Wuhan Aston

      


City:

Wuhan is the capital of Hubei Province and the major metropolitan center of Central China. The population of just over 9 million forms one of the most outwardly looking and progressive communities of inland China.  The city has been a major player in the Chinese world for over 3,000 years and continues to be the political, economic, and cultural hub of the region.

Wuhan is actually a conglomeration of the three ancient cities of Wuchang, Hanyang, and Hankou.  It lies at the confluence of China’s largest river, the Yangtze, and its largest tributary river, the Han.  The rivers run through the heart of the city and it’s waterfront is one of the most impressive in the country, lined with colonial architecture reminiscent of the Bund in Shanghai and thriving commercial districts.

       

Weather in Wuhan is defined by extremes.  Known as one of the “Three Furnaces” summers are defined by searing heat and humidity and last half of the year.  Winter, though short, will dip below freezing and snow is not uncommon.  Spring and autumn are pleasant but short.

The city is a fantastic collection of incredibly atmospheric streets, thriving commercialism, colonial history, and culture.  You can spend your days sipping tea with old men under bamboo in the park and evenings in pulsating nightclubs dancing with thousands under the strobe lights.  Wuhan’s cuisine is justifiably famous and representative of the diversity of flavor to be found in South and Central China. There are literally hundreds of thousands of places to explore this cuisine for all budgets.  International restaurants offering fare from all over the world are also abundant.

With its central location on the South China plain, Wuhan is one of the most conveniently located cities in the nation.  Just exploring the surrounding towns and villages of Hubei would take years, although if you wish to venture farther away trains and busses link other regional capitals.  Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai are all easily reached on affordable and comfortable overnight trains and very much possible to visit on days off.  The sheer number of interesting places to explore in between, especially in the mountainous provinces to the west of Hubei, are almost endless.

School:

         

Wuhan Aston first opened its doors back in the summer of 2005.  We are located in Wuchang, the most cosmopolitan area of modern Wuhan and within easy reach of the main downtown and riverfront areas.  We are a small but growing school, with a handful of foreign staff and about 10 Chinese staff, many of who have been here since our opening.

Our school is modern, comfortable, and air-conditioned.  We provide our teachers with a professional working environment and extensive resources to enable them to assist our students along their quest of improving their English communication skills.



Apartments:

Wuhan Aston currently rents three separate two-bedroom apartments in Wuchang for foreign teacher’s accommodation.  All accommodation is shared.  These apartments are all within a five-kilometer radius of the school in typical Chinese residential areas. The apartments have all the amenities you would expect and air-conditioning to escape the heat of summer.  These are lively areas with restaurants, shops, evening markets, and all of the basic necessities available minutes outside of your door.  Transportation between home and Wuhan Aston is convenient with busses and numerous taxies available at all hours. Taxis in Wuhan are incredibly cheap and start at 3 yuan.