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Wade Shepard is Taking Travel Writing Assignments from Readers

I have an ever growing list of research/ travel projects planned for this next year in China. I intend to travel out of Taizhou at least twice a month to visit other parts of the country and investigate various topics to write about. But I’m also interested in what the readers of this website would like to [...]

Support VBJ’s writing on this blog:

I have an ever growing list of research/ travel projects planned for this next year in China. I intend to travel out of Taizhou at least twice a month to visit other parts of the country and investigate various topics to write about. But I’m also interested in what the readers of this website would like to know about China. I’m now taking travel writing assignments directly from readers.

Are there any places in China that you would like me to visit, write about, photograph?

Are there any cultural practices in China that you would like to learn more about?

Do you have any curiosities about China that you have not yet satiated?

If so, feel free to give me a travel writing assignment through the comment form below.

Give me an assignment

Filed under: China, Uncategorized

About the Author:

I am the founder and editor of Vagabond Journey. I’ve been traveling the world since 1999, through 91 countries. I am the author of the book, Ghost Cities of China and have written for The Guardian, Forbes, Bloomberg, The Diplomat, the South China Morning Post, and other publications. has written 3699 posts on Vagabond Journey. Contact the author.

Support VBJ’s writing on this blog:

VBJ is currently in: New York City

13 comments… add one

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  • Pierre April 16, 2012, 9:03 am

    Hey !
    I saw something about one ethnic group in China, which is one of the few (I think … !) last kind of matriarchal society. Theses people are called Mosuo, and they are living close to Tibet. Maybe that could be interesting to go by there to see how it works, etc. They
    From what I remember of the documentary I saw, the area they are living in is very beautiful… 🙂 (there are some info here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosuo )
    After I don’t know if you’re interested about it, but that’s an idea for you !

    Otherwise I’m glad to read you again, and to know that everything goes well for the moment ! I hope Petra is finally fine with the jet lag stuff !
    After a break, I’m back in the translating thing (btw, very interesting the article about Göbekli Tepe !)

    (Oh, & this suit really fits you well … !! :P)
    See you !

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    • Wade Shepard April 16, 2012, 8:51 pm

      Thanks Pierre,

      Will check this out. I’ve been in areas where they live previously but was only passing through. Maybe I will investigate family social structure for a while.

      Maybe you should come visit?

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  • mike crosby April 17, 2012, 12:38 pm

    Wade, that picture of you with the suit is classic. Love it.

    I also saw the picture of Petra on the train. I realized two things: she’s been to more countries than I’ll ever see, and what a well rounded person she’ll be.

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    • Wade Shepard April 17, 2012, 8:30 pm

      Yes, she’s doing pretty well. I think she has been to eight countries now on three continents. She is getting the concept of what countries and cities are too. It’s been pretty interesting.

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  • John April 17, 2012, 2:25 pm

    I know this really isnt on topic but I would love to hear more about JOBS, JOBS AND JOBS!!!!!!!!!!!…. Your in the heartland. How to pull a good job without getting bent over. The whole nine. Please Wade!!!!!! How did your wife pull it? Thanks man

    John

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    • Wade Shepard April 17, 2012, 8:28 pm

      Hello John,

      It’s incredibly easy to get good teaching jobs in Asia. More on this later. Thanks for the topic suggestion.

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      • John April 17, 2012, 9:14 pm

        Thanks Wade!! I was thinking of showing up in Shanghai, Chengdu or Beijing and hit the ground the running. Looking forward to it.

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        • Wade Shepard April 17, 2012, 10:40 pm

          That’s one way, but you’d have to leave the country or go to Hong Kong after you find a job to get your work visa. Many find it easier to get a job by using a recruiter like Angelina’s or applying for jobs on Dave’s ESL Cafe or another similar site before coming to China.

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          • John April 17, 2012, 11:21 pm

            Thanks. Im checking out both sites right now. Looking forward to that post. Thank you so much.

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          • Jack April 20, 2012, 12:28 pm

            I ditto the advice about using Angelina’s. My wife and I both got good jobs in the same school here in China through them. We’ve got two kids and we are saving about 60% of what we are earning. Good jobs are to be had here.

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            • Wade Shepard April 20, 2012, 8:04 pm

              Right on, it was actually on your recommendation that we used them! They were great — especially with our somewhat convoluted situation: two adults, only one that wants to work, and a child. They found us three decent seeming schools willing to take the entire package promptly and were incredibly supportive. The best part is probably that when my wife signed a contract they disappeared from the picture entirely — their job was done.

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  • Tiffany April 23, 2012, 11:32 pm

    Cliche as it might sound, I want to know anything and everything about the current state of Tibet and how to travel there. It was the subject of my undergrad thesis and pretty much the one place I’m dying to go before I die (pun intended).

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    • Wade Shepard April 24, 2012, 1:33 am

      I think I’m sort of unpopular on all sides for my interpretation of the Tibet issue — which most moderates are — but I will let it rip anyway. This is sure to get me on the hate mail list of all the fanatics haha. Let’s see, I will probably be able to travel out there in early autumn.

      Really, you should go there, it’s truly another world. I’ve only traveled in historic Tibet — Qinghai and Yunnan — and not the Autonomous zone. Qinghai, at least, is Tibet without the tourists. Pretty amazing place.

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