Ruili City is a nice place to be
Ruili is a small town of about 200,000 people in China. That's almost off the map! It is the major trading port between China and Myanmar, with a total population of the surrounding areas and small towns at about 300,000. This is a great place to relax, practice Chinese, and enjoy outdoor activities year round! The people here are quite friendly, the Chinese accent is quite neutral (as there are plenty of transplants and travelers, most people speak more standard Mandarin), and the atmosphere is quiet and safe.
Seasons of Ruili
Ruili is warm in the summer with daily hour-long rainshowers to keep the heat from being too intense. In the fall, weather cools down and the rain slowly stops. Winter is relatively warm, with foggy morning temps in the mid 50s and the afternoons reaching t-shirt weather. Spring is the warmest season, as the sun beats down until rain again comes to cool the city down in the summer.
School Life
Ruili International American High School is located in Ruili No. 1 Nationality High School, the only public high school in the town of Ruili. The teachers at the International High School often schedule activities with them, such as soccer, basketball, and cycling. Click the picture to see some images of the campus.
Culture of Ruili
There are three Chinese ethnic minorities currently living in Ruili, along with plenty of Burmese citizens. Therefore, the city has a fairly accepting multicultural environment. There are many festivals to help celebrate the culture of this region as well, some of which are unique to Ruili and should not be missed! Click the picture for more images!
Group Activities
The class sizes in Ruili International High School are small, and the foreign teachers have plenty of opportunities to interact with the students outside of class. All of the activities we do together are within an easy bike ride of the city itself. Click the picture for more images of teachers and students having fun!
Around the city
Although small, Ruili has a huge amount of things for the inquisitive to explore! The city has a movie studio, a movie theater, 3 border crossings (in nearby Jiegao), jade streets, two large parks, an amusement park, as well a wide variety of night life, including KTVs, juice bars, night markets, arcades, and dance groups. Click the picture above to see some photos!
Getting Away
Ruili has a lot of great cycling just outside town, as well as more long-distance destinations. However, Mangshi is just 1.5 hours by car or bus, and Dali is an 8 hour bus ride away. Click the image to see more pictures of things to do just outside this city!