- Shunyi (out near the airport): Great for expat amenities, but more expensive and long commute time into the city. Also difficult if you don’t have a car.
- ChaoYang Park/Central Business District: Good for expat amenities, good for commuting, more expensive, not very close to most of the international schools.
- WangJing (northeast of 4th ring road): Split the difference. Not quite as expensive for housing, pretty good for commuting, pretty good for expat amenities. (We live in WangJing).
If you just want someone to tell you a good place to live I would recommend The Seasons apartment complex in WangJing. They have a nice playground in the complex, and a gym, the apartments are nice, it’s close to a subway, and there are a lot of other expat families that live there. Rent will be in the range of 8000-12000RMB per month. It’s also reasonably convenient if your kids end up attending an international school in Shunyi, there are school buses that go to all the major schools.
- West Side or North Side: Cheaper housing, ok for commuting (depending on where you primarily work), not great for expat amenities, except they have a great homeschooling network (if you are thinking about homeschooling).
Is there a particular rental agency you would recommend?
Do you recommend hiring a live in nanny/housekeeper? If so, do you know what it costs?
I will need to travel around to different areas of Beijing all day, every day of the work week. Would you recommend getting a car or taking public transportation?
Getting a car is probably not the best option for a couple reasons. 1) You will also need to get a Chinese drivers license if you want to drive here, 2) there is a new regulation that says you must be a resident in Beijing for 1 year before getting a car and 3) even if you meet the resident requirement you will then enter a lottery to try to get a license plate. Your chances are about 1 in 5 at best.
Is it safe and convenient to ride a bike in Beijing?
Traffic in Beijing is very different from the states. More chaotic and potentially frightening. I have ridden/driven bikes, electric scooters and now a motorized scooter and I find it very convenient (especially in the spring and summer), but I would be careful about where/when my kids ride bikes.
I plan to learn Mandarin, but can’t speak it fluently now. Is it relatively easy to get by in Beijing without bring able to speak the language?
It’s very easy to get a long in Beijing with limited Mandarin language skills. It gets easier the more you know, but we are by no means fluent and we are fine. It usually takes about 3 months to start feeling pretty comfortable.
It really depends on how you decide to live. You can move to Beijing and increase you living costs dramatically if you put your kids in expensive international schools, get a car, eat and only western restaurants and shop at foreign grocery stores. You can also cut your cost of living by shopping at outdoor markets for produce, using public transportation and learning to love chinese food.
If you want to take a couple years to really save up money, moving overseas is a great way to do it. The best part is that since everything is so different you can really change the way you live and what you spend money on, and it’s all part of the adventure.
Have you found it relatively easy to make friends in Beijing?
Do you have any basic tips that you have learned from your experience about moving to Beijing or about living in Beijing that you could pass on to me?
If you are coming to Beijing with your spouse the transition is usually hardest for the spouse who is not working full time, so once you get here I would definitely suggest finding something really fulfilling to put some of your time and energy into. It might be studying Chinese or maybe working with one of the many non-profits here in Beijing, but it seems that a lot of families leave because the non-working spouse is bored, lonely or burnt out.
One of the most important moments for my wife Kara was when someone called her asking for advice about where to buy wheat germ. When she became a resource to other people here and really felt like she had something to give.
Many people move to China and simply try to recreate their life from back home, and try to avoid too much ‘real China’. That can be very frustrating, because many things will be different, and there will be a lot of culture shock no matter what. The best attitude to have is that you are moving to China to experience something entirely new. Plan on learning to thrive in China, learn to enjoy the public transportation, and hole in the wall Chinese restaurants. Shop at markets and Chinese stores. Explore your neighborhood and try new things. Travel by overnight train. If you do things like that, I don’t think you’ll regret moving to China.
Transitioning to life in Beijing can be difficult, but it can also be really enjoyable. We are working on finishing up the “Newcomer’s Guide to Beijing,” which will be a free eBook available here at The Middle Kingdom designed to help people navigate the first couple weeks in Beijing.
