More and more people are traveling these days, and one of the destinations becoming one of the most popular choices is the Middle Kingdom itself, China.

But why China you ask?

[box] Golden Nugget: I’ve seen Kung Fu Panda and I know who Confucius is, but that’s about all I know. Allow us to demonstrate.[/box]

Here are 10 reasons why you should teach in China.

1. Varied Culture

With 56 separate and distinct ethnic minorities, China is more diverse than you may think.

From the Uyghur people in the Taklamakan desert of Xinjiang, Mongolian falcon hunters in the grasslands of Inner Mongolia, to bamboo villages deep within the rainforests of southern China.

There’s every kind of people and environment imaginable contained within China’s massive borders, and teaching English is a great way to get a chance to explore them in depth.

2. China’s got the money

China has undergone unprecedented economic growth over the past 30 years.

As the former leader Deng Xiaoping once said, “To get rich is glorious”, and many Chinese have taken that to heart.

Millions upon millions of middle and upper class Chinese have the desire to learn English in their increasingly international surroundings, and they have the money to pay for it as well.

3. Supply and demand

China is the worlds most populated country with 1.4 billion people, and only 500,000 of those are foreigners (only some of whom are teaching English).

There simply aren’t enough foreigners around in China to fill in the all the teaching positions available, so needless to say, the demand is there and it won’t be going away anytime soon!

4. Freedom in Class

You may shudder at the thought of being forced to teach rote materials boring enough to curl your toes, but the fact is that in the great majority of schools in China, you’re usually given free reign when it comes to what you want to teach.

The idea is that you’re the English speaker, so you know best! Some schools may give a rough outline or a course book to be loosely followed, but by and large, your classroom is your kingdom and you can rule is as you see fit.

5. Meet interesting people

Living and teaching in China, you will have to chance to meet numerous locals in your free time.

As a foreigner, you will have in an in-built celebrity status in many places that you go, and the Chinese are quite open and friendly in their desire to try out their English with you, take a group photo, invite you out for dinner and all manners of other activities.

6. Teaching others about your culture

A cultural exchange is a two-way street, and not only will you get to learn about a new culture, but you’ll have the opportunity to teach others about your own.

Students in particular love hearing about your life back home, no matter how boring it may seem to you!

7. Personal growth

One person can’t change the way a country of 1.4 billion operates, and this can result in numerous humorous and frustrating experiences.

China won’t conform to your expectations or demands, so the only choice is for you to grow and adapt as a person.

By challenging yourself every day, you end up broadening your horizons and dare we say, becoming a better person.

8. Learn a new language

A more specific way in which you can improve yourself while teaching in China is learning the local language!

It’s certainly not easy, but it’s not easy for your students to learn English either, so no excuses!

Learning even a few phrases can open up so many doors when it comes to interacting with locals, making friendships, and creating lasting memories.

9. Build up your resume

We all know that international works experience is a big plus on your resume.

It can prove to future employers that you’re capable of surviving and thriving in an unfamiliar environment and can pave multiple paths towards both lucrative positions and further education such as Masters Degrees.

10. IT’S CHEAP!

While some things like accommodation in cities like Beijing and Shanghai can be shockingly expensive, these are not things you will have to worry about, as accommodation is provided by the schools.

Accommodation aside, China is indeed overall much cheaper than the West, so going out for a few drinks or dinner with friends won’t break the bank or hurt your wallet like it does back home.