (and pay more about ¥15 plus ¥2 tax for longer rides).

Watch out for prices charged by taxi drivers "off the meter" and negotiate price if it is raining, or during rush hour, prior to your ride. Do not allow them to charge you over ¥12!

By ferry
Although one ferry serves the tourist island of Jiangxin, there are other ferries that serve destinations up and down the Ouhai River (瓯海 ōuhǎi) such as the suburb of Oubei (瓯北 ōuběi)

Work
Schools licensed to employ foreigners to teach English include D.D. Dragon, Dr Mike's, Kid's Castle and Web International English. Always inquire about a Z-Visa and check that the school has a license from the local government. There are many unlicensed schools, some of which provide a good teaching experience but your passport might not bear up to scrutiny. There are also several universities based in Wenzhou, mainly in the Chashan (茶山) area that hire foreigners to teach English, among other subjects. Kean University, a joint American-Chinese university is the best of them, although the requirements there are far stricter.

See also Teaching English and China.

Buy
There are no token "Wenzhou" things that you need to buy (though Wenzhou is apparently known locally for high-quality shoes), but there are many things made in Wenzhou, so if you look and bargain well, you can buy them at very cheap prices. This section is helpful if you are looking for something that would be easy to find in a western city, but you are unsure of where to find it in a Chinese one.

Toiletries

 * D&L (Beneath European City) The D&L Supermarket has a decent selection of foreign toiletries. Very pricey though.
 * D&L (Beneath European City) The D&L Supermarket has a decent selection of foreign toiletries. Very pricey though.
 * D&L (Beneath European City) The D&L Supermarket has a decent selection of foreign toiletries. Very pricey though.

Budget

 * Chashan University Town. To the south of Wenzhou, Chashan University town (山高教园区), it is home to many universities and cheap, tasty restaurants aimed at students.  Snack street (小吃街), located near Wenzhou Medical University, is a good area for especially cheap restaurants, although the hygiene of many places is quite questionable!  Many outdoor barbeques with cheap beer can also be found along the riverside.
 * Chashan University Town. To the south of Wenzhou, Chashan University town (山高教园区), it is home to many universities and cheap, tasty restaurants aimed at students.  Snack street (小吃街), located near Wenzhou Medical University, is a good area for especially cheap restaurants, although the hygiene of many places is quite questionable!  Many outdoor barbeques with cheap beer can also be found along the riverside.
 * Chashan University Town. To the south of Wenzhou, Chashan University town (山高教园区), it is home to many universities and cheap, tasty restaurants aimed at students.  Snack street (小吃街), located near Wenzhou Medical University, is a good area for especially cheap restaurants, although the hygiene of many places is quite questionable!  Many outdoor barbeques with cheap beer can also be found along the riverside.

Drink
Do not miss out on the locally brewed delight, Double Deer Beer, ¥2-2.5 on the streets. Also, do not forget to look under the cap for a free beer or ¥1 refund. Known as Shuan1 Lu4 in Chinese. It also has a more expensive, premium light counterpart.

Wenzhou four four main areas for nightlife.



Xialü Waterfront
Xialü Waterfront (下吕浦 Xiàlǚpǔ'') is the area where most foreigners live and some bars have sprung up around; bear in mind that it is not a waterfront in the traditional sense (there is no water, nor front).



Jiangbin Road (The River)
Jiangbin Road (The River) (江滨路; Jiāngbīnlù) plays host to some of the biggest clubs, bars and restaurants in town. The main strip is on Wangjiang Road (望江路), but taxi drivers regard the whole area as Jiangbin Road.





Shuomen Old Street
Shuomen Old Street (朔门街 Shuòménjiē) is a hip and happening part of town set back from Jiangbin Road, off Jiefang Road (解放路). New bars open every week as well as strange little shops and board game bars.



Renmin Road
Renmin Road (人民路 Rénmínlù) is the main road of Wenzhou and hosts a few massive clubs, though definitely not a place for a quiet (or cheap) drink.



Budget
There are no hostels in Wenzhou, but couch-surfing is a valid option with a large number of Wenzhou residents registered to welcome travelers. There are also some budget hotels around:



Stay safe
Wenzhou is not a dangerous city for foreigners, especially foreigners that are careful.


 * Taxis &mdash; it is not unknown for women to be harassed while in a taxi on their own. If you are catching a taxi on your own at night it may be best to sit in the back of the taxi, out of reach of grabby hands. Do not flash too much cash around late at night, as robbery has been known by taxi drivers who pick up accomplices. However, this is rare, and many taxi drivers are well intentioned and friendly.
 * Fights &mdash; if a fight breaks out between Chinese people, do not get involved. If a Chinese person gets aggressive with you or a friend, leave discreetly as soon as you can.
 * The streets at night &mdash; the streets of Wenzhou are normally safe, and because there are always eyes on foreigners, someone will always see anything that happens. This said, there are certain no-go areas of the city where poverty and demographic abnormality (excess men) can lead to high aggression levels.
 * Beggars &mdash; here are a number of beggars throughout the city especially around Wuma Street and Renmin Road. The beggars are run by gangs that maintain the beggars (with food and shelter) while taking the money that is collected by the often disabled/disfigured panhandlers. Don't stand and watch a begging 'performer' because you WILL be harassed for money; being foreign is reason enough to harass you.
 * Prostitution &mdash; prostitution is illegal in China but is widely tolerated. Brothels or 'Pink Houses' (because of the pink lights) riddle the city and many foreigners are known to use them. Brothels are far from safe, not just because of STIs, but also because of under-age prostitutes, robbery and police raids. Police in Wenzhou have been known to raid brothels while a foreigner is inside, the consequences of which can be far reaching; your visa could be revoked resulting in deportation.

Go next

 * Linhai &mdash; in the Taizhou prefecture, north of Wenzhou, Linhai has the Southern Great Wall of China. There is also an East Lake (东湖), and long old streets. Really nice place. Buses leave the City Bus Station (新城长途车站) every 30 minutes or so, take 1 hr 46 min and cost ¥66.


 * Cangnan County. Administratively part of Wenzhou Prefecture, it is Fujian's southernmost county. It includes an early-Ming walled city (Pucheng) with a well-restored city wall, and miles of rugged sea coast with scenic fishing villages.
 * Hangzhou &mdash; buses take about 4-4.5 hours, leave from New City Bus Station, and cost ¥150. They leave really frequently first thing in the morning, and then every 30 minutes or so afterward.
 * Shanghai &mdash; can get there by train, bus or plane. Train costs ¥90 for a seat, ¥175 for a hard-sleeper and takes about 10 hours. In 2009, the CRH Train service has officially entered Wenzhou at their newly opened South Railway Station (温州南站). The tickets are ¥180-220 and it takes slightly over 4 hours.  The bus costs ¥200 and takes about 6 hours. The bus route between Wenzhou and Shanghai will take you across the longest sea bridge in the world. The plane takes no time and can be as little as ¥200 if you leave very early.