About to move, what should i know?

There have been many with that question. Official papers and phone numbers, hard drive with pdf books, info, music. Depending on your size clothes. i wear XL and it is hard to find this size in Hong Kong. JW

Hi, I'm from NY and moved to Beijing earlier this year. Here are a few tips from my experience...

1. Learn some basic Chinese.
2. Learn a little about the culture, it will help with the culture shock.
3. Bring deodorant, you can buy it here, but the selection is small and it is a bit expensive.
4. Most of your electrical appliances will not work here.
5. Bring English books, magazines, etc.
6. Good shoes are hard to find here.
7. Learn how to bargain. You can bargain for almost everything here, and if you are a foreigner you will need to be a little aggressive to get a fair price.
8. Get VPN service so you can get uncensored web access.
9. I would keep a US bank account, but also open a Chinese account for daily expenses. Cash is king in China and having a Chinese debit card will help you avoid having to carry around absurd amounts of cash.
10. If you are shipping things to China, plan on 4-5 months for it to arrive in Beijing. Bring all essentials and valuables on the plane with you.

I hope this helps and that you enjoy your time in Beijing!

Use the subway to get around...very cheap !

Don't go to coffee shops with any girls you may meet around the Forbidden City !

Coffee shops not normally a big problem since the price of coffee is fairly Starbucky standard.

Do they avoid goint to Tea Houses with young students you have just met on the street who want to practice their English. A pot of tea can run into hundreds or RMB.  It is a known scam and they are working for a commission of the sales.

Brennan are you coming as a student or as an Expat with a generous relocation package. The answers to your question will be a tad different depending on your needs, location and lifestyle.

hero_hont wrote:

hello guys.
Well, you might find it rather challenging to find a job, I would probably look first before getting on that plane. Also knowledge of the language would help, and that's not easy.

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(moderated: no ads please)

You must have the wrong thread. The OP says he/she is coming on a two year assignment, that surely implies that he/she has a job. It also means that my question about studying or working is redundant.

Manlin,

Thanks for your response. I am coming here as an Expat with Relo benefits.

Okay as an expat with Relo package:

Many things are cheaper in China but (a) the quality might not be the same and (b) you might not wish to invest the time in purchasing items.

I assume you will be moving into a Furnished not Serviced Apartment. That is to say you have to supply the "Domestic Software" such as bedding, towels, cutlery, utensils etc ..If you like what you currently have then bring it, otherwise you will have to run and buy on arrival.

Electronic appliances that can work with 220V 50Hz. If in doubt check - do not plug in unless positive is compatible.

Kids toys (will give them a feeling or normality).

Small items that turn a house into a home - such as favourite pictures (example mum-in-law on broomstick),bric a brac (though maybe not object d'art), specialised/custom-made items (for example Kryptonite detector, Phelps swimming costume).

If your stature and girth are not Asian compatible then bring clothes and especially shoes (hard to get here larger than European size 43 shoes, 44 only occasionally and 45+ is for freaks (like me).

YES download and install prior to arriving a good VPN/Proxy/Tunnel - especially if you like to use sites deemed to be politically sensitive such as Fac eb ook, Yo utu be and Pic as a.

Heavy watcher of US TV shows?  then think about installing a Slingbox.

Do not bring green coloured hats with you.

Bring some small, made in US of A, your Hometown souvenirs with you --- as presents for people.

If you like standard Gillette type shaving foam no problem, if you like an old fashion brush and bowl/tub of shaving soap then bring.

Also, if your wife has a favourite female hygiene brand then she might wish to bring a supply. If she is okay with any brand then no need.

Bring the original of your University Degree - you might need to produce it.

Books - take up a lot of space. There are a couple of English Language libraries both in the CBD area and in Shunyi. I personally prefer to drive out to the BookMark in Shunyi than to drive into town (I am more or less equidistant from both). Do though bring any professional reference books that you need for work.

Bring your Tuxedo - you might need to wear it at a Charity Christmas Gala. Don't though especially buy one. The higher your position the higher the probability that you will need it during the course of the assignment.

Bring your car/tank driving license.. You might decide to drive and hence convert your local one to a Chinese one.

Hi Manlin

Its seems that u ur the bible og beijing.

We are coming to China, I got a good xpat package,
but not quite as good as everyone is talking about.

We are looking for school for the kids, everywhere seems
to be giving ridiculous 130K RBM. Which is not all at in
the budget, can you please advise on this matter.
\
Thks

Sam

Sam hi,

unfortunately the International Schools are very expensive.

Have you found an apartment or you first looking for a schooling solution? i.e are both Shunyi and downtown schools applicable?

What are the kids ages / what grades (US) or school year (UK)?

A partial list of schools can be found here ....http://www.china-expert.org/International-Schools-and-Education-in-China depending on the ages there maybe additional options such No 55 Middle School http://www.bj55.cn/international/  use Google translate to read the info in Chinglish.

Sam hi just looked at your profile Ganeinu (up to Grade 7) might be an option for you. Organised by the SuperDos but accept kids even if the Mum has not converted.

Teachers are of the Eli Israeli type not oberfrummers.

Oops - no they are also 130,000RMB per annum.

Thks
they r overly excessive, dont u think!

he going to a local school! well can be that bad,isnt it?
u know anything about local school?

Local school? Does he speak Chinese? Not sure if he will be accepted by a local school, and am not sure if you will like their approach to education.

Hello all...great information being provided here.
I'm also about to make the move and I'm wondering if anyone has information on house or apartment rental prices in the Changping area.  The company I'm going to work for has an office there and have suggested that I should live there as well.
I'm an expat Canadian and will be looking for a nice place for my wife and I.  Not necessarily expat housing but something similar if it exists would be fine.
Thanks!!

Changping is not normally part of the expat Beijing map. I only know a couple of people living there.  If you will have a company car and driver no prob, if not then I suggest looking for an apartment near a subway station. That though could also be cahllenging.

Is the office is near a subway station? Might be a long shot since not a lot of stations there.

You might wish to consider commuting into work but it will be a long commute and probably only realistic if you have a car or the office is near a subway (unlikely).

Thanks!
The office is in fact very close to a station. (Just a couple minutes walking) 
I'm hoping that someone either knows what to expect for housing costs in that area or might know someone else that does.
My main concern at this point is negotiating my contract with a reasonable housing allowance for the area.
Thanks again...and hoping someone might have pricing ideas.

What is the name of the Subway Station? It's a useful reference point for suggesting a solution.

I suggest that you should buy a bus IC card to take bus. The price is 40% of the price with cash. It's the biggest discount around all over China. The addresses are at each terminal in Beijing.

Not just for bus. It is also valid for the subway and some taxis.

It is similar to a UK Oyster card.

Thanks for all of the information!  I really appreciate your time and efforts!!!
Any other information you think might be useful please provide.
Thanks again!!

I'm not making much progress in finding an Estate Agent in Changping that is used to dealing with foreigners.

That's ok Manlin.  Thank you very much for taking the time to look. 
We've got a trip planned next month to start looking.
We'll see what we can find and I'll watch for the unlikely event that others need some help on here for Changping once we're settled so that I'll be able to "pay it forward"
J

JTM2010 hi,

have sent you an email with contact details of someone in Changping that is willing to help you.