🇨🇳 Teach abroad · China
Teach English in China
The savings capital of TEFL — among the highest salaries in Asia, low living costs, and housing, flights and bonuses often included. Add up to €1,500/month in euros online and you'll bank serious money.
💰 $1,700–$2,800/mo + €1,500 online
The highest savings in Asia
🏠 Housing + flights + bonus
Often included
📍 Beijing · Shanghai · Chengdu
Where you'll teach
🎓 120-hour TEFL
Required & included
4.9★ Trustpilot & Google · 2,000+ teachers trained · 15+ years
🇨🇳 The highest savings in Asia
Why China
★ The savings angle
🚄
🎓
🚀
Why teach English in China?
If your goal is to teach abroad and come home with real savings, nothing beats China — high pay, low costs and perks most countries don't offer. Here's why teachers choose it.
The biggest savings in Asia
High salaries, low costs, and housing, flights and a contract bonus often on top. Add up to €1,500/month in euros and China becomes a genuine money-making year, not just an adventure.
Modern, dynamic & surprising
Bullet trains, megacities, ancient wonders and food beyond imagination. China moves fast and rewards the curious.
TEFL is required — that helps you
China legally requires a TEFL for the work visa. We provide it, so you're qualified, legal and hireable from day one.
A serious career launchpad
Real classrooms, real responsibility and a standout CV — plus a route across Asia, Europe and home to Spain.
🥟 Dumplings & hotpot
🏯 The Great Wall
🚄 Bullet trains
🐼 Pandas in Chengdu
🏙️ Megacity skylines
🏮 Lantern festivals
⛰️ Karst mountains
🫖 Tea houses
China, by the numbers
The fast facts behind the best savings destination in TEFL.
CurrencyChinese Yuan (¥ RMB / CNY)
Average salary~$1,700–$2,800/mo (¥12k–20k)
School perksHousing + flights + completion bonus
Online with us
Up to €1,500/mo in euros
Teach for TEFL Madrid + Exam Madrid — stacked on top of high Chinese pay.
Work visaZ visa · degree + TEFL required
Cost of living~$500–$1,000/mo (tier-1 higher)
Best citiesBeijing · Shanghai · Chengdu · Shenzhen
Start datesPublic Sept / Feb · centers rolling
What you need to teach English in China
China is strict but refreshingly predictable — a clear checklist, and most of it handled inside your program. Here's exactly what it takes.
A bachelor's degree
Required for the Z work visa, in any subject. This is non-negotiable in China.
120-hour TEFL
Legally required in China — and included in your program, so you're already covered.
Clean background check
An authenticated criminal record check. We walk you through every document step by step.
Native or fluent English
Native speakers qualify easily; experienced fluent non-natives can too, depending on the province.
What exactly do I need for the China work visa?
China's Z visa is strict but predictable: a bachelor's degree, a 120-hour TEFL and a clean, authenticated background check, plus native or fluent English. The upside — the TEFL it requires is included in your program, so you arrive already qualified and legal. No degree? Our paid online teaching in euros is still open, and we'll point you to easier-entry countries for classroom work.
Do I really need a TEFL certificate for China?
Yes — China is one of the few countries that legally requires an accredited TEFL for the work visa. That's good news: your live, observed 120-hour TEFL is included, so the requirement is handled and you're more competitive everywhere else too.
Explore the TEFL course →
The job market
English teaching jobs in China
China has the deepest, best-paid market in Asia and hires year-round. Pick your route, then stack our online roles on top to earn euros and supercharge your savings.
🏫$1,700–$2,800/mo
Language training centers
The most common job — evening and weekend hours, year-round hiring and strong pay.
🎒$1,400–$2,300/mo
Public schools
Daytime hours, stable contracts and long paid holidays — a relaxed, reliable route.
👶$1,700–$2,500/mo
International kindergartens
Daytime hours and energetic young learners — fun, popular and always in demand.
🎓$2,500–$5,000+
Bilingual & international schools
The best pay and benefits in the country — experience and a license are preferred.
🏛️$1,400–$2,100/mo
University positions
Fewer teaching hours and real prestige — limited spots you can grow into over time.
★ The income engineUp to €1,500/mo
Online with our academies — paid in euros
Teach online for TEFL Madrid & Exam Madrid and earn euros on top of an already-high Chinese salary. With low costs and housing help, this is how teachers in China truly bank money.
Where you'll live
Your home base in China
From the imperial history of Beijing to the neon skyline of Shanghai and the laid-back charm of Chengdu, we help you land in the right city for your job, your budget and your savings goals.
