Winter in Wuhan

As the winter draws in over the Yangtze it seems an appropriate time to talk through probably the most challenging time of the year for foreign teachers living in Wuhan….winter! It’s not all doom and gloom though as winter means the appearance of some  delicious seasonal food which tastes all that much better when you need warming up.

Wuhan is absolutely freezing in winter and for people coming from countries where central heating is in the majority of homes it can be a real shock to the system. During my first winter in Wuhan on a barmy sub-zero Sunday evening I found myself sitting on a chair in the shower under a heat lamp reading a book…and I never read.  I must make it clear that I was very unfortunate with my apartment which was particularly cold and most teachers will be much better off than I was. Wuhan’s temperature in winter isn’t particularly low and whenever I check the weather it always seems to be a few degrees warmer than London. Despite this because of the lack of central heating it feels so much colder in Wuhan, pack plenty of warm clothes and buy a thick duvet and blankets around October time then you should be fine. Some lucky people will have an air-conditioner unit in their apartment which really heats the room up although it can get a bit stuffy as the air pumped out of those machines aren’t particularly fresh. If you head down to Walmart you can pick up and electric radiator for 200/300 RMB which is a better option especially if the school cover your electric bill as many do meaning unless you’re big on the environment you can go mental. Electric radiators are also a live saver when drying clothes in winter without them it takes about 3 days to dry anything.

During interviews applicants have asked me about Christmas and whether it’s a holiday in China. Christmas is a normal working day but some schools will allow their foreign teachers to have the day off as they realize the importance of the holiday. We cannot guarantee that you will have the day off but if it’s really important to you then it’s something you should bring up with your school early on. Issues such as being allowed time off can depend on your relationship with your school. If you work hard during the first term and involve yourself in extra-curricular activities I’m sure you’ll be allowed the time off. From my experience former colleagues that have stayed in China for a second year at the same school and were allowed to go back to their home county to celebrate Christmas although don’t expect that during your first year. Christmas is acknowledged in China and shopping malls will have Christmas trees and decorations but it isn’t really celebrated and many Chinese people go shopping on Christmas day.  

It has been mentioned in previous blogs but I cannot emphasize just how good hot-pot is especially on a cold winter’s night. Hot pot is cooked on your table so you can feel the heat from the fire and the soup component of the dish really warms up your insides. It’s one of the most enjoyable dining experiences I’ve had anywhere. It’s relatively easy to order for non-Chinese speakers, delicious and suitable for any dietary requirements as the customer decides exactly what ingredients are included in a hot pot. In December when it begins to turn cold I usually go for a hot-pot at least a couple of times a week which isn’t excessive as there are many different types. It’s not too expensive  but it’s best to go in a group of at least 4 to split the cost. You can keep topping up the hot-pot and adding more ingredients as you go and is a very social way to eat dinner.

Winter……Thick socks….essential