Beijing Neighbourhoods

Beijing is an incredibly diverse city with wide variety of options for living. If you are coming to Beijing with a family you may prefer living in the suburbs where life is quieter. If you crave living near the action you may choose to live downtown. There are also options that will give you the best of both worlds. The following section should help you begin the decision making process.

CBD (Central Business District)

The CBD is the modern, bustling financial centre of Beijing. It is characterised by glass buildings, towering apartment blocks and shopping – lots and lots of shopping. The CBD forms the southern end of Chaoyang District; however, it’s a far cry from the leafy neighbourhoods around spacious Chaoyang Park. The area is sliced in half by the Third Ring Road. Subway Line 1 stops at each of the major points of interest.
Investment has been pouring into the CBD since it was demarcated in 2000, and rapid development continues. The CBD is home to some of the largest malls in Beijing and is also full of high-end bars and restaurants. This area is popular with single professionals who like the activity and being close to work.

Housing

Almost all the real estate in the CBD is quite valuable, and rents are generally higher than anywhere else in Beijing, and perhaps anywhere else in China. Almost all housing comes in the form of high-rise flats, and the rents tend to reflect the luxury of the accommodation. A two-bedroom flat in the Fortune Plaza development can set you back RMB12,000 per month, while a similar apartment in Central Park or Blue Castle will cost half as much.

Health Care

The Beijing Vista Clinic in the Kerry Centre is a reputable private hospital that offers 24-hour emergency care, general medical services and a pharmacy stocked with Western medicine. You can find full dental services at SDM Dental in the China World Shopping Mall.

Education

Kids in the CBD usually make the reasonably short commute up to the international schools in Sanlitun.

Positives

This is Beijing’s designer label district and home to most of the high-end malls. However, there is shopping of all sorts in the CBD, including a Russian Market and many Chinese outlets. There’s even a Wal-Mart in Wanda Plaza. The area is also cram-packed with nice bars and restaurants. If you want to be near the action, the CBD is ideal.

Negatives

Other than charming Ritan Park, CBD lacks quality green space. The area is almost purely concrete and you have to make a concerted effort to find a quiet refuge. Space is tight in the CBD, making it difficult to find large apartments to support a growing family. If traffic and noise really bother you, consider living further north in Chaoyang.

Shunyi

Shuny is north of Beijing, 30 km from downtown Beijing. It has a very suburban feel that is a far cry from the noise and bustle of Beijing. Referred to as an expat village, Shunyi is primarily populated by expat families drawn to the open space, tree-lined streets, nice villa housing, expansive international school campuses and milder traffic.

Housing

Most families live in gated, spacious villa communities. These compounds generally range from luxurious to very luxurious, coming furnished with European imports, fitted kitchens and walled gardens. The larger compounds have spas, fitness clubs and swimming pools. Rents at the high-end villas start at nearly RMB30,000 per month. At the other end of the spectrum, town houses in developments such as Capital Paradise begin at about RMB10,000 per month.

Health care

The comprehensive and very popular Beijing United Family Clinic in the Pinnacle Plaza is linked with Beijing United Hospital in nearby Lido. Beijing United Family Hospital’s Shunyi Clinic provides outpatient medical care including family medicine, family counselling and pediatrics in the heart of Shunyi District.

Education

All of the popular international school brands are represented here, including Eton International, the British School of Beijing, the International School of Beijing and the Children’s House Montessori Kindergarten.

Positives

Shunyi is virtually a re-creation of Western suburbia, with all the same shops and restaurants. It also has plenty of green space and family-friendly amenities. For many expats, it feels like home. The air is a bit cleaner and the traffic and noise are much less of a nuisance than in Beijing proper. There are also lots of school options, and your child’s commute time will be short.

Negatives

Shunyi feels like Western suburbia; it does not feel like China. Living in Shunyi will deprive you of the experience of integrating into Beijing and Chinese society. It is at least one hour’s drive from downtown Beijing. Due to all of the working professionals and company packages, rents are high in Shunyi.