- We help you choose the right city for your school and salary
- Many jobs include a free apartment or housing allowance
- Safe, central neighbourhoods with superb metro systems
- Most teachers start in Beijing, Shanghai or Chengdu
Beijing
The historic capitalThe Forbidden City, the Great Wall nearby and deep culture — plus some of the country's top jobs.
Shanghai
Dazzling megacityA futuristic skyline, the most international scene and the best-paid roles in China.
Shenzhen
Tech boom cityYoung, modern and high-paying — China's Silicon Valley, right next to Hong Kong.
Guangzhou
Southern powerhouseThe Cantonese food capital — warm, welcoming and home to a huge teaching market.
Chengdu
Laid-back & lovablePandas, spicy hotpot and lower costs — a long-time favourite of expat teachers.
Hangzhou
Scenic & sereneWest Lake, a booming tech scene and famously beautiful surroundings — easy, elegant living.
Life in China — cities, nature & food
Futuristic megacities, ancient wonders, mountains that look painted and food you'll never stop talking about — all linked by the world's best bullet-train network. Your weekends here are limitless.
🥢 Hotpot & street food
🏯 Great Wall hikes
🐼 Panda bases
🏮 Temple fairs
🛍️ Night markets
🎤 KTV nights
🚄 Bullet-train trips
⛰️ Zhangjiajie & Guilin
Salary & cost of living in China
High pay, low costs and housing help — China is built for saving. Here's the honest picture, and how our teachers turn it into the best savings setup in TEFL.
Monthly cost of living
Rent · tier-1 city (if not provided)$400–$800
Rent · smaller city$200–$450
Utilities & phone$50–$100
Groceries$150–$300
Eating out / street food$100–$250
Transport (metro)$20–$40
Comfortable total (housing often provided)~$500–$1,000 (~€460–€920)
Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen are tier-1 and priciest; Chengdu, Xi'an and smaller cities cost far less. Many jobs include housing, which pushes savings even higher.
Local salary + perks
~$1,700–$2,800/mo + housing & bonus. High pay against very low costs.
Remote with our academies
up to €1,500/mo · in euros. Stacked straight on top of your salary.
Save $1,000–$2,000+/mo
High pay + low costs + housing + euros = the best savings setup in TEFL.
Asia's best salaries. We make them unbeatable.
China already pairs high pay with low costs and housing help — and most programs leave it there. We go further: as a TEFL Madrid graduate you also teach online for our own academies in euros, on top of an already-strong salary. The result is the single best savings setup in TEFL, full stop.
Your program, step by step
China's Z visa needs authenticated documents, so we start early and handle the paperwork with you. Here's exactly what your journey looks like.
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1
Before you fly
6–10 weeks outWe start your Z visa early: degree, TEFL and background check authenticated, school matched, and full WhatsApp support so nothing gets stuck.
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2
Arrival week
Week 1Airport pickup, apartment setup, a local SIM, residence-permit registration and a city orientation — including the apps and tools you'll use daily.
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3
TEFL training
Weeks 1–4Your live, observed 120-hour training — the certificate China legally requires — covering methodology, lesson planning and hands-on practice.
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4
Paid placement & support
OngoingWe place you with a vetted center or school, support your Z visa and residence permit, and stay on call 24/7 — plus your remote teaching option in euros.
🇨🇳 Live training · observed teaching practice
What's included in your China program
Everything you need to land, get your Z visa, settle into an apartment and start earning — handled by people who've done it before.
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120-hour TEFL certification
The certificate China legally requires — live, observed and recognised. Yours for life.
🛂
Job placement support
We connect you with vetted training centers, public schools and kindergartens across China.
📄
Z visa & document authentication
Degree, TEFL and background-check legalization, guided step by step so nothing is missed.
✈️
Airport pickup & apartment setup
Met when you land and settled into your apartment, with a SIM card and full orientation.
🤝
24/7 in-country support
A local team for contracts, your residence permit, banking and any emergency, day or night.
★ Our academies🌐
Online teaching, paid in euros
Teach online for TEFL Madrid + Exam Madrid and earn up to €1,500/month — the part that turns high pay into the best savings in TEFL.
Career pathway
Where China can take you
China isn't just the best place to save — it's a powerful springboard. Build experience, bank money and open doors worldwide, with a clear road to Spain at the end of it.
- 🎓
Get TEFL-certified
Start with your live, observed 120-hour TEFL — the cert China requires.
- 💼
Teach & save in China
High pay against low costs — plus remote income in euros from our academies.
