Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
you from the National Art Museum of China up to the Olympic area in the north and bey-
ond.
BUSES
60:
Take this bus to get back and forth between Gulou or Nanluogu Xiang and Wang-
fujing.
113:
This super bus is worth keeping in mind. It will take you from the north along And-
ingmenwai Dajie, passing Liuyin and Qingnianhu Parks, down to Andingmen subway sta-
tion, past music spot Yugong Yishan, over to the Workers' Stadium and Sanlitun, then all
the way down the East Third Ring through the CBD to Guomao.
635:
Take this bus to get from Gulou to Dongzhimen to Chaoyang Park.
701:
If you need to visit Ikea, or are working or studying up in Wangjing, then this bus is
for you. Get on at the south end of Nanluogu Xiang or Zhangzizhonglu, after which you'll
pass the Workers' Stadium and Sanlitun before heading north to Beijing's only Ikea store (a
little walk needed) and then Wangjing.
758:
Starting from north beyond the Olympic area, this bus travels down Andingmenwai
Dajie to Ditan Park and Andingmen, then heads east at Zhangzizhonglu. From here it con-
tinues to the Workers' Stadium, Sanlitun, and Chaoyang Park.
This is a culturally proud piece of Beijing. Not only is it home to the Forbidden City and
Tian'anmen Square, it's also the burning hot spot for China's wealthy. Many expats can be
found working here in the office buildings of Oriental Plaza at Wangfujing and browsing
in its seemingly endless shopping malls. Socially, it feels a little disconnected or patchy. A
night out here is usually bound to a single destination, so once dinner is over, for example,
most expats jump in a taxi and head back to Sanlitun or Gulou for drinks.
Housing
Housing is almost polarized in this area—very local, or very modern and expensive. Around
Dongsi prices are still similar to Dongzhimen and Gulou, but the closer you get to Wang-
fujing, the higher the prices rise. Expect to pay around RMB10,000 per month for a two-
bedroom place, and RMB50,000 per month for a four-bedroom place. You should, however,
also expect that you're getting high-quality apartments with modern facilities for these
prices. Local apartments will almost definitely not have ovens, and will quite likely have
Chinese-style fixtures, such as squat toilets. There aren't many long-term serviced apart-
