Tianjin PEACE Institute for ALL Nations Logo

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What are the living conditions like?
    1. The PEACE Institute will provide an apartment (rent ree) for the teachers. The apartments are located near the institute and are new and comfortable with basic furnishings such as a bed, closet, desk, table, refrigerator and stove. They are only a 5 minute bike ride from the school (or a 10 min. walk).

    Street food
    Street food
  2. What about shopping?
    1. Shopping is easy even for someone who doesn't speak Chinese! All the necessities are within an easy bike ride or walk from the apartment or school. There are grocery stores, open-air food markets, a department store, repair shops, clothing and shoe shops, bakeries, restaurants and, last but not least, McDonald’s and KFC.
    2. In the city of Tianjin, there are several foreign food stores. Prices are more expensive, but not too bad, especially if you are really craving some Western food. There are also a number of Korean restaurants and American restaurants (McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, and TGI Friday’s).

  3. What is the monthly cost-of-living? (about 7.5 Chinese yuan = $1 U.S.)
    1. The school pays the rent.
    2. Water/mo. = 40 yuan
    3. Phone/mo. = 25-50 yuan (depending on the amount of calls) NOTE : Phone cards or internet phone services are recommended for calling long distance since they are less expensive.
    4. Electricity/3mo. = 200-300 yuan (depending on season: summer vs. winter)
    5. Apartment Maintenance Fee/mo. = 77 yuan
    6. Heat – paid once a year (in November) and shared among all the teachers living in the apartment (usually 2 or 3 teachers) = 1600 yuan more or less, depending on the floor space of the apartment.
    7. Food, Entertainment, Transportation etc. = depends on the individual
    8. Bicycle/one-time cost = 150-300 yuan
    9. Furniture/TV/Apartment furnishings, etc. = depends on the individual(s) needs and tastes.
    10. Internet/Email = available free at the school, or 2 yuan/hour at most Internet cafes. DSL service can be arranged at your apartment for about 90 yuan per month.

  4. What can I do in Tianjin?
    1. Old Culture Street and Gu Lou: Inexpensive tourist shopping to your heart's content!
    2. Food Street : All kinds of foods.
    3. Clothing Markets : Many, inexpensive, fashionable items, and clothes can be specially made to fit the individual
    4. Bin Jiang Dao: Tianjin’s pedestrian shopping district, with clothes, accessories, books and many other items. Also a Warner Bros. cinema.
    5. Isetan, Far East, and other upscale department stores.
    6. Bowling, tennis, swimming, football, baseball, and other sports.