Adventures in the Middle Kingdom

Hello, all. I’ll be heading out to ShenZhen by way of Beijing to teach English to Chinese schoolchildren (junior and senior high school students), this fall, and I was wondering if there is anyone already living in these two cities. I plan to study up on them, in general (history, culture, and such), but I was wondering what it’s like, out there, and if any of you who are already there have any general tips for someone who’s eventually going to be there, himself (for example: before I came to Pittsburgh, the most consistent advice I got was “get an umbrella,” since it’s always raining, here.).

Thanks!
bamf