Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If your reason for considering this option is having your bed made and your dishes washed,
then you might just consider hiring an
ā
yí
(housekeeper), which will cost you around
RMB50-70 for a couple of hours of cleaning or around RMB3,000 per month for a full-time
English-speaking nanny who will cook, clean, and baby-sit.
Serviced accommodations are a good option, however, if you're only after short-term ac-
commodations (up to six months) and your company is footing the bill. And again there are
plenty of options to consider, including the Ascot Raffles City in Dongzhimen, Fraser Suites
CBD in Guomao, and Four Points by Sheraton up in Zhongguancun. Website
www.bj-ser-
vicedapartments.com
can give you a quick introduction to many of the serviced apartments
in the city.
If your budget is tight, consider staying in one of the local Chinese hotels. The Green
Tree Inn inside Fangjia 46 near Lama Temple, for example, is a simple choice in a very cool
location.
If you're going to be living in a house—what is often referred to here as a villa—then it's
highly likely you'll be living up in the northeast of the city in Shunyi district. This is the
destination of expat families brought to Beijing thanks to a company arrangement, and with
children who will attend one of the many international schools in the area. These estates,
such as Yosemite Villas and Beijing Riviera Villas, are basically gated communities. Homes
are complete with such things as rumpus rooms, gardens, and driveways. If you're not com-
ing under the wing of a company, however, then you may well find the rent in these modes
of abode exorbitant and out of reach.
Unlike apartments in the inner city, around 40 percent of villas are unfurnished. This is
intentional, as the landlords here know that many expats come with a household of personal
goods.
While you and your children will enjoy life in a wonderfully international neighborhood,
if you want an immersive Chinese experience these are not the places to do it.
These are the homes of old Beijing, and are almost exclusively inside the Second Ring
Road. A
sìhéyuàn
is a traditional form of northern Chinese architecture. It basically com-
prises four buildings facing inwards around a courtyard or garden. The north building fa-
