About Guiyang Aston |
Guiyang Aston
City:
Guiyang is a modern capital city in southwest China. It is a city of contrast in many ways – old bricked alleyways and weathered homes running underneath ultramodern skyscrapers, and a prosperous 21st century city set among one of the most undeveloped regions of China. This is the political, cultural, and economic center of Guizhou Province.
Located in the geographic center of province it governs, Guiyang enjoys a relatively mild climate year round. Due to its high elevation summers stay comfortable and winters rarely dip below freezing. There is abundant rainfall year round, peaking in the summer months.
Walking the streets of Guiyang is a fascinating mix of people. Prosperous businessman, workers, destitute poor, fashion conscious woman, students, and Miao people in full costume can be seen any time of day. Foreigners are still a rare sight indeed and are greeted with a mixture of curiosity and hospitality that helps make daily life in Guiyang a very special experience.
Western amenities here are limited. There is a Wal-Mart and a KFC, but beyond this it is difficult to obtain many of the comfort goods that you may take for granted back home. For many this is a refreshing aspect of life here and part of the allure, others find it much more challenging than they anticipated.
The surrounding region is astonishingly beautiful and a true highlight of China. Once you are out of the city a breathtaking landscape of terraced farms and karst mountains is revealed. Travel throughout the province is slow, bumpy, and rewarding. It’s 2? hours to Anshun, Zunyi, and Kaili by train or bus. Overnight trips to an incredible number of interesting places are easily arranged. There are traditional villages not far outside the city limits. Beyond the province Chongqing, Chengdu, and Kunming are overnight trains or quick flights away.
Apartments:
Guiyang Aston currently rents several 2-bedroom apartments in the downtown area for foreign teachers’ accommodation. All are in modest, standard apartment blocks but with clean and comfortable interiors. All are very close to the city center and less than15 minutes walk to Guiyang Aston.
School:
Guiyang Aston opened its doors in January 2004 and was the first Aston School in Southern China. Since then it has grown into one of the leading institutions in the capital with several hundred students and about 15 staff. We are located right in the center of the downtown area, on the third floor of a building on the main north-south road running thru the city.
The school itself is cozy, modern, and has a strong sense of community. Many of the staff and teachers have been here for quite a while and investment in the success of the school is strong. Mrs. Shang, the Chinese manager, is a wonderful woman to work with and has helped build the school from the beginning.
Our goal is to help our students improve their English speaking and listening communication skills. We follow the curriculum and methodology standard to all Aston schools and have developed a comprehensive collection of teacher’s resources to help facilitate this process. Although we are geographically separated from the main Aston hubs in Dalian, Jinan, and Xi’an, we maintain the same standards of teaching, training, and staff support that are crucial to the success of all of our schools throughout China.
We are just a few minutes walk from many of the cities main attractions and historic places. Restaurants, shops, temples, and narrow alleys full of life and street food are just outside the door and people crowd the streets below and around the school.
