Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
There are plenty of flatshare options, which you can find on the Beijinger website or on
university notice boards, for example. Just be aware that most online ads are actually posted
by agents, renting out rooms individually with no regard to how well you might get along.
An alternative form of accommodation for students is to stay at their university. Most uni-
versities have separate dormitories or apartments for international students. The conditions
are generally comfortable and spacious, and rent is typically about RMB2,500 per month.
Those here for business may prefer something a little more schmick. If that's the case,
look into the Wenjin Hotel residences (
www.wenjin.com.cn
)
right by TusPark, or at Longhu
Tangning One, just south of Wudaokou station beside Zhongguancun No.2 Primary School.
Prices in these properties start at around RMB7,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and at
RMB12,000 for a two-bedroom.
One thing to remember in Wudaokou is that the police here are notoriously unforgiving
and quick to fine or take action if expats don't respect the local registration laws. Make sure
you register at the required
pàich
ū
su
ǒ
(police station) within 24 hours of moving into your
apartment and then also immediately after you have any change to your visa or passport in
the future. Take the originals and photocopies of your documents every time, even though
you think they already have them.
Though only a five-minute drive from Wudaokou, Zhongguancun has a completely differ-
ent feel. There is nothing village-like about it. It's a frenetic zone of high-rises, electron-
ics, and shopping malls. When people talk about Zhongguancun, it's not about cute cafés
or playing beer pong at bars—although there are several Starbucks cafés and a multitude
of Western fast food chains in the area—it's about shopping or IT. The closest it comes to
a community feeling is around Haidianhuangzhuang subway station (Lines 4 and 10, exit
A2), where people set up stalls on blankets and in car trunks, selling anything from socks
to cell phone covers, and where people stroll along the paved pedestrian street between EC
Mall and supermarket Carrefour.
