GUIDE TO LIVING AND WORKING IN BEIJING

Living in Beijing

Housing

Expatriates living in Beijing have a wide variety of accommodation options. Prices vary enormously from relatively reasonably priced expatriate apartments, available for around US$2,000 per month to large detached houses in gated communities, which can cost many times more. There is lots of much cheaper accommodation too, although most of it is in designated "local" areas in which it is illegal for expatriates to live.

Key considerations when looking at locations include the ease with which you can reach your place of work. Therefore, the route to your office should be taken into account. Are the roads good or bad? Traffic is extremely busy in most of Beijing, but some routes are better than others. If you have children, similar considerations exist with respect to their schools.

Given the extremes of weather experienced in Bejing, your home must be able to cope with both the extreme cold and the very hot. During the summer, temperatures can get well up in to the 30's while in the winter they can drop below freezing with snow. Therefore, if you choose a big home, your heating/air-conditioning costs can be extremely high.

Social Life

The prevalence of mega-malls in Beijing reflects a love of shopping amongst the locals. Even those without the money to buy much tend to wander through these gleaming retail temples window shopping. The city's various markets also provide lots of excitement for the keen bargain hunter. However, the big malls are about more than just shopping and, for example, are home to lots of disparate dining options too.

The best known area for bars and clubs is Sanlitun, close to the embassy district north east of the City centre. A pleasant mix of Chinese, expats and tourists fill the innumerable bars, clubs and restaurants. The university district of Haidian also has a good night scene and unsurprisingly is popular with students keen to practice their English language skills. Slightly up market is the Back Lakes area, home to a collection of somewhat quieter, but extremely fashionable cafes and bars. If you are keen to find new English speaking friends or just to have a taste of home, you might try the Poacher Inn, the Hard Rock Cafe, and the Brauhaus.