Hi Conrad

Sorry I'm late, replying to you. I notice you posted on the 13th. I haven't checked out the site for a few days. I'm glad to be of help, and hope what I say will be useful.

The best place to live and work?

Living

It depends on what you're looking for. If you like a lively bustling city with plenty of things to do, and would like a lot of western amenities, the obvious first choices are cities like Beijing or Shanghai. These are probably the best places to go if you like to party, but don't want to listen to techno all night, every night.
If you're into hip hop R'n B', or reggae, these are the places to go. Another advantage of these big cities is as a foreigner you don't get gawked at as often because the locals are more cultured and used to seeing us, due to their being more of us in these places. So this would be good for you if you like the ex-pat scene.

Beijing also has some ancient history to explore. If you're into that kind of thing you'll probably have a great time checking it out. Shanghai has much to see, but most of it is more modern. I recommend checking out the Pudong area at night. It's a pretty awesome sight from across the river.

On the other hand if you're looking for a small quiet city, and a bit of solitude, give the above a miss. China is huge so there are scores of smaller cities to work in. Advantages for living are a quieter, and slower lifestyle. These places are also cheaper, easier to get around and shopping is much easier. Some people like these places because they think they will find the real China. The problem is they DO find the real China, often old, lacking in character, history and western amenities, also a lack of good nightclubs, and just as dirty as the bigger cities. One important thing you'll need in China, Conrad, is good bargaining skills, because many Chinese businesspeople will try to rip you off right, left and centre all over China.

Another disadvantage that really pisses me off personally, even after three years is the constant gawking in these smaller places. Chinese people more than any other people I've encountered, love to check you out from top to bottom, bottom to top and so on. The gawking is ten times worse if you walk down the road with a young Chinese woman. If you're holding hands with her( shock, horror!,) make that fifty times worse. Be warned! However this might not bother you. Some foreigners handle it better than others. We're all different.

Sorry if I've been long-winded. I've ran out of time. I'll give you the lowdown on WORKING tomorrow.

Take care.