Living in Beijing Guide - Dulwich College Beijing

27 Pages·2013·1.13 MB·English

LIVING

IN

BEIJING
CONTENTS
This book is not intended to be a comprehensive guide, but should be
enough to get started.

NOTE: contents are correct at time of writing (autumn 2013)

USEFUL CONTACTS College Information 3-4
Other Useful Contacts 5
LIVING IN BEIJING R e s o u rces 6
Transport 7
Communication 8-9
Travel and Activities 10-12
Especially for the Kids 12-15
Shopping, Eating Out and Entertainment 15-17

LANGUAGE A B r ie f G u i de to Speaking Chinese 18
Basic Phrases, Shopping 19
Numbers, Date, Time 20-22
Getting Around 23
Giving Your Address
USEFUL LOCATIONS T o u r i s t S i g h t s & Popular 23-24
Areas
Around School Campus 25
Local Area: Shops/Restaurants 25-27
MAP OF LOCAL AREA

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USEFUL CONTACTS
COLLEGE INFORMATION
Dulwich College Beijing 北京德威英国国际学校
Pinyin: Beijing Dewei Yinguo Guoji Xuexiao

CAMPUS ADDRESSES
Legend Garden Campus Reception ([phone]
Legend Garden Vilas (Gate 7), 顺义区, 首都机场路 89号 , 丽京花
89 Capital Airport Road 园
Shunyi District, Beijing 101300
Riviera Campus Reception ([phone]
1 Xiang Jiang Bei Lu, Jing Shun Lu 朝阳区, 京顺路香江北路 1号,香江
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100103 花园

Who should you contact at the school? Please view our website for
guidance of who to contact regarding your child’s education and well being
or any concerns you may have.
All emails for Dulwich College Beijing staff members are generic:
OTHER USEFUL CONTACTS
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
SOS Alarm Centre [phone] (24 hour)
Kunsha Building, No.16 Xinyuanli 北京市朝阳区新源里 16号琨莎中心
Beijing United Family Hospital [phone] (24 hour)
2 Jiangtai Lu, Lido 北京市朝阳区将台路 2号
LOCAL EMERGENCY NUMBERS
Police 110
Vehicle Accident 122
Fire 119
Ambulance 120 or 999

EMBASSIES & OTHER GREAT NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
Upon your arrival to China, it is recommended that you contact your
embassy and register as a resident of China.
There are so many ways you can start getting busy with your new life in
Beijing. The following organisations offer a great opportunity to obtain
information about Beijing and meet new friends. These organisations are
open to all foreign passport holders. Your embassy may be able to help
you find similar organisations for your own country, however, the
following organisations have an international membership.
• Friends of Dulwich – this is Dulwich College’s parent run
organisation.
• INN – International Newcomers Network – www.innbeijing.org
Monthly meetings and informal coffee mornings
• British Club – www.britishclubbj.org
Meetings every alternate Tuesday, interesting guest speakers
• ANZA – www.anzabeijing.com
The Australian/NZ Association – very active, good charity events

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LIVING IN BEIJING
RESOURCES
The following information gives you a brief introduction to life in Beijing.
There are a huge number of resources available for expats to help
navigate Beijing life. There’s also a Handy Guide Google map here:
http://tiny.cc/o492e
FREE LISTINGS MAGAZINES
• The Beijinger: monthly print publication also online at:
www.thebeijinger.com/. Also publishes a children’s magazine, Beijing
Kids www.beijing-kids.com
• City Weekend: fortnightly, also online at
www.cityweekend.com.cn/beijing/.
• Time Out Beijing: monthly, also online at
www.timeoutcn.com/Magazine/Digitaledtion/Default.html.
BOOKS
Aside from the usual Lonely Planet/Rough Guide books, have a look at the
phrasebooks, food guides and taxi books. For sale in branches of Jenny
Wang’s and April Gourmet, or try The Bookworm in Sanlitun.
WEBSITES
• www.mobilenative.com a handy searchable site providing shop and
restaurant listings across Beijing. Provides a map and English/Chinese
address, and reviews. SMS service available on 13466660777.
• www.xianzai.com provides email updates on offers and events.
IPHONE APPS (buy from the iTunes Music Store)
• Beijing Taxi Guide (£5.99) – extensive listings, with addresses in
Chinese
• Beijing Genius Map (59p) – offline map
• Explore Beijing Subway map (£1.19)
• Pleco Chinese Dictionary (free, but pay-for add-ons)
• DianHua dictionary (free)

