Haidian District is located in the northwest part of the city. In this district, you will find Chinese areas rich in culture and affordable in price as well as more foreigner-accessible hubs. There is a good reason why Haidian is known as the education district: the vast majority of the city’s universities are housed here including Peking and Tsinghua — the Chinese equivalents to Oxford and Cambridge. In addition to several of China’s famous tourist attractions, Haidian is also home to Zhongguancun, a subdistrict often dubbed “China’s Silicon Valley”. Further west of the city’s main thoroughfare Chang’an Avenue and just before the West Fourth Ring Road is Wukesong roadway interchange, an affluent scene full of family-friendly fare including many night markets and restaurants. 

Residential Compounds

Huaqingjiayuan is a sprawling apartment complex located in the heart of Wudaokou. Popular with foreigners, this complex has its own swimming pool, kindergartens, and modest import store. Hongshan International Apartments is another option as this complex is right next door to Holiday Inn and a stone’s throw away from Qinghuadongluxikou station of Beijing Subway Line 15. Up the road, Liudaokou offers a cheaper alternative to Wudaokou. Furunjiayuan, a sought-after compound, is located seconds away from Line 15’s Liudaokou station and is within walking distance of a number of grocery stores.

Schools

Both Muffy’s International Kindergarten and Eduwings Kindergarten have Haidian branches. For older children, Tsinghua International School offers education for students aged 6-18 (Grade 1-12). There is also the option of Beijing Kaiwen Academy, a private bilingual school for children in Grade 1-12. Over in Qinghe Saint Paul American School is situated close to a beautiful canal and provides schooling for children aged 13-18 (Grade 7-12). Meanwhile, Haidian Foreign Language Academy offers a comprehensive one-stop service for children aged 3-18.

Shopping

No Haidian shopping guide would be complete without mentioning D-Mart. Best described as Haidian’s answer to Jenny Lou’s, this store is well-stocked with imported food, beverages, skincare items, and cleaning products. There is also a well established Carrefour in Zhongguancun. In terms of shopping for non-consumable items, the array of malls peppered across the district has that area well covered. Golden Resources Shopping Mall, often nicknamed “Great Mall of China”, is located near the Fourth Ring Road and was at one time the world’s largest mall. Although it no longer holds this title the sheer scale of the place with its 1,000+ shops means that one is almost certain to find whatever they may be looking for here. Dreamport Mall is another renowned establishment. Here you will find high street stores such as Gap and H&M side by side more upmarket brands such as Ugg. There is also a generous sized Walmart thrown in for good measure. For bulk buys one can make use of either Metro (an international Cash & Carry) or Sam’s Club. Cadillac Center, the venue formerly known as Huaxi Live (and before that, MasterCard Center and LeSports Center), hosts large-scale events, games, and concerts.

Dining

In recent years eateries that were formerly found only on the east side of town have made their way over to Haidian. These include Blue Frog (Zhongguancun) and Element Fresh (Bagou). Owing to the relatively high number of foreigners residing in this area, Wudaokou has a large concentration of restaurants serving international cuisine. Eateries such as Lush, Tous Les Jours, and Steps have long been a part of the Wudaokou scene. There is also Ganges, Tube Station Pizza, and Khan Baba, a Pakistani restaurant with a good value weekday lunch buffet.

Where to Play

Where to begin? Haidian is a great base from which to explore the great outdoors. The Purple Bamboo Park, the Beijing Botanical Gardens, Fragrant Hills, the Summer Palace and the Old Summer Palace, and Haidian Park are a few of the well-known places of tranquility that call this district home. In the summer months, Liu Lang outdoor swimming pool offers lake-like pools and a designated children’s swimming pool with engaging apparatus. Over in Huoqiying, there is Kukutu outdoor adventure playground. On polluted days or in the cold winter months, Haidian’s numerous malls provide a multitude of options for fun indoor children’s activities. Both the Golden Resources Mall and the Dreamport Mall have large ice skating rinks and entire floors dedicated to kids play. At the Cadillac Center complex, you’ll find Wukesong Cultural & Sports Square full of play areas for children of all ages. Yuyuantan Park, adjacent to the old CCTV Building, is good for nature tripping.

Photos: Pamela Djima

Shunyi and its environment is catered primarily for families. The school community and sports activities play a large part in the vibe of these neighborhoods. So if you’re looking for a more suburban experience, Shunyi is where you’ll want to be. There are villa compounds, complete with quaint street names and two-car garages. Most families who choose to live here want a posh China experience, need quick access to the airport, or want to avoid the hectic pace of the city. For years, this entire area has been called Shunyi by expats, but technically most of the area is still in Chaoyang District. If you’re talking to Chinese locals or taxi drivers, you’ll want to be sure to specify specific neighborhoods rather than lump the area entirely as “Shunyi.”

Residential Compounds

There are a lot of good options in the area. Most have lots of on-site businesses, like cafes, supermarkets, restaurants, and gyms. Beijing Riviera has large green spaces and an artificial lake, along with a clubhouse, cafe, swimming pool, gym, tennis and squash courts, and a bicycle track. It also features an on-site kindergarten and is located near Didi’s Supermarket and Roundabout’s secondhand store. Right across the street is Quanfa Garden, which can have some lovely homes for rent. Capital Paradise, near to Pinnacle Plaza, is also chock full of active options, features outdoor and indoor swimming pools, gym, squash, tennis courts, sauna, outdoor and indoor children’s playgrounds. Yosemite Compound has a clubhouse, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, hot springs, and a children’s activity center. Finally, Grand Hills is a popular residential choice for many expats because of its well-kept grounds and relatively new villas. The surroundings include a swimming pool, sauna, and gym with plenty of green space.

Schools

Where do we begin? Most of Beijing’s prestigious international schools are located in this district. Any sort of education you might be looking for is likely here. Harrow Beijing, The British School of Beijing (BSB), Shunyi, Dulwich College Beijing (DCB), Keystone Academy, Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), and International School of Beijing (ISB) are just a couple, but you can check out our yearly beijingkids School Choice Guide for complete listings of other great schools as well.

Shopping

The Sci-Tech Outlet Mall at Maquanying on line 15 has popular name brands, like Gap and Ralph Lauren. Other malls include Cathay View, Euro Plaza, Pinnacle Plaza, and the recently-opened Shine City, which is doing a great job in bringing the vibe of downtown Beijing shopping to the suburbs to Shunyi. Roundabout is a great place to pick up second-hand toys and home items at a bargain, while their newly opened boutique and community center is a great place to pick up locally sourced crafts, home décor, and organic cosmetics.

Dining

Dining options abound, and some places are Shunyi institutions. Here, The Orchard, Green T. House, and Doko can be found providing Shunyi residents with a variety of impressive eats. Other western restaurants and brands include Napa, Annie’s, Avocado Tree, Pie Squared, and Dunkin’ Donuts. Get over to Mrs. Shanen’s for homemade bagels and dishes made with organic produce from the restaurant’s farm, Green Cow.

Where to Play

Shunyi and its environs are rich in kid’s activities. For something indoors, Riviera Plaza Mall is another great shopping area with a liberal amount of kid-friendly space sprinkled about. This is a very popular place to not only get some shopping done but to also get your playtime activated. Shine Hills is packed with kids’ stores, kid-friendly activities and play areas.

For something more active, jump around and get loose with your kids at Latitude, a state-of-the-art trampoline park. If you have a little Formula 1 racer in the making, then get over to Red1Karting Beijing to satisfy that need for speed. Located north of Shangezhuang subway station, Red1Karting is a pretty swanky affair, featuring karts manufactured by French company Sodikart and other facilities. Crab Island is a massive amusement park that has a lot to offer visiting families. Some highlights include an ecological science park, go-karting, mini zoo, and water park.

Photos: Kipp Whittaker
This article appeared on p18-29 of beijingkids July 2018 Home & Relocation Guide issue

Wangjing and Lido lie halfway between Shunyi and downtown Beijing. These areas are popular with both families and expat English teachers due to their relatively cheaper rent, access to international hospitals and schools, and proximity to major foreign companies such as Samsung, Ericsson, Nokia, and Microsoft. Both have significant Korean communities, especially Wangjing, which hosts a cornucopia of Korean chain stores, restaurants, and groceries.

Residential Compounds

Wangjing and Lido have a number of choice compounds on offer. Wangjing Huayuan is in a great location; close to local kindergartens, Chinese groceries, banks, hospitals, post office, beauty salons, and even a Wal-Mart. Upper East Side is also well-located and has its own gym, sauna, and swimming pool, as well as a coffee shop within the compound. Chateau Regency has a fitness center, a convenience store, and a playground. Mookey Swim, a popular parent-owned center offering baby swimming classes, is also located on the ground floor of Chateau Regency.

Schools

Beijing World Youth Academy (BWYA) and 3e International School can both be found in Wangjing. There are also other international schools that cater specifically to the dense population of Koreans and Japanese in the neighborhood. LIH Olivia’s Place is also good to know if you require learning support or other special needs services.

Shopping

The world’s second largest IKEA is located in Wangjing, right by French grocery chain Carrefour with its built-in air purification and water recycling systems. Indigo Mall near 798 Art District offers entertainment, good shopping and dining, with a cinema, restaurants, BHG Marketplace, frequent children’s events, and a large outdoor playground.

Dining

Wangjing has some great Korean restaurants and markets. Next to Si’de Park, the Korean-owned CJ Foodworld houses a Tous Les Jours bakery, Bibigo, and Twosome Coffee. There’s also Element Fresh, Ramo which is very kid-friendly, Annie’s, Taj Pavilion, and more. If you are looking for a superb spot to brunch when the weekend hits, then look no further than either Nuo Hotel Beijing’s N’Joy or East Hotel’s Feast, both in Lido.

Where to Play

Wangjing and Lido both have a very vibrant expat scene with plenty of entertainment options. Lido Place is a popular apartment and mall complex where many foreigners reside and also many fairs and bazaars are held. This can be great for those looking to connect with the local crafts scene or the occasional farmer’s market. Another option is Indigo Mall, located just south of 798, which hosts regular kids’ events in its airy atrium space. They also have numerous restaurants, children’s brands, and play centers. In the warmer months, families can access the Indigo Playground out back, which features a fountain and two play areas connected by a garden. For greenery, Si’de Park in Lido is a modest park and a popular destination for families which features a running track that winds around the entirety of the park, along with a roller skating rink, a fishing pond, soccer field, playground, a bouncy castle, and fairground rides. Another recent find was the Lunaluz Kids Café at Kirin Place. This a great spot for parents to work while kids get their necessary dose of indoor play.

Photos: Kipp Whittaker
This article appeared on p18-29 of beijingkids July 2018 Home & Relocation Guide issue

Sandwiched in a four square kilometer area between the Third and Fourth Ring Roads, the CBD is the financial center of the city. Modern high rises, luxury shopping, five-star hotels, and major companies make up much of the environment. The famous CCTV Tower, or “Big Pants,” is CBD’s most recognizable landmark. Located just south of CBD, Shuangjing was once a no man’s land of factories, but is now home to higher-end housing. With one of the highest concentrations of residential compounds in Chaoyang District, Shuangjing has a diverse population of white-collar locals and expat families who have settled in the area due to its proximity to schools and CBD workplaces.

Residential Compounds

Residential compounds abound in CBD. The aptly named Central Park features a central location in a large compound filled with restaurants, shops, cafes, beauty services, and even a bakery. Central Park has its own indoor swimming pool, sauna, squash court, and gym. Gemdale International Garden and the nearby shopping center Gemdale Plaza, also have a real neighborhood feel, with on-site markets, restaurants, cafes, a post office, a gym, a swimming pool, and a children’s playground. Pingod, nicknamed “Apple Community,” is another large compound with a good selection of convenience stores, close public transport, and shops. Adjacent to Viva Mall, Fulicheng has a gym and health club, children’s play areas, and a clubhouse. Landgent International apartments surround a man-made lake and central garden and is located near Carrefour, cafes, florists, laundry services, post office, and banks.

Schools

There are plenty of schools in Beijing’s CBD and Shuangjing neighborhoods including Beijing City International School (BCIS) and Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS, Beijing) which offer grades from kindergarten to high school, while Etonkids International Bilingual Kindergartens, Ivy Academy, and the Canadian International School of Beijing’s Jianguomen campus offer learning for students just beginning their academic careers.

Shopping

CBD has a number of high-end shopping malls frequented by business travelers, expats, and locals, such as Shin Kong Place, China World Mall, Kerry Center, and the LEED-certified Parkview Green. For more mid-range options, The Place has Zara, H&M, and Uniqlo. In Shuangjing, Carrefour, Decathlon, Viva Mall, and the recently completed Hopson One Mall are within walking distance of the area’s many residential compounds.

Dining

Restaurants tend to be concentrated in malls or compounds. For example, Central Park has several options such as The Woods (Modern European), Thai Lime Cafe, and LMPlus (Italian), while The Place has Moka Bros and Herbal Cafe (Cantonese). China World Mall and its labyrinth of connected buildings in Guomao also have a plethora of fun restaurants, including Migas Mercado, Arcade By Hatchery, and Beersmith Gastropub. Shuangjing has recently gained expat favorites like Q Mex and Blue Frog, and is continuing to grow in its offerings by the month.

Where to Play

For outdoor activities, Ritan Park is a green oasis in the middle of the CBD’s concrete jungle. It’s a great place to let kids burn off their energy and learn about some Beijing history and culture. There are also some modern-day touches, like a climbing wall and a decent playground. The Place is home to a number of great kids play areas both inside and outside the facility, including kid’s work out space, My Gym. Parkview Green is more upscale, with filtered air for polluted days. A regular destination at Parkview Green for visiting mums and babies is Little Oasis, a popular indoor play area. Moms would be glad to know that breastfeeding and baby changing rooms are particularly plentiful and clean at this fancy shopping mall. For more kid friendly cultural events, Ready Reading Library is a bilingual kid’s library offering an extensive selection of books catered towards children under the age of nine. They also sell an array of kid’s toys, organize arts and crafts classes, and often put on fun live storytelling events.

Photos: Kipp Whittaker
This article appeared on p18-29 of beijingkids July 2018 Home & Relocation Guide issue

Surrounded by embassies, Chaoyang Park is the largest, most Western-style park in the city and is very popular with middle-class Chinese families and the expat community. Lined with shops, restaurants, and residential compounds, this area is easy for daily living. Solana Lifestyle Shopping Park is pretty much modeled after the mixed indoor/outdoor malls of the west, while nearby Liangmaqiao is a busy commercial area with many expat conveniences and high-end hotels where you can enjoy some amazing fine dining options. This neighborhood is a great option if you require a space that isn’t flooded with cars and electric scooters to get a run in every once in a while.

Residential Compounds

Several residential compounds are available in Chaoyang. Palm Springs has north-facing units overlooking Chaoyang Park, a Roman-style garden, large clubhouse with an indoor swimming pool, children’s playground, sauna, and gym—it’s no wonder it’s popular with families. Park Avenue has a shopping complex with imported groceries, cafes, and sporting good stores in addition to its children’s playground, swimming pool, and gym. Greenlake Place is another option, and has many stores, restaurants, and even a Jenny Lou’s in the compound.

Schools

Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB), Beanstalk International Bilingual School (BIBS), House of Knowledge Schools and Kindergartens (HoK), and Ivy Academy are all top notch and convenient options if you are residing in this area of the city.

Shopping

Solana Lifestyle and Shopping Park (featured photo) is a large, popular open-air mall next to Chaoyang Park. It’s one of the most known shopping centers for families, and features International name brands like Zara, Uniqlo, Muji, H&M, American Eagle, Gap, and more. Also, if you are craving something that’s not all that different from the farmer’s markets back home, check out Farm2Neighbors at Beijing Grand Summit each weekend for a selection of some of the city’s best vendors of organic produce and specialty goods.

Dining

If you are looking for international restaurants in the neighborhood make sure to head to Beijing Grand Summit where you’ll find Baker and Spice, Obentos (Japanese, healthy), and much more, or head to Solana which houses Beijing favorites like Moka Bros, Tribe, and Tube Station Pizza. Just a short jaunt away from Solana to Maizidian and you’ll find some of the best Japanese food in Beijing at restaurants like Yume Wo Katare, serving up hearty bowls of ramen, or Vin Vie, where you’ll find inventive izakaya with a western touch.

Where to Play

As the largest patch of green space in Beijing, Chaoyang Park is the obvious choice. Entrance is inexpensive and there’s a lot of room to move around. Young visitors can fly kites, rent a pedal boat for the lake, go on fairground rides, or even participate in group yoga and exercise classes on the weekends if weather and AQI permit. When your kids are exhausted from the park, Solana Lifestyle Shopping Park is located a stone’s throw away. This family favorite has been open since 2008, with its fountains and whimsical decorations. Indoors, there’s an entire children’s wing with play facilities and family-oriented shops.

Photos: Kipp Whittaker
This article appeared on p18-29 of beijingkids July 2018 Home & Relocation Guide issue

Sanlitun and its surrounding areas are major expat hubs. With many bars, clubs, and restaurants concentrated in one place, it’s a fast-changing, very commercialized area. Just west of Sanlitun lies the quieter Xingfucun with its own developing bar and restaurant scene, while to the north is Dongzhimen, which contains one of the city’s major embassy districts. Inner Dongzhimen, on the other hand, is a gateway to historic neighborhoods, such as Gulou, Andingmen, and Yonghegong. However, many of these old Beijing neighborhoods are being demolished to initiate new developments, such as the extension of the Airport Express, as the city makes moves to modernize.

Compounds

Seasons Park, in particular, is popular with expat families as it is close to banks, restaurants, and western supermarkets and has a kids’ playground. Also popular with a large number of expats who have kids is Lianbao Garden. Located just behind the foreign grocery chain April Gourmet in Xingfucun, Lianbao has a convenient location, spacious apartments, and a children’s playground. Tayuan DRC has historically been a more upscale choice for well-compensated professionals or diplomats. It is one of the five diplomatic residence compounds (DRC) originally built to serve Beijing’s diplomatic and foreign community. Located just north of the Canadian Embassy, the compound contains relatively spacious western-style apartments, a big stretch of grass within, and even has its own import market.

Schools

In Sanlitun, you can choose between a number of top-notch schools including Daystar Academy’s Sanlitun campus, The British School of Beijing (BSB), Sanlitun and their new early learning center, and Beijing No. 55 High School International Students Section which offers both middle and high school in Xingfucun.

Shopping

Shopping abounds in Sanlitun, from foreign goods markets to mom and pop shops to vintage boutiques to huge malls. One major shopping and dining hub is Taikoo Li, a sprawling village-style mall with many name brand products. While many of these stores are on the pricey side, it is a great place for window shopping and getting a walk in. Just south of Taikoo Li is Sanlitun Soho. This is a great spot for finding an affordable tailor to make some of your bespoke fashion fantasies come to life!

Dining

Beijing’s dining scene is highly developed. Besides the many western-style restaurants in Taikoo Li and the adjacent Nali Patio