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Beijing is a fascinating, fun, massive, and, at times, challenging city to live in. But it is also the cultural and political center of China, offering many opportunities for academic enrichment, career development, and personal growth. IUP staff will share more advice and strategies for adjusting to Beijing during Orientation Week.
Glitzy Skyscrapers to Traditional Temples
Beijing is a thriving city with twenty-one million residents. There is an undeniable energy in the city, as people go about their daily lives, new infrastructure and buildings are under construction, and the city’s history and traditions are constantly being reimagined. As the capital of China, Chinese from all over the country and hundreds of thousands of international residents are attracted to what the city has to offer. Depending on what you’re looking for, you can find cutting edge technology, glitzy new buildings, or traditional temples and cultural sites that have stood for centuries.
Dining
Beijing has a rich and constantly evolving restaurant scene. Residents can find traditional Beijing snacks like dumplings, jianbing, zhajiangmian, or Peking duck in both hole-in-the-wall spots and fine dining establishments. Every one of China’s regional cuisines are represented in Beijing, as are international foods from all over the world. In the Wudaokou neighborhood alone, IUP students can choose from Korean, Japanese, Italian, Pakistani, American, and many other types of food. Once students begin to explore the alleyways inside the Second Ring Road or the fancier dining options in Chaoyang District, there are more food and beverage options than one could possibly try over their stay in Beijing.
Entertainment
Beijing also offers many different entertainment options that naturally come with living in an international city. From early morning rounds of taijiquan in one of the city’s many parks, to Chinese chess in the hutongs, or the cycle of lively festivals and fairs throughout the city, interested students can experience the rhythms of traditional life in the city. Beijing is also the center of the contemporary Chinese art scene, with many galleries and workshops throughout the city. Similarly, the music scene has flourished in Beijing, with local Chinese bands as well as international acts playing nearly every weekend.
Cost of Living
Living expenses in Beijing have risen significantly over the last decade. Housing will be students’ largest living expense, with a bedroom in a shared apartment in the Wudaokou neighborhood costing between 3000 – 4500 RMB per month (roughly $450-$700 USD). Food and local transportation, however, can be very inexpensive. You can still find a delicious bowl of noodles for a couple of dollars, but you can also experience fine dining for much higher prices. Using the buses, subways, and shared bike rentals can also get you from one end of the city to the other for under $5 USD. Taxi cabs or ride hailing apps like Didi Chuxing, however, can cost well as much as major American cities.
Local Transportation
Beijing is a large, spread out city. Most of Beijing is organized along the cardinal directions (i.e. North, South, East, and West). Taking some time to locate yourself in relation to these four directions will make getting around the city much easier.
Subway
The Beijing subway system is the best ways to move around the city, especially if one wants to travel a long distance in the shortest amount of time. You should purchase a rechargeable Yikatong (一卡通) Transportation Card , which works for subways and buses so you can simply swipe your card when entering and exiting the subway. Subway rides now cost between 3 and 7 RMB, depending on the distance one travels. In general, one can get anywhere in the city within 40 – 45 minutes once on the subway train. Subway entrance and trains can get extremely crowded during the morning and evening rush hours. Plan your trip accordingly!
Nearly all subway stations have Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and Northwest exits. Figuring out which direction you’re facing when you come out of the subway goes a long way to orienting yourself in Beijing.
The closest subway stations to IUP are:
- Wudaokou Station, Subway Line 13, 2 km southeast of IUP, 30 minute walk
- Qinghua Donglu Xikou Station, Subway Line 15, 2.3 km east of IUP, 25 minute walk from IUP to the #3 East Gate of Tsinghua
- Beijing Daxue Dongmen Station, Subway Line 4, 2.4 km southwest of IUP, 35 minute walk from IUP
Subway stations are very spread out in the city, so you should expect to spend almost as much time getting to and from the subway station as you will spend on the train.
Download Subway MapBuses
Beijing has a highly developed network of public buses. It will take some time to learn the bus routes that are most useful for your daily life, but once you do, you can get around for a very low price. The Yikatong Transportation card works on city buses. Rides generally cost a few RMB.
Bicycles
Just as Beijing is a large city, Tsinghua has a very large, spread-out campus. For this reason, bicycles are more a necessity than a convenience. You should ride with caution and always wear a helmet.
- Students can purchase new or used bicycles at shops in and around campus, or from IUP alumni when they finish their studies in the program. You should spend no more than a few hundred RMB to purchase a basic bicycle for getting around campus.
- More and more Beijing residents are using bike-sharing apps like Mobike. You will need to sign up by entering your full name, phone number, taking a photo of your passport, and paying a deposit, but you can then enjoy short-term use of shared bicycles throughout the city. Please see the Useful Apps for Life in China below.
- Some students also choose to purchase an electric scooter. They can cost between 2,000 – 10,000 RMB. Electric scooters are very convenient for traveling longer distances in the city but are faster and more dangerous than bicycles. Please ride defensively and always wear a helmet!
Taxis and Ride Hailing Apps
Beijing has tens of thousands of official taxis in the city, most of which are two-toned sedans with a golden color along the side of the car. In theory, you can stand on the side of the road and waive to an empty cab to be picked up.
Recently, however, most Beijing residents use a ride-hailing phone app, called Didi Chuxing, which allows for online reservation of nearby taxis and shared rides. You will need to register with your name, passport number, phone number, and will need to activate your preferred online payment method, like AliPay or WeChat Wallet.
Traffic in the city can be extreme, especially during the morning and evening rush hours, or around popular nightlife districts during the weekends. Plan accordingly.
Useful Apps