Kara will also be launching a Beijing Transition Accomplice service in May. She will be available to help newcomers who want an actual person to guide them through their first encounters with markets, cheap Chinese restaurants, public transportation, and more. If you read the Newcomer’s Guide and find yourself wishing you could have another expat present as you learn all of this, consider making Kara your Transition Accomplice. UPDATE: Kara is working full time this year and won’t be doing the Transition Accomplice program anymore. Sorry 
photo credit: Zebra Pares via photopin cc
Hi, we are moving to Shunyi May 27. I would love Kara or someone to show mé around sanlitun and the Best markets, shopping etc….Best, Shea Kamp
I love the term “transition accomplice” – what a great description! I totally agree that engaging with “real” China is the best way to enjoy your time here – not just while you’re here, but when you go home. I’ve talked to several people who, having left, wished they’d had more “Chinese” experiences to look back on and tell stories about – rather than just Chinese frustrations.
Also, a quick note on housing: there are some affordable housing complexes in Shunyi, but as with most places up there, you’ll want your own transport – at least an electric bike or scooter. A 200m2 apartment at Modern House is only about 5,000 RMB a month, and a small house in Gahood is about 10,000 RMB a month. Legend Garden is also a really lovely complex, with beautiful park areas, and has 2 bedroom apartments for about 5,000 RMB a month.
I maybe going to Beijing for three months for my job to train people to run the same machines I run my company has a plant over there and alll my expenses are paid for do u have any advice for me I’m alittle scared I have never been out of te country is it pretty safe over there
Sara,
Congratulations on the opportunity to experience the world like that. Beijing is a very safe city by world standards. Traffic can be kind of scary but in terms of personal safety it’s not a big concern. I assume you’ll be provided with a translator of some sort? The scariest part is often feeling lost and unable to communicate, but if you have someone to help you then it shouldn’t be a problem.
My best advice is to take the leap.
Beijing as a city is very foreigner friendly and I think you’ll have a great time. You will probably deal with some culture shock, but 3 months isn’t nearly as long as it sounds while you’re thinking about it now. Good luck.
Thank you for your blog, it is very helpful (I have read a lot of it)! My husband and I maybe moving to Beijing on a 2 year company placement. One of the questions we are concerned about is how bad is the pollution/air quality? I understand we would purchase an air purifier for every room, but when you google for this info, you only get hits that are dated around the time of the Olympics. Thank you for your input and we will be inquiring about your wife’s tranistion help as soon as we move!
It’s true that the air pollution in Beijing can be really bad. The US embassy here has an air pollution Twitter (twitter.com/beijingair or @beijingair) so you can follow it day by day. There also is a bit more info about it at http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/070109air.html.
The truth is we don’t have an air purifier and we generally don’t let the daily air quality affect our plans, except that I don’t go running on really bad days. The air quality is a bit when you get outside the city to the north (the wind tends to blow south so the pollution get’s pushed that way), so if you live in Shunyi or in ChangPing district it’s a little better.
Thanks for all the information here. We just moved to Beijing for a year (family of four). We’re pretty fixed on the neighborhood we want to live in– Dongzhimenwai– because of the kids’ school. Next challenge is finding an apartment. I know this area is more expensive than the outlying areas, but for us, it’s worth it to avoid a commute for the kids. Is it absolutely recommended to have an agent? Can we just get an agent by walking into an office or should we get recommended by friend-of-friend-of-friend? Does anyone have experiences with living in the smaller, older buildings versus the bigger, newer ones?
For anyone who wants to get a start on the language, I also should put in a plug for chinesepod.com which we have been using for about 9 months in preparation. It has been very useful.
