Tongchuan Aston

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Tongchuan is a small city in the northern part of Shaanxi Province 180 km north of the ancient capital of Xi’an. Shaanxi tradition is strong here and life moves at a slow pace which is much more in rhythm with the countryside than modern cities.

This is a place that is for the most part untouched by foreign influence. There are no Western restaurants or familiar chain stores. Life in Tongchuan allows Aston teachers an opportunity to experience life on the fringes of China’s vast countryside and a rare chance to live among these wonderful people. Before Aston opened in this unlikely of places most of the locals had never seen a foreign face. Looks of astonishment quickly turn into warm receptions as the days pass on in Tongchuan, and many an evening is spent with the local families as guests in their homes.

The center of town is the square which is usually a buzz of activities; in the morning you can see people gathering and practicing Tai Chi and traditional Chinese dancing, at night time there are often performances on an erected stage, performances from Kung Fu to ballroom dancing to traditional Chinese Opera, an amazing sight to behold lost to the urban centers of the country. Markets abound throughout the town at all hours with countless makeshift shops and carts selling handicrafts, produce, and Shaanxi snack foods. A giant Farmer’s Market sets up just outside of town which brings thousands of people together from the countryside of Northern Shaanxi to exchange goods and gossip. As your language skills develop while living here these become fascinating anecdotes into the situation and custom of rural Chinese.

Also nearby is the Yuawa Gong. This is a famous place from ancient Chinese history where Emperors used to come and rest in the summer months. It is a fabulous temple and archeological site travelers come to visit as they pass through the other surrounding sites of the province. The mountainous area doubles as a ski resort in the winter months.

The other sites around Shaanxi Province are world famous and easily accessible from Tongchuan. Xi’an is about 2 hours by bus to the south, less by taxi which is cheap and the way teachers usually travel to the capital. Yan’an is 3 hours away. From Xi’an you have access to the rail network and some of the most diverse and interesting destinations in China. Lanzhou, Yinchuan, Zhengzhou, and Taiyuan are all easy overnight trains away. Cheap daily flights go down into Sichuan to Chengdu and Chongqing often for as low as $30 and taking little more than an hour.

The weather is a four season continental climate and is for the most part dry. Summers do see a bit of rain, and spectacular thunderstorms, with relatively mild temperatures. Winter brings freezing temperatures and a sprinkling of snow with clear blue skies. Spring and autumn are long, pleasant, and dry.

School

The Aston School is located on the centre square on the 3rd floor, overlooking the town fountain which is turned on everyday during the warmer months. We opened our doors in September 2005 to a community that previously had no experience of resident foreigners or English language schools. We have been wonderfully received due in no small part to the professionalism and commitment to quality we have brought with us.

Our school has all of the resources available that are common to Aston schools throughout the country. We have a large and comfortable staff lounge and an extensive collection of resources available to our teachers. We take part in staff training sessions in Xi’an several times per term to ensure our teachers have the support and training needed to provide a quality education to our students.

Currently there are three Customer Help staff at the front desk, four Chinese teachers, a foreign teacher and a foreign manager. The staff is growing as well as the students as the community continues to embrace us. Currently there are several hundred students studying at Tongchuan Aston ranging from 3 – 50 years of age. These folks reply enthusiastically to the question “How are you?” with “I’m Fantastic!” which is fast becoming our School Motto!!

Apartments

At present Tongchuan Aston has one two-bedroom apartment for foreign teacher’s accommodation. The apartment is high quality by any standard and provides a comfortable place to call home. It is newly decorated in a modern style with two bedrooms, a living room, western style bathroom, and fully equipped kitchen. The best feature is that the apartment is right next to the school, so your breaks can actually be spent at home if you desire. The walk from the school to the apartment is at slow pace 10 seconds away!

Currently we are in process of acquiring a 2nd apartment of similar standards to meet our newly arriving teachers’ needs.

Resources

"Tongchuan" on Flickr "Tongchuan" on YouTube "Tongchuan" on Picasa Tongchuan City Guide

Top reasons to pick Tongchuan Aston

• Tongchuan’s premier English Training School.
• Downtown location.
• Our proximity to the Xian Aston Schools enables us to be a part of their on-going training and development that provides excellent practical advice and support to our teaching staff.
• Downtown Xian is less than an hour away, with buses leaving every 30inutes.
• A place mostly untouched by foreign influence, and thus a perfect place to learn Chinese language and culture.
• Doubles as a ski resort in the winter months.
• A modern apartment only 30secs from the school.
• Cheap cost of living.
• Xian (1.5hrs) Yanan (2.5hrs)