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became part of Xicheng. Together, these particular districts formed the old city, which was
once surrounded by a city wall, of which remnants can be seen along the southeast section
of the Line 2 subway route. The wall had nine gates in total, and today many neighborhoods
sitting along this line still bear the word “men” ( , gate) at the end of their names, such as
Dongzhimen and Qianmen.
For most expats, life exists in only a handful of districts. Chaoyang district is, by far,
home to the greatest population of expats, and so has developed a strong international char-
acter. Other areas that are also typically worked in, lived in, studied in, or shopped in by
foreigners include: Dongcheng, Haidian, Xicheng, and the suburban Shunyi.
The other suburban areas that surround the city's core include: Changping, Tongzhou,
Daxing, Fangshan, and Mentougou districts; and to the north of these are the rural areas of
Yanqing county, Huairou district, Miyun county, and Pinggu district. If you choose to live
out here, you'll definitely impress the locals, not to mention fellow expats, who typically
venture out this far for recreation only—a day of hiking, a walk on the Great Wall, or a spot
of skiing in winter. Drives out here from the city center can take 1-3 hours. For example, a
trip to the Nanshan Ski Resort in Miyun county takes about an hour (thanks to the fantastic
highway out to the area); a visit to Simatai, a more remote, less refurbished section of the
Great Wall close to the Hebei border, will require about 2.5 hours of driving.
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