[quote="danny514"]For a comfortable, "middle class" life in Shanghai, figure on around 10,000 RMB a month in living expenses (not including rent).[/quote]

This would be the MINIMUM amount for a comfortable lifestyle in Shanghai let alone putting one dime into savings.

Shenyang is not a pleasant city - mind you, I'm not going to say it's unpleasant either. It just belongs in the subgroup of cities characterized by it's love of the color grey and complete lack of charm. The only two cities I'd consider working in NE China would be Dalian and Harbin.

IMHO, Qingdao is about as good as you get in China if you factor in living environment, cost of living, Western amenities and history. I found both the city and the people quite civilized.