Expatriate families moving to Beijing can rest assured that the city has plenty of housing options to suit all budgets, tastes, and requirements – from large villa-style houses in the suburbs, to stylish and modern apartments in the city, to renovated courtyard homes. Furthermore, local landlords and developers increasingly understand western preferences in terms of style, taste and quality of homes. Rentals for expatriate homes in Beijing are most likely more expensive that what you're accustomed to, however expatriate housing compounds are often self-contained communities with on-site facilities such as a gym, restaurants, hairdressers or spas, and a management office that can assist with housing queries and problems. All this makes for very convenient living.
As rentals for expatriate housing is high, there is sometimes an expectation that the quality will be of a very high standard however, this is not always the case. And as China is still a developing country, sometimes there are problems with housing and things tend to go wrong, which can be very frustrating if the management office is not experienced or speak very little English. It's important therefore to enquire about the reputation of the management office if you're interested in a property.
Most expatriates in Beijing tend to live in either the east of the city, in Chaoyang District, congregating in areas like Sanlitun, Chaoyang Park, Lufthansa, Lido and the CBD – or in Shunyi District in the north-east, which is near the airport. An overview of these expat neighbourhoods and some popular properties follows:
Shunyi
Shunyi is the area of choice for many expatriate families given it's close proximity to many international schools and facilities such as restaurants and shops geared towards expatriates. The area offers a lifestyle well-suited to families for whom space is important, as many of the properties are villas with plenty of living room, offering a more suburban experience than living in the inner city areas. In addition to many international schools, Shunyi is also home to one of the largest Jenny Lou's supermarkets in town (Jenny Lou's stocks imported grocery items), as well as a branch of Beijing United Family Hospital, and a number of child-friendly restaurants, including the Orchard, which is a lovely spot for a Sunday roast. There is a perception that the air quality is better here too, although Shunyi still seems gets much of the city smog. One obvious drawback is the commute into the city, which can be up to an hour when traffic is congested making commuting difficult without a car.Central Business District (CBD)
The CBD is the preferred area for single people or couples working in the city who work long hours and are not prepared to commute long distances, and who enjoy city living with easy access to restaurants and nightlife. For a while, this was not an appealing place to live because it resembled a construction site, but now most of the construction has been complete, and there are a number of newly built apartments as well as high end shopping malls, making city living convenient and easy. The area is still relatively quiet though and lacks the energy and atmosphere of more established residential areas like Sanlitun.
Sanlitun
Sanlitun is a popular place to live for many reasons – the area is a hub of activity with many restaurants, shopping malls, markets, butcheries, bakeries, bookstores and other entertainment venues and amenities. There are fewer villas or large houses here, although there are many spacious apartments, most within walking distance or a short bicycle ride from restaurants and shops. Sanlitun is also well-located between the second and third ring roads, with a relatively easy commute to the city center. Many embassies, for example the Australian and Canadian embassies, are in this area, and the new American embassy isn't far away. Sanlitun is also home to the lively Sanlitun bar street. For families who prefer to be in the city, there are also a number of good city-based schools to choose from.
Lido & Chaoyang Park
Lido's advantage is it's location between the city and the suburbs (Shunyi) – the area is quieter than the CBD but still retains a suburban feel, with most things within walking distance, giving it the feel of a self-contained village. A number of trendy restaurants such as SALT and the Ethiopian restaurant Ras are in the area, and there are also a well-stocked Jenny Lou's western supermarket , the Japanese school, the main branch of the Beijing United Family Hospital, and an Oriental Tai Pan (massage and spa).
Chaoyang Park, not too far from Lido, is a lovely area that is close to one of Beijing's biggest parks, Chaoyang Park. Some apartments in this area have great park views, and the west gate of the park is a lively area with lots of local and international restaurants.