Beijing

When to Use

User asks about Beijing for any purpose: visiting, moving, working, studying, or starting a business. Agent provides practical guidance with current data.

Quick Reference

Topic	File
Visitors
Attractions (must-see vs skip)	visitor-attractions.md
Itineraries (1/3/7 days)	visitor-itineraries.md
Where to stay	visitor-lodging.md
Tips & day trips	visitor-tips.md
Neighborhoods
Quick comparison	neighborhoods-index.md
Chaoyang, CBD, Sanlitun	neighborhoods-downtown.md
Haidian, Zhongguancun	neighborhoods-tech.md
Dongcheng, Xicheng (Historic)	neighborhoods-historic.md
Shunyi, Changping, Tongzhou	neighborhoods-suburban.md
Choosing guide	neighborhoods-choosing.md
Food
Overview & dining scene	food-overview.md
Beijing & Northern Chinese	food-local.md
International & fine dining	food-international.md
Best areas for dining	food-areas.md
Dietary, alcohol, practicalities	food-practical.md
Practical
Moving & settling	resident.md
Transport (subway, DiDi, bikes)	transport.md
Cost of living	cost.md
Safety & laws	safety.md
Weather & AQI tips	climate.md
Local services (banking, SIM)	local.md
Career
Tech industry & salaries	tech.md
Business setup & WFOE	business.md
Visas (Z, X, M, residence permit)	visas.md
Startups & funding	startup.md
Lifestyle
Culture & customs	culture.md
Healthcare & insurance	healthcare.md
Schools & education	education.md
Expat lifestyle & social	lifestyle.md
Driving & car ownership	driving.md

Core Rules

1. Identify User Context First

• Role: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, entrepreneur
• Timeline: Short visit, planning to move, already there
• Load relevant auxiliary file for details

2. The Great Firewall Reality

China operates the world's most sophisticated internet censorship system:

• Blocked: Google, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, most Western news
• Essential: VPN before arrival (cannot download inside China)
• Super Apps: WeChat (微信) is EVERYTHING — messaging, payments, food, transport, social
• Alternative Apps: Baidu (search), Amap/Gaode (maps), Alipay (payments), Taobao (shopping) See local.md for comprehensive app ecosystem.

3. Language Barrier

Beijing is NOT English-friendly like Singapore or Hong Kong:

• Mandarin essential: 90%+ of daily interactions require Chinese
• Even expat-heavy areas: Limited English compared to Shanghai
• Apps help: Translation apps, DiDi has English mode, some menus have pictures
• Pinyin: Learn basic tones and phrases — it matters See culture.md for language survival guide.

4. Weather Reality

Beijing has extreme continental climate:

• Winter (Nov-Mar): -10°C to 5°C, bone-dry, occasional snow
• Summer (Jun-Aug): 30-40°C+ with high humidity
• Spring (Mar-May): Sandstorms possible, pleasant otherwise
• Autumn (Sep-Nov): Best season, crisp and clear
• AQI: Air quality varies dramatically — check daily, mask recommended See climate.md for monthly breakdown and AQI survival strategies.

5. Current Data (Feb 2026)

Item	Range
1BR rent (CBD/Chaoyang)	¥8,000-15,000/month (~$1,100-2,100)
1BR rent (Haidian)	¥6,000-12,000/month (~$830-1,650)
Senior SWE salary (local)	¥40,000-80,000/month (~$5,500-11,000)
Senior SWE salary (foreign)	¥60,000-120,000/month (~$8,300-16,500)
Subway single ride	¥3-10 (distance-based)
Hotpot dinner (mid-range)	¥100-200/person
International school fees	¥150,000-350,000/year

6. Registration & Compliance

All foreigners must register with police within 24 hours of arrival:

• Hotels: Register automatically
• Private residence: YOU must register at local PSB (Public Security Bureau)
• Penalty: Fines, visa issues, potential deportation
• Every move: Re-register if you change address See visas.md and safety.md for compliance details.

7. Transit Excellence

Beijing has world-class public transport (but traffic is horrific):

• Subway: 27 lines, 800+ km — largest network globally
• Buses: Extensive but complex for non-Chinese speakers
• DiDi: Chinese Uber equivalent — essential for non-subway trips
• Bikes: Dockless bikes everywhere (Meituan, Hello, Didi)
• Driving: Restricted by license plate lottery, not recommended Most expats use subway + DiDi. See transport.md and driving.md.

8. Neighborhood Matching

Profile	Best Areas
Young professionals	Sanlitun, CBD, Guomao
Families (expat)	Shunyi, Chaoyang Park area
Tech workers	Zhongguancun, Wudaokou, Haidian
Students	Wudaokou, Haidian university area
Budget-conscious	Tongzhou, outer Chaoyang
History/culture lovers	Dongcheng, Xicheng (hutongs)
Luxury seekers	Sanlitun, CBD penthouses, Shunyi villas

Hukou & Work Permit Context

Beijing has unique residency restrictions:

• Hukou (户口): Chinese household registration system
• Beijing hukou: Extremely hard to get even for Chinese citizens
• Impact: Access to schools, healthcare, property purchase differs by hukou status
• Foreigners: Not affected by hukou directly, but work permits are tier-based
• Work Permit Tiers: A (top talent), B (professional), C (temporary/intern)

See visas.md for work permit details and education.md for school implications.

Beijing-Specific Traps

• No VPN = no Western internet — Must install BEFORE entering China. Cannot download inside.
• WeChat dependency — Without WeChat Pay, daily life is extremely difficult. Link bank card ASAP.
• 24-hour registration — Forgetting to register at PSB is a serious offense. Hotels do it automatically.
• License plate lottery — Cannot just buy a car and drive. Beijing plates require years of waiting.
• AQI underestimation — Heavy pollution days (200+ AQI) happen. Have N95 masks and air purifier.
• Cash almost useless — China is nearly 100% mobile payment. Carry ¥500 max as backup.
• Taxis without DiDi — Flagging taxis is hard; most drivers use DiDi exclusively.
• Saturday/Sunday schools — Kids often have weekend classes (tutoring culture).
• Noise levels — Beijing is LOUD. Traffic, construction, people — expect it.
• Spitting and smoking — Common in public, including restaurants. Improving but still present.

Legal Awareness

Key laws visitors/residents must know:

• VPN: Legal gray area. Personal use tolerated, selling/promoting is illegal.
• Registration: 24-hour PSB registration MANDATORY for all foreigners.
• Work permit: Working without proper Z visa + work permit = deportation + ban.
• Drugs: Zero tolerance. Death penalty possible for trafficking. Any amount is serious.
• Photography: No photos of military, police, government buildings.
• Political speech: Criticizing government/Party is risky. Avoid completely.
• Social media posts: WeChat is monitored. Be careful what you share.
• LGBTQ+: Not illegal, but no legal recognition. Discretion advised.

See safety.md for comprehensive legal guidance.

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