Basic Beijing

Beijing is hot

Beijing Expat — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 03:41:35 +0000

And I don’t mean hot in a cool, trendy, exciting way. I mean muggy, sweaty, pollution trapped in humidity hot.

Not a good time to visit. Spring and fall are best. If you’re thinking of taking a last-minute trip somewhere, I’d recommend Bali instead, where it’s warm and humid, for sure, but moderated by fresh ocean breezes.

2008 Olympics area

Beijing Expat — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:25:25 +0000

Home to two of the world’s most famous buildings, The Bird’s Nest and The Water Cube, this area is a nice place to visit for sports’ fans and those who like unique architecture.

Haidian, Wudaokou

Beijing Expat — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:16:45 +0000

These two areas are full of technology companies and some of Beijing’s — and China’s — most prominent Universities. It’s a nice area. Located northwest of the city center, these districts seem to have fresher air, more trees, fewer crowds, and are close to the city’s western foothills.

But for the casual tourist, I think this area is too far from the other sites and the other parts of the city that appeal to visitors. The restaurants and nightlife are oriented towards students, and it takes a long time to get anywhere else. If you want to take the subway, expect to take at least an hour to get anywhere. Taxis will get you around faster, but you could still be stuck in traffic for a long time. So I don’t recommend staying in this area if this is your first visit to Beijing, or you’re coming here to hang out and enjoy the city.

On the other hand, if you’re in the tech industry and are coming to Beijing on business, this area might be the best place for you. You’ll be near all the major software and technology companies — though you should be aware that these companies might have locations in different parts of the city. Microsoft’s engineers are on the west side, for example; administration is across town in the northeast.

For tourist’s, the main reason to come to this part of the city is to visit the Summer Palace, which is highly recommended. It’s a beautiful place, and great when the weather is nice.

CBD: Central Business District

Beijing Expat — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:54:09 +0000

Beijing’s CBD isn’t just for business people. There are enough nice restaurants and Western amenities here that you might want to stay here even as a tourist. But expect to pay a premium. This area is not ideal for the budget minded.

Houhai, Beihai, Lama Temple

Beijing Expat — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:32:31 +0000

A charming area North of the Forbidden City, with lakes and old-style hutong neighborhoods. A great place to see what Beijing used to look like.

I think of this area as the place where the backpackers and English-teacher types hang out; people looking for “authenticity” in a city that has very little left. It’s one of the few areas of the city that you might describe as delightful, and there are lots of old neighborhoods to explore. Head down a narrow alley and you’ll find people living in the same way Beijingers have for generations, in hutong courtyard houses.