Essentials Guide Beijing

B E I J I NG

ESSENTIALSTHE

GUIDE

FIRSTEDITION2010

WWW.BRITISHSCHOOL.ORG.CN

Choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions that you will ever make. The British School of Beijing will provide your child with the highest quality education, based on the National Curriculum of England, in an international setting.

As the longest established school in Beijing offering a full British curriculum, The British School of Beijing provides a traditional high value education and prepares pupils for GCSEs and A Levels. As a result, students develop and mature into young adults equipped with the qualifications and skills to enter universities worldwide.

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www.britishschool.org.cn

Essentials Guide Beijing 1st Edition

Copyright © The British School of Beijing 2010All Rights Reserved

Chief Editor - Travis MurrayManaging Editor - Laura WestleyPrimary Design - Shanghai Yang Ma AdvertisingSecondary Design - Elliot RichardsPrimary Copywriting - Tom BewickSecondary Copywriting - Travis Murray, Mike Embley, Laura WestleyProofreading - Aelred Doyle

While every possible effort has been taken to ensure that the facts contained within this guide are accurate, The British School of Beijing cannot accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions that this guide may contain.

No part of this guide may be reproduced, or distributed by elec-tronic means or any other without the prior permission of The British School of Beijing.

B E I J I NG

ESSENTIALSTHE

GUIDE

GETTING AROUND

MONEY & BANKING

GETTING CONNECTED

HEALTH CARE

TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION

FINDING HOUSING

GETTING SETTLED

CULTURE SHOCK

EDUCATION

EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT

HISTORY

PEOPLE & CULTURELANGUAGE

GEOGRAPHYCLIMATE

ADMINISTRATIVE PREPARATIONS

BOOKS, FILMS & MUSICHEALTH & WELLNESS

PRACTISING RELIGION

EATING & DRINKING

SHOPPING

TOURIST ATTRACTIONSFAMILY ACTIVITIES

GETTING INVOLVED

BEIJING NEIGHBOURHOODS

WHEN YOU ARRIVE

PREPARING TO GO

LIVING IN BEIJING

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here is no easy way to prepare for a place like Beijing. There is simply nothing else like it in the world. Beijing is a dynamic,

vibrant, inspiring and cosmopolitan metropolis. Most expats reveal experiencing an overall feeling that ‘this is where things are happening’. At the same time, Beijing is one of the world’s most historically and culturally rich cities, with six UNESCO World Heritage Sites and over 2,000 years of history. Beijing surprises newcomers with its lasting beauty and street level charm amid alarmingly rapid growth.

TIntroduction

The charm lies in the city’s ancient cultural and architectural roots, combined with its unrelenting drive into the future. Although an outsider will always be a laowai (foreigner), the people of Beijing are welcoming. Look forward to good friendships and respectable business relationships with local people.

eijing has a way of luring people in and keeping them. Be prepared to hear from expats and Chinese alike that

they came to Beijing to work or study years ago, and then couldn’t bring themselves to leave, even after experiencing the August heat and January freeze.

B

iving and working in Beijing means amazing career opportunities, exciting language challenges and cultural

immersion. You can enjoy food from all over Asia, mingle in a large and diverse expatriate community and be a part of the fastest-growing economy in the world. However, this also comes with frustrations. Beijing is crowded, noisy and chaotic.

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People push on the subway. The air quality is low. Adjusting to a new language, a new culture and a new government can be frustrating. Acclimating to a vastly different environment takes time, patience, flexibility and a good sense of humour.

his Beijing Essentials Guide is designed to help you prepare for Beijing, and settle in once you get there.

Despite its challenges, Beijing is an easy place to live as an expat. It has world-class hospitals, Western-standard accommodation and high-quality accredited international schools. Newcomers can find countless cultural events, interest groups and organisations to make Beijing become a home away from home.

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PREPARING TO GO

THE ESSENTIALS GUIDE BEIJING

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PREPARING TO GO

Preparing to go will be as much a mental journey as it will be a practical one. Understanding more about the dramatically different culture you are about to encounter will help prepare you for the experience. You can read a book or watch a movie we recommend or you can engage in your own research. Either way, the process will reward you.

The practical aspects of preparation are of course vital to ensuring that your journey begins on a positive note. This section will help you prepare on both fronts.

HISTORY

PEOPLE & CULTURE

LANGUAGE

GEOGRAPHY

CLIMATE

ADMINISTRATIVE PREPARATIONS

BOOKS, FILMS & MUSIC

PREPARING TO GO

CONTENTS

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WHEN YOU ARRIVE

THE ESSENTIALS GUIDE BEIJING

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At first, Beijing can feel overwhelming. Uprooting and travelling over multiple time zones is a strain on the constitution. To then have to navigate a gigantic, crowded and confusing city in a foreign language is altogether exhausting. If you can, take adequate time to adjust and get your bearings. Take the necessary precautions to stay healthy and rested during the first few weeks in Beijing. Besides eating well and becoming accustomed to a new sleeping pattern, make an effort to exercise and socialise with other expats. These measures will accelerate the adjustment to your new environment, alleviate stress and prevent the feeling of isolation that often accompanies the initial period in a new city and country. Keep in mind that as time passes, things will become more familiar, and things that seem impossible now will morph into routine. There are exciting things to do and see in Beijing, but first, it is important to take care of the necessities and learn the ropes. This section is designed to provide resources and orientation for new arrivals, laying the foundation for exploring and getting to know Beijing as a new resident.

GETTING AROUND

MONEY & BANKING

GETTING CONNECTED

HEALTH CARE

TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION

FINDING HOUSING

GETTING SETTLED

CULTURE SHOCK

EDUCATION

EMBASSIES

EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT

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PREPARING TO GOWHEN YOU ARRIVE

CONTENTS

LIVING IN BEIJING

THE ESSENTIALS GUIDE BEIJING

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

PRACTISING RELIGION

EATING & DRINKING

SHOPPING

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

FAMILY ACTIVITIES

GETTING INVOLVED

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PREPARING TO GOWHEN YOU ARRIVELIVING IN BEIJING

BEIJING NEIGHBOURHOODS

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Once you have found your new home, settled in and enrolled your kids in a good school, life in Beijing begins. Those elements that comprise the quality of life that you are used to are for the most part available in Beijing. In many ways your quality of life may increase.

In Beijing you will have access to a new world of possibilities including sumptuous and affordable massages, world-class shopping and fun and interesting activities to enjoy with your loved ones. This section will help guide you through the basics of living and enjoying your life in Beijing. The information and advice offered here is only the beginning, however. Beyond the borders of this book, you will find many hidden treasures that will surprise and amaze you while at the same time broadening your understanding of one of the oldest civilisations on earth.

We hope you have enjoyed our Essentials Guide Beijing and found it useful. Our goal is to

provide relocating families with a primer to life in Beijing, containing practical information to demystify the process and ease the transition to our city. As well, we hope that the images we selected convey the complex – and at times strikingly beautiful – character of the city and its people.

At The British School of Beijing we endeavour to provide for our students and families an environment

in which they can thrive during their time in Beijing. We take our role seriously and encourage you to visit us to find out more.

www.britishschool.org.cn