Tami,
DongZhiMen is nice area, very convenient and lots of good restaurants. If you have someone that can speak Chinese and go with you, you can walk into just about any little real-estate office and ask them to show you some apartments. It’s pretty hard to find an apartment without an agent, but don’t feel like you have to be loyal to the first one you talk to. I’m sure a bunch of the agents in that area speak English so you could try walking in on your own.
The biggest thing, or should I say smallest thing with the older apartments is the size of the kitchen. They also tend to have more plumbing and electricity issues, but occasionally you’ll find a nice one that has been renovated.
I just got a job offer in Haidian and plan to accept it and move in January. I’d love to find a bilingual elementary school for my third grader to join mid-school-year but am having a hard time finding one on the West side of town. Daystar seems good but then do we live near it and then I do an hour commute everyday, or live halfway between? Oh, and I need a real estate agent too. Plus, I’d love to connect with Kara. –
Sanfranciscan
I check many comments and very nice information. My story is that I have a internship opportunity in Goldwind for 6 month and they are offering me 4000 RMB and I have Accommodation, including electricity and water bills, Transportation to and from the company, Daily lunch at the company canteen, Commercial insurance and visa extension costs, Access to sports and cultural facilities. I know that for one person that sounds very good, but I am planing on taking my wife with me so I need to know if I would have to prevent to take more money or if I should be good enough.
Thank you for the assistance.
Jose,
¥4000 is probably possible, but it’s going to be pretty tight for two people. Since it’s just a 6 month assignment you might be ok. I find that it’s easy to live in China cheaply for a short time, but after a while you need more money to be here long term. The only thing about your package is that you might find the canteen food to be less than ideal. Every canteen is different, but some are not very good.
I just accepted a 2yrs assignment in Beijing and will start in January 2012.
My main problem is looking for a International School for my daughter year 6 and accommodation nearby the school to minimize the traveling time for my daughter.
You got any recommendation for school and accommodation?
Chris,
Do you know where your office is? Do you have concerns about the price of schooling or does your company cover it? There are a several really good schools out in Shunyi (ISB, Dulwich, British School, WAB), but you may want to also look at IAB (near the Olympic park) or BCIS which is a great school downtown.
Thanks Matt.
It is said to be between Ring Road 4 and 5, Galaxy Building.
The company is covering the schooling and accommodation (approx. RMB20K).
I was offered a job teaching in Shunyi , I have no desire to live in a foreign enclave. Since I will be making 16.00 RMB before tax and my girlfriend will be making less . I would like to live in an area that’s between downtown and Shunyi .
Do you have any suggestions?
I’m a little confused about the pay, is that ¥1600 per month, or ¥16,000 per month?
The area that I’d recommend is WangJing, which is also where we live. It’s the northeast corner of Beijing between 4th and 5th ring road. It’s definitely in the city and not a foreign enclave type place, but it’s a straight shot out to the Shunyi area. Which school will you be at?
Hi! I am slightly different as I will be a little out of Beijing – in Langfang. Company wi
ll pay $1000/month towards housing. I really would like a 2 bedroom even if I need to pay the extra. My salary is very nice and there are no worries there. Can I relate Beijing costs to what it will be in Langfang? I arrive in China Dec 22nd! I am very excited!
Pennie,
I know several people that have lived or currently live in LangFang. Tanya, who often comments on the blog used to live there. You can take the Beijing costs and probably lower them by at least 25%. Taxis, rent, and food are all less expensive there. The main increase in cost that you can expect is that you may be traveling into Beijing fairly often so you would have to pay a driver. There are not the same Wester grocery and food options in LangFang.
Hey Good morning i see you guys have been helping a lot different people,i will travel to china in different cities like Shanghai, Beijing ,may b Guangzhou for the interest of coffee, i can pay to some one who can assist me in these cities and take me to few business places as i will be new to the city and i dont want to be lost in the city so if some one can assist me and also helps me in finding few importers of arabica i would like to have few meetings with them.i would also be looking forward to stay in a hotel or hire a apartment for a month so i can get help from you
any single type of help will be appreciated..
regards
Hi There,
Does anyone have any experience in joining your boyfriend as an expat in Beijing?
He gets a business visa every year for 3 years, but if a couple is not married,it’s not possible to get a dependent visa or is there?
Do I need to ask for a family visit visa, which is only valid for 3 months?
do I have the do the visa hustle every 3 months?
Doesn’t feel very comfortable,does it?
Does anyone knows a good solution for this?
Karina,
I think you should plan on getting a tourist visa and traveling out of the country every three months. Dependent visas won’t be issued unless you’re married and I don’t think family visit visas will apply in this case. Traveling out of the country can be just going to Hong Kong for a couple hours or taking a bus to the border of Mongolia. It’s a hassle, but not the worst thing in the world.
I’m moving to BJ in a few months on a 2 year expat assignment. Your website has been a great resource. Thank you.
I’m looking at places to live online. Does your recommendation for “The Seasons” in Wangjing still stand?
Any other compounds you recommend?
Hi Matt,
Thanks for your information, but I’m still confuse, I need your comment. I will move to Shunyi District next month with my family, so I looking apartment/house with 2 BR and full furnish, but my company just give me allowance 500usd/mth for Apartment, you think in can find apartment/house, ( I will work near East of Hou Hao Jia Tuan Village, Nan Cai Town, Shun Yi ), also how about School ( I looking bilingual school/primary grade 4, same problem…..500usd/mth )
Regards
Indra
Indra,
Hou Hao Jia Tuan Village is out in “proper Shunyi” which is a town outside of Beijing. The area that most foreigners here think of as “Shunyi” and where most of the foreigners live is a bit further in, near the International Exhibition Center. I think 500 USD is a bit on the low end for finding a nice apartment, but I’m sure you can find something out there for that price. Check out our post on cost of living in Beijing to get a better idea what to expect.
Hi Matt,
Great, well-written, informative website you have here.
Is there a legal drinking age in Beijing? Do night clubs have bouncers like they do here in the US? I’ve heard that there really is no legal age.
Where do most Beijing car owners park their car?
thanks!
Linda
Linda,
The legal drinking age in China is 18 years old. Enforcement, however, is very very lax. There are bouncers/thugs at most of the clubs, but they are primarily to deal with problem individuals, not to check IDs. Re: cars: there are underground parking garages for many of the apartment complexes, but many people just find parking spots wherever they can on the streets. Parking continues to be problem in Beijing.
Hi. Just found your website. We are moving to Shanghai in a couple days. Do you know of a website similar to yours that may be helpful to us? Thank you.
Ray,
I don’t know of a Shanghai based site like ours, but most of the stuff we write will be applicable for Shanghaites too.
Hello,
I recently got a job offer from a school in Bijing. Salary is around 26,000RMB pm.Insurance ,visa costs and flight is covered. The school is in Chaoyang district. I’m a single person and would like to rent an apartment of westen standards.Would also like to know the cost of living in Beijing.BF and lunch are provided by the school.
Sorry for the long wait on a reply, but yes 26,000 is a pretty good salary for a teacher and you should be able to find a decent 1-bedroom apartment for ¥5000-6000 a month.
Thanks so much for all the info. I applied for a six months scholarship. I will be going to China University of Petroleum in Changpin District. Do you know the place? Any tips suggestions? Is it far from tourists attractions? Thanks
From the google search I did it looks like your school is in Changping city, which is part of Beijing province and is about 45 minutes from the main part of Beijing. There is a Beijing metro line that runs out to Changping and connects it to the rest of the metro system. Changping is very close to the mountains that surround Beijing. There aren’t that many western stores and restaurants in the area, but the cost of living is a bit lower. We do know that there are other foreigners that live out there and really like it. My impression is that you will get a bit more of the “authentic” China experience, but still be within convenient distance from Beijing proper.