A GLIMPSE OF SHENYANG
Shenyang is the gateway to the Northeast and other parts of China. Its latitude is similar to Germany. Even though the city has a strong reputation for its equipment manufacturing industry with a history of over a century, the culture here dates back some 7,200 years.
Fast forward to the 21st century and Shenyang has become a truly international city with a population of over 9 million. Many countries have consulates here, including Germany, the US, France, Russia, Japan, Australia, and South and North Korea, offering convenience for international and business travelers.
As more and more expats have made Shenyang their home as managers or technical experts, the international community has grown significantly over the past 20 years, with Asian, European, and Americans creating a rich cultural melting pot.
This means you can order and enjoy authentic Asian cuisine, including Japanese and Korean, as well as Italian and German, both in five-star hotels or at your fingertips. In fact, you can order dishes straight to your door in less than 30 minutes. There are also many themed family restaurants with toys and entertainment facilities in town. We’ll skip introducing Northeast China cuisine for the moment, leaving you the opportunity to discover it on your own.
You don’t need to worry about safety. Shenyang’s crime rate is very low when compared with major urban areas of comparable size. The city is very secure and easy to get around. You can easily find a cab to take you home. Simply book one for yourself or on behalf of someone via your smartphone and a cab driver typically appears in around 5 minutes. You can then track the whole trip or share it with your family. At the end, you can pay the taxi fees on your phone with a simple click.
Shenyang is very much a family-friendly city. Hiking in summer, skiing followed by hot springs in winter, and other seasonal activities will keep your lifestyle dynamic.
A long cycling track along the Hunhe River winds its way past many safe public parks with free admission. This makes them ideal for exercising and relaxing. While the kids burn off their endless energy, you can enjoy some downtime.
There are various events available in the city, showing both traditional culture and modern technology. During the Dragon Boat Festival, the important folklore activity of dragon boat racing is a must. In October, look out for the "Shenyang Airshow", which is always the talk of the town. It includes a flying stunt performance and innovative technology, such as VR and drones, delivering a visual feast.
There is so much for you and your family to explore in Shenyang, but the main focus of this magazine is your children's education.
Over the following pages, we are delighted to present you with information about the schools on offer and share the insights of expat families who have experience with them. When we reviewed the information and benchmarked it with other metro cities in China, we were really impressed with the quality of education in Shenyang for international students.
To help you get a good understanding of what the schools are like, we adapted two German kids' journals, which record their family's experience and their school life in Shenyang. We also provide notes with additional information that we consider important for parents.
We hope this magazine will bring you the relevant information with a comprehensive view of Shenyang's education landscape and make your decision-making process much easier.