Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Despite its unwieldy size, however, Beijing is perhaps one of the easiest cities in the
world to orientate yourself to, and tuning your internal compass will be a valuable part of
your fact-finding trip. The whole city adheres to a very clear north-south-east-west grid,
with Chang'an Jie running from east to west slicing the city into horizontal halves; a line
of heavenly temples that connects south to north; and a set of concentric ring roads that en-
circle the entire city, giving you a reassuring sense of position wherever you are.
Depending on your interests and family situation, there are areas that may be better
suited to you than others, and none are particularly close to each other. Very broadly speak-
ing, university students tend to head to the northwest, families with school-age children to
the northeast, fashionable singles and couples to the central east, and those seeking a deeper
culture immersion to the inner neighborhoods within the Second Ring Road. Interests aside,
you'd also be wise to consider transport issues. Traffic is a major problem in the capital, and
rush hour seems to have no limits. If your work involves a regular office-hours commute,
it may be advisable to investigate the accommodation options around the office. Otherwise,
when you land, you may end up spending more time on the road than you do at home.