- 🌏
Go global
Take your certificate across Asia, Europe and Latin America — valid worldwide and yours for life.
- 🇪🇸
Move to Spain with us
Unlock a student visa, job placement and relocation through TEFL Madrid Academy.
🇨🇳 → 🇪🇸 After China, move to Spain
Finish your time in China and unlock a Student Visa for Spain, job placement, housing guidance and full relocation support. China → Spain is one of the strongest TEFL career routes there is — and your €1,500/month remote income travels with you.
Your provider · E-E-A-T
Who you'll train with
China's visa requires a genuine, accredited TEFL and authenticated documents — so you want a real academy behind you, not a faceless recruiter. We put our name on your certificate.
- ✓An independent awarding body — TEFL Madrid issues its own internationally recognised 120-hour TEFL certification.
- ✓15+ years training teachers — thousands certified and placed across the world.
- ✓Real academies, real demand — we don't just train you; we hire our own graduates to teach online.
- ✓We handle the hard part in China — Z visa, document authentication and placement, guided end to end.
15+Years
2,000+Teachers trained
4.9★Trustpilot & Google
OwnAwarding body
★ Our academies
The difference: we pay our own graduates
Most programs hand you a certificate and wish you luck. We hire ours — teach online for TEFL Madrid + Exam Madrid and earn up to €1,500/month in euros, stacked on top of an already-high Chinese salary for the best savings setup in TEFL.
Real graduates, real journeys
Real TEFL Madrid graduates who did exactly what you're about to do — certified, placed and now teaching across Asia and beyond, including China.
FAQ
Teaching English in China, answered
Do I need a degree to teach English in China?
Yes — a bachelor's degree is required for China's Z work visa, in any subject. If you don't have one, you can still teach online for our academies in euros, and we'll point you to easier-entry countries like Cambodia or Vietnam for classroom work.
Do I really need a TEFL certificate for China?
Yes — China is one of the few countries that legally requires an accredited 120-hour TEFL for the work visa. It's included in your program, so the requirement is handled and you arrive fully qualified.
How much do English teachers earn in China?
Most teachers earn about $1,700–$2,800/month (¥12k–20k), with international schools paying far more, and housing and a completion bonus often included. As a TEFL Madrid graduate you can also teach online for our academies and add up to €1,500/month in euros.
Is China really the best country for saving money?
For most teachers, yes. High salaries, low living costs and free or subsidised housing mean strong savings — and with our euro income on top, China offers the best savings setup in TEFL.
What is the Z visa?
The Z visa is China's official work visa for foreign teachers. It requires a degree, a TEFL and an authenticated background check, and converts to a residence permit after you arrive. We guide the whole process.
Can I teach in China without experience?
Yes. Training centers and kindergartens regularly hire first-time teachers. Your live 120-hour TEFL covers methodology, lesson planning and hands-on practice before you lead a class.
Is job placement guaranteed?
Yes. We place you with vetted training centers, public schools and kindergartens across cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Shenzhen, with a real contract.
Do I need to speak Chinese to teach in China?
No — classes are taught in English. A little Mandarin helps with daily life, and we include practical survival-Chinese support, plus help with the apps you'll use every day.
Is China safe for teachers?
Yes. China has very low street crime and is generally very safe for foreign teachers, with a 24/7 in-country support team on hand for anything you need.
What's the cost of living in China?
Comfortable living runs about $500–$1,000/month (~€460–€920). Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen are priciest; cities like Chengdu and Xi'an cost much less — and housing is often provided.
Who can teach English in China?
Native and fluent English speakers with a bachelor's degree and a TEFL. Native speakers qualify most easily; experienced non-natives can too, depending on the province. Age limits apply (usually under 60).
Can I continue teaching abroad afterward?
Absolutely. Your TEFL certificate is recognised worldwide and yours for life. After China you can teach across Asia, Europe and Latin America, keep earning remotely with our academies, or move toward a teaching career with us in Madrid.
Can I move to Spain after teaching in China?
Yes — it's one of our strongest routes. Finish your time in China and unlock a student visa for Spain, job placement, housing guidance and relocation support through TEFL Madrid Academy.
🏮 Your next chapter starts here
Teach in China. Earn more. Save the most.
Get TEFL-certified, land a high-paying job with housing and a bonus, and add up to €1,500/month in euros teaching online for our real academies. This is the best savings setup in TEFL — and it starts here.
4.9★ Trustpilot & Google · 2,000+ teachers trained · 15+ years