Lido

In the north-east corner of Chaoyang is the small but dynamic international area of Lido. Prior to the development of villas in suburban Shunyi, this was Beijing’s main expat residential area. Lido is packed with international hotels, shops and restaurants. Local expats regularly organise social events. Lido’s convenient location near parks, entertainment, art galleries and international schools assures that Lido remains popular with expat families.

Housing

Developments are newer than in other areas of Chaoyang Park, but rents are still reasonable because Lido is relatively far from the city centre. Most expats live in large apartments with nice amenities and 24-hour security. Rents range from as little as RMB3,000 per month at Lido Place to RMB20,000 in the Richmond Park or Upper East Side complexes. The Hairun International Condominiums are inside a complex that is home to a Starbucks, a Jenny Lou’s and a popular bakery.

Health care

Beijing United Family, the largest international hospital in Beijing and the most popular among expats, is in Lido. You also have the option of going to the Amcare Women’s and Children’s Hospital. This is a public medical centre with private rooms and delivery suites. Doctors speak English in both of these facilities.

Education

Eton International School and the International Academy of Beijing both have campuses in Lido. Shunyi, a short commute to the north, has several international schools with great facilities. It is also close to the airport. There are several playgroups and nurseries organised by the expat family community.

Positives

Lido offers a variety of cafés, restaurants and shops that cater to Westerners. There is a Jenny Lou’s, several spas and beauty shops and Tom’s DVDs. For culture, explore the world-class art galleries in the 798 Art District, a group of abandoned weapons factories that are home to some of China’s most innovative artists. Though Lido is far from the city centre, it is closer than popular Shunyi, yet close enough to Shunyi for your children to attend the excellent international schools there. The expats in Lido describe the sense of community as being strong.

Negatives

Lido is far from central Beijing. Expats complain that it lacks quality evening entertainment. It is also lacks a subway stop, forcing residents to depend on cars and taxis.

Chaoyang Park

Chaoyang Park has a similar modern, bustling feel to Lido, but it’s more spread out. It’s a popular place for expats to live, work and play. Located in the east of Chaoyang District, it is located between the Third and Fourth Ring Roads. Many expats live here for the international schools, corporate offices, nightlife and open green spaces and activities that the park provides. In many ways, this is the ideal residential area for expats. It is part of Beijing, making it convenient for enjoying the city’s highlights, while at the same time offering a spacious and quiet residential life.

Housing

The housing around Chaoyang Park tends to be quiet, modern and spacious, with fitness clubs and 24-hour security. Despite Chaoyang Park’s convenience and popularity, housing prices are reasonable. Look for two-bedroom apartments to start at around RMB10,000 per month. Living right along the park itself is ideal, and therefore rents in places like Palm Springs or Park Avenue, which overlook the park, start at RMB15,000.

Health care

Beijing International SOS Clinic on Sanlitun Xiwujie provides all kinds of health services and has a good emergency ward. The International Medical Centre in the Lufthansa Centre on Liangmaqiao Lu is a comprehensive private hospital with English-speaking doctors.

Education

Several international schools have campuses in Chaoyang Park or in nearby Sanlitun, including The British School of Beijing and the Canadian International school. To accommodate the large number of expat families, Chaoyang Park is home to several nurseries and playgroups, including Children’s House Montessori Kindergarten and Sanlitun Kindergarten.

Positives

The positives of living in Chaoyang Park are many. First and foremost is the park itself. To most expats, Chaoyang Park is the nicest green space in the city. Subway Line 10 has stops just west of the park, and it’s never difficult to get a taxi for a trip on the Third Ring Road for a ride into the city centre or out to the airport expressway. To eat, shop and go out, you never have to leave Chaoyang Park. There is a vast array of good restaurants, bars and shops along the park and in nearby Sanlitun.

Negatives

There aren’t any specific negatives, other than it is still cold in the wintertime and hot in the summer.