LIVING IN BEIJING -

General Facts

The People's Republic of China is located in eastern Asia and is almost identical in size to the United States. P.R. China shares borders with 14 countries, the longest being in the north with Mongolia (almost 4,700 km). P.R. China is the third largest country on earth with the world's third and sixth longest rivers (Yangtze and Yellow), the highest point (Everest), the second lowest point (Turpan Depression), and the most people (approximately 1.3B). P.R. China has five autonomous regions, four municipalities (including Shanghai and Beijing), and two Special Administration Regions (SAR) – Hong Kong and Macau.

Beijing, located in north-eastern China, is near the Xishan and Jundu mountains on a plain that gently slopes down to the Bohai Sea, an inlet of the Yellow Sea. Just beyond the mountains 200 km away lies the Gobi Desert. The city, covering an area of 16,410 sq km, is home to an estimated 17.4 million people. The urban center of Beijing is the south-eastern part of the municipality and is in a circular, or ring, pattern, with Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City at the heart.

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• The service industry, particularly in finance, IT, and scientific research and development accounted for about 47% of Beijing's GDP (2002 – 2006). The Olympics also greatly enhanced the city's economy and infrastructure. During the same period, Beijing's international trade tripled to US $158B while its foreign investment reached US $15B. Real estate development from 2002 to 2006 totaled US $93B. Beijingers have also become wealthier with 9.57 out of 10 households with a computer and 9.94 out of 10 people with mobile phones. Beijing is China's center for higher education and scientific research, with more than 70 universities and 560 research institutes. China's urban unemployment level is approximately 4.5%. Similar to other major cities, workers from poor rural areas flock to Beijing hoping to find employment (some expect this influx to boost Beijing's population to 20 million people by 2020).

• Spring in Beijing, lasting from March to May, includes sandstorms from the expanding Gobi Desert. The city is covered in a yellow fog, sometimes lasting for days, leaving everything coated in a thin layer of fine sand. Summers are long, hot, and humid with an average temperature in July of 30°C (87°F), but often topping 40°C (104°F) (rarely reaching 50°C (122°F) in August). More than half the city’s annual 27.6 inches (700mm) of rain falls in July and August. Winters are long, cold, and very dry with cold fronts and winds blowing in from Siberia. Average temperatures in January are -10°C (14°F). Average temperatures and rainfall vary according to the time of year.

• The Beijing Capital International Airport is located in northeast of Beijing about 26km, or 45 minutes, from the center of Beijing. Both airport buses and taxis are available on the lower level just outside the Arrivals area. A recent addition is a direct subway line to city center. The airport is a primary hub of operations for Air China, which flies to 120 destinations. It is also a hub for Hainan Airlines and China Southern Airlines. In 2007, almost 54 million people passed through Beijing Capital, making it the ninth busiest airport in the world. Terminal 3, completed in February 2008, includes a rail link to the city center. This terminal is one of the largest airport terminals in the world in terms of land size.

• All of China observes the same time as Beijing, which is +8 GMT. Daylight saving time is not observed, so clocks remain the same year-long.

• The voltage is 220V, 50Hz. Most luxury hotels have built-in converters in bathrooms for shavers, hair dryers, etc. Otherwise, come equipped, because a wide variety of plug types are in use.

  

• Business in Beijing generally occurs from 8:30am to 6pm, with an hour lunch break, Monday to Friday. Shops generally open at 9am and close between 7pm and 9pm, open on Sundays. However, don't be surprised to find many Chinese people working during the weekends!

• Water is not safe to drink straight from the tap. However, bottled and filtered water is widely available. Water coolers are often available in most restaurants, offices, and accommodations. Consult your doctor on immunizations (e.g. Tetanus, typhoid, cholera, and hepatitis A and B) you might need prior to your departure.

• The number for emergency police assistance is 110. As well, the foreigners' hotline of the Public Security Bureau is +86 010 8402 0101. Other emergency numbers can be found below.