Why do people move to beijing

Import documentation for shipping is not complicated for movers to Beijing. Expats must note to accomplish and submit only two copies of baggage declaration along with a copy of both the valid Work and Residence Permits to Beijing upon entry. Free Moving Quotes from Trusted Movers Relocation is a big affair, and you need a peace of mind entrusting it to a company. Compare multiple pricings for your move. It is well-loved by foreigners for its rich oriental culture.

It is often referred to as the centre of politics, education, and most major state-owned companies in China. Full of life and stark contrasts, it has attracted many adventurous expatriates. Beijing is located in the northeast of China and hence, has very long and cold winters. Items, which are sometimes hard to located in the larger cities of Beijing, include clothing in larger sizes, specific foodstuffs and over-the-counter medicines.

If in doubt, bring it with you. The air and water quality are major concerns and particularly noticeable for expatriates in China. The Chinese Government is exerting tremendous effort in the air quality, though the high coal usage throughout the country makes air quality a major issue. For safety purposes, it would be best for expatriates to get themselves familiar with city driving in Beijing before doing so. Due to the large population in the city, roads and highways also tend to be dangerous plus traffic congestion is a daily part of driving life.

Rather than owning a car, expats may instead prefer a bike which is done by foreigners living in the city. Expats must take note that language barrier can be a problem when applying for a bank account. The best solution is to hire an English-speaking bank representative to assist them with their needs. Banks available in Beijing are:. Easily manage offshore, multi-currency or credit card transactions with an international account.

Aside from the language barrier, there is so much in Beijing that might bring culture shock to many foreigners. One of which is the overcrowded population in the city. The universities and colleges in Haidian District attract visiting students, guest lecturers, and English as a Foreign Language teachers. Many foreign-invested enterprises and Chinese companies have a branch office with a permanent representative in Beijing, by which they seek to maintain their ties with Chinese government bureaucracy.

No matter what anybody might tell you: Do not come to China with the intention of taking up gainful employment without a Z visa.

Self-made expats who would like to teach English as a Foreign Language and then travel through China are prone to making this mistake. Usually, your future employer will take care of obtaining an Employment License from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Labor and Social Security for you.

For this purpose, they usually need the following documents:. Ask them exactly which documents they require. The copies might have to be officially certified or notarized, and you may have to enclose Chinese translations of some documents. As soon as the HR staff has been issued your Employment License, they will use it to get you an official invite to China. Once you have received these two documents, you are ready to go to the nearest Chinese Embassy or Consulate.

Start your visa application process as soon as possible. With your new Z visa, you can legally enter China. Within 24 hours after your arrival in Beijing, you must register as a foreign national with the local police.

If you are staying at a hotel, the administrative staff normally does this for you. Now you can go about getting your Alien Employment Permit. However, you will first need to get a health certificate! If you are lucky, your employer will settle the Employment Permit for you. Generally, you need to bring these papers:.

Once you have your Employment Permit, you are still short of a proper Residence Permit. Even a Z visa is valid for 30 days only. In this time, you need to exchange it for the one-year Residence Permit. It is basically a visa in anything but name and has to be renewed on a regular basis.

With this new permit, re-register with the local police to inform them of your changed residence status. Please note that the application process for a visa, a work permit, and a residence permit may be different if you go to Beijing on a J1 or J2 visa for journalists. Please ask both the nearest Chinese Embassy or Consulate and the Chinese office of your employer for detailed information on the latest requirements for foreign media representatives in China.

It is divided into six urban or inner districts, eight metropolitan or outer districts, and two rural counties. It might be confusing for strangers that there is no first ring road at all. It is a purely imaginary line that includes the historical core of Beijing, i. A 7th Ring Road, official known as the Great Beijing Outer Ring Road, will total almost km in length when and if construction is completed in Mostly, it will connect Beijing to its neighboring provinces.

According to the most recent official census, in , there were about 92, foreign residents living in Beijing. Many expats live somewhere in Chaoyang District. It includes the Central Business District, the embassy area, international schools, the expressway to the international airport,andexpat shopping favorites such asMetro, Carrefour, and IKEA.

Shunyi, the district to the northeast of Chaoyang and far beyond the 5th Ring Road, is already quite far from the city center.

International students mainly opt for the Wudaokou neighborhood in Heidian District due to its good public transportation links and proximity to many universities and research institutes.

Unless they are provided with company housing or went house hunting during a prior fact-finding trip, well-to-do expatriates often stay in hotel suites or serviced apartments for the first few weeks. Below is my list of the good and the bad, representing my very personal opinion. Interesting friends — You can meet a very interesting mix of people in Beijing. I made some good friends here, both other foreigners and Chinese.

Unfortunately, foreign friends often move back to their home country or on to someplace else. So your circle of friends will continually change. Easy public transportation — Beijing has extensive and cheap public transportation Although I still do miss my car and the sense of independence that comes with it. Subways in Beijing are cheap and efficient, buses get you almost everywhere, and even taxis are very affordable.

Amazing food — Of course, the authentic Chinese cuisine and many street side snacks are a major draw. In Beijing, you can sample all the provincial Chinese cuisines without traveling. You can eat out at high-end Chinese restaurants, hole-in-the-wall family businesses, or street vendors. And ingredients are cheap for cooking Chinese food at home. Personal safety — Nowhere else have I felt this safe walking around as a woman alone in the evening, taking public transport or a taxi.

I know crime happens in Beijing, and you need to use common sense to stay safe, even here. But as far as big cities worldwide go, this is a rather safe place. Rich culture — There is so much to see in Beijing. After two years of spending many days and weekends exploring the city, I still have not run out of places to see and of course favorites places to go back to.

Smog in China is the most obvious pollution but contaminated food is a concern for many, too, including me.