TRANSPORT
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Taxis are cheap and abundant in Beijing, starting at 10 RMB (11 RMB at
night), then 2 RMB per km (3 RMB per km over 15km). There is a 2 RMB
surcharge (add it on at the end when you pay) for journeys over 3km to
allow for rising fuel prices. Most drivers do not speak English and driving
can be erratic. Be aware that many taxis still do not have seatbelts,
especially in the back, and you usually get in on the right side only. Taxis
are harder to find in rush hours and in bad weather. See the language
section for some useful phrases.
• Download Beijing Taxi Guide app or carry a map and your destination
written in Chinese characters: taxi books and business cards (called
‘míngpiàn’) are helpful.
• Some drivers are nervous of foreigners and might refuse a fare.
Learning some Chinese, and sounding confident, usually helps.
• Drivers usually know road names and big tourist sites - learn the
former and find out if any of the latter are near your destination.
• Using an expressway incurs a toll for outbound traffic from the city
centre - normally the driver will pay but you should add it on to the
final bill (5 or 10 RMB for journeys within Beijing).
• To order a taxi, call 96103, then dial 8 for English. The service costs 3
RMB extra (paid to the driver), and at busy times you should order in
advance.
• Driving restrictions are in place. Cars are not allowed on the road
th
inside the 5 Ring Road one day per week, as per your plate number.
OTHER OPTIONS
SUBWAY: The subway system is being constantly extended across the city
and is cheap (2 RMB). See www.explorebj.com/subway
BUSES: Buses are extensive and cheap (1-2 RMB) but can get busy. Bus
stop information is usually only displayed in Chinese, but this site may
help: www.bjbus.com/home/map_section.php?uPageType=5.
DRIVING: To drive a car you will need to get a Chinese driving licence.
The test includes an eyesight test and a written exam which you must get
90% correct. Try Expat Cars (www.expatcar.com), Beijing Car Solutions
(www.bjcarsolution.com) or Star Auto Club www.stautoclub.com.cn for
help with cars, licences and insurance. You can hire private drivers,
perhaps ask around for recommendations.
WALKING/CYCLING: Beijing is not a very pedestrian-friendly city, but
there are some areas that are easy and pleasant to walk around. Be
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aware that vehicles rarely stop at zebra crossings, and can turn right at
junctions even on a pedestrian green light. Bicycles are readily available
and there are many cycle lanes (though these are often used by drivers).

COMMUNICATION
TELEPHONE
IP Cards offer cheap international calls and can be purchased from
newsstands, mobile phone shops and some markets. You should be able
to get them for less than the face value. Note: recommend 08448619090
for cheap UK-to-China calls, or try Planet Numbers online.
Mobile phone handsets and SIM cards are readily available. There are two
providers, China Mobile and China Unicom (the latter has better coverage
at Legend Campuses). Pay-as-you-go SIM cards are the easiest option,
with top-up cards available in many shops (including the Friends Shop in
Legend Garden and branches of Jenny Wang’s). If you want a contract
telephone you will have to pay in person, each month, at the provider’s
shop where you bought the SIM. For more information go to
www.mobilenative.com/chinamobile.php
INTERNET
Home internet access is easily arranged through your landlord or
management company. Wireless access is readily available in Beijing in
many restaurants and cafes, and is usualy free of charge.
www.mobilenat ive.com has a ‘search for venues with wifi’ function.
Skype is free software which allows you to have free computer-to-
computer calls. For a charge you can make calls to landlines or mobiles.
The Skype App for IPhones is also available. See www.skype.com/intl/en
for more information.
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POST
Incoming mail can be unreliable. Documents and letters are usually fine
packages can be problematic and may be opened by Customs.
Sending a letter internationally costs around 5-7 RMB per letter. The
following Post Offices have English-speaking staff:
• Jianguomenwai Dajie Yabao Lu, Dongcheng District. (tel [phone])
(北京国际邮电局,东城区 建国门外大街 雅宝路). Main international
office.
• Inside the shopping complex at Lido Metropark hotel (丽都假日饭店
Lido fàndiàn, pron. lee-do fan-dee-en).
• Gongti Beilu, Sanlitun, opposite the Worker’s Stadium North Gate.
You can also use DHL, Fedex and UPS to send items - see their websites
for details. Sending documents to the UK is around 200RMB.

TRAVEL & ACTIVITIES
TRAVEL
Aside from making bookings directly with airlines/ hotels, you may find
the following resources useful. The Excursion Guide (details Page 6) has
ideas for short trips around Beijing, whilst the free magazines also provide
listings on travel and tours. There are many travel services in Beijing
which can book transport etc. for you. This is particularly useful for
booking train tickets which can be time-consuming to buy yourself.
• Ctrip: Payment in cash or credit card (faxed copies of the credit
card wil be required). Tickets can be delivered. www.ctrip.com
• Elong: Payment details as above. Offices in Lido. www.elong.net
• BJS Travel has offices in Pinnacle Plaza and inside Jenny Wang’s
at Chaoyang Park West Gate. Email
Great Wall: Accessible from Beijing are the following sites:
Badaling: Approximately one hours drives from Beijing, but being the
closet site to Beijing also means it is the busiest and most popular with
tourists.
Mutianyu: Approximately 1.5 hrs, still popular but not as busy. Take the
option of a cable car up, walk along the Wall for approximately 40
minutes and toboggan down. Would recommend this site for children and
others who are less able. The Schoolhouse restaurant is nearby for good
rewarding lunches (Call ahead at the weekends)!
Jinshanling and Simitai: further away, not all renovated, good 3-4 hour
hike. At time of printing was being maintained, so check in advance that
this site has re-opened.
Lesser known sites: Ming Dynasty Walls, Old Summer Palace, Longqing
Gorge (near Badaling Great Wall), Fragrant Hills, Botanic Gardens,
Yonghegong (Lama Temple), Bell and Drum Towers (Gulou/ Zhonglou),
Legation Quarter, Wangfujing Snack Street (try some scorpion or
seahorses on sticks!), Panjiayuan Market (antiques market, also known as
the ‘dirt’ market) and Confucius Temple.
Parks: Jingshan Park (great view over Forbidden City), Beihai Park
(boating), Ritan Park, Chaoyang Park (sports and activities), Ditan Park
rd
Architecture: Olympic Park, CCTV Building (East 3 Ring Road), National
Centre for the Performing Arts (‘the Egg’)
Culture: 798 art district and Caochangdi art district (both Lido), China Art
Museum, City Planning Museum, Acrobatics shows (try Chaoyang Theatre)
‘Old Beijing’: hutongs (traditional alleys/streets) around Houhai/Gulou
and the Forbidden City, Liulichang Culture Street (SW of Tiananmen)

ACTIVITIES
Beijing has a huge number of sports clubs, cultural and national groups,
alumni organisations and other interest groups. Check the free magazines
for full listings, or try the following companies.
• China Culture Center www.chinaculturecenter.org Offers tours,
classes and courses.
• The Hutong www.the-hutong.com or phone [phone]. Offers classes
and courses in a traditional setting.
• Beijing Hikers www.beijinghikers.com or phone [phone]. Organises
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hikes of varying difficulty around Beijing.
• Yin Yang Center www.yinyangbeijing.com Courses and classes.
OUR STAFF RECOMMEND…
Manicures, pedicures and massages are cheap and abundant. Treat
yourself!
Sunday brunches are a Beijing fixture. From all-you-can-eat-and-drink
champagne extravaganzas (The Westin is a staff favourite or Sureno at
The Opposite House), to tasty fry-ups (try The Vineyard). Check magazine
listings for the dedicated brunch section.
Outdoor eating and drinking can be great on summer evenings. Sanlitun
has a number of restaurants/bars with outside space (Migas, Blue Frog,
Flamme, Element Fresh, Fez, Kokomo, The Saddle, Bar Blu) plus try The
Pavilion (West Worker’s Stadium), Xiu Bar (CBD Park Hyatt hotel),
Parkside Bar (Lido), Q Bar (Sanlitun Nanlu).
Wandering in the parks at the weekend is a popular Beijing pastime.
Beijingers love parks and you’ll see ballroom dancers, singers, accordion
players, calligraphers, games of table tennis, mahjong and more. The
exercise parks, similar to outdoor gyms are fun and busy. Temple of
Heaven park very early on a Sunday morning is unbeatable.
798 – Art Zone – wander around the many galleries show-casing Chinese
Contemporary Art and enjoy a coffee or lunch break at one of the many
cafes.

ESPECIALLY FOR THE KIDS

A very useful website when you arrive in Beijing and have children to think
about is www.beijing-kids.com Beijing Kids is a monthly publication (you can
often pick up a copy in bookstores, housing compound clubhouses, and
many expat haunts) with parallel website aimed at expat families in Beijing.
Their website directory (and back pages of print publication) is full of places
to go, places to eat, shopping guides etc. Here are a few things to get you
started.

SHOPPING
LeYou
Level B1 Europlaza, 99 Yuxiang Lu, Tianzhu Zhen, Shunyi District
顺义区天竺镇裕翔路 99号欧陆广场 5层
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