When I landed in Shenzhen at the start of the year, it was not my first experience of China. In 2018, I lived in a fairly small city in the north of China that had a very small expat community, little to see or do, and an unbearably cold and cruel winter. Armed with this knowledge, I laden myself with thick coats, jackets, and jumpers and prepared myself for the unknown.

Luckily, my experience in Shenzhen has been overwhelmingly positive. Little did I know that the scorching Shenzhen sun would reach temperatures of 30 plus degrees. Suffice to say, my winter wardrobe has been relegated to the back of the wardrobe.

My first impression of Shenzhen was ‘atmospheric’. I had stepped into a side of China that I had never seen before, with towering skyscrapers and chaotic commutes (to put it into perspective, my last home in China didn’t even have a metro line!). Luckily, I had the pleasure of meeting my agent, Somnus, who helped me check things off our ‘to-do list’ in an efficient and expert manner.

In my first week alone, Somnus helped me secure accommodation, set up a new Chinese mobile, set up a metro card, and help with my bank account. His help was invaluable, and I don’t know what I would have done without him!

I have had first hand experience of applying for a visa without an agent. It can be a complicated and tedious process without having someone to rely on. Thankfully the team at TLD were excellent in guiding me through the whole process. My agents were incredibly knowledgeable about all of the documents you need for the visa and I felt very assured and comfortable throughout the whole process.

Shenzhen is a vibrant and modern city with a truly international feel, with beautiful parks, eclectic restaurants, and inviting coffee bars. There is always something to do at the weekend, with an endless supply of museums, bars, and exhibitions. I personally love spending time outdoors and have discovered some excellent hiking trails and nature reserves. I have even found a local outdoor swimming pool to help with the heat!

TLD was also helpful in finding and securing work at a kindergarten. In England, I worked as a deputy head at a secondary school, where I was responsible for managing 300 loud and rowdy teenagers. To say I welcomed a change in pace is an understatement. Working in a kindergarten is perfect for anyone who loves working with children. It is rewarding to see the development and progression of your students English skills in such a short amount of time.

I have only been in Shenzhen for three months, but I have enjoyed every moment of it so far. I cannot thank TLD and the team enough for making the move to Shenzhen an overwhelmingly positive and easy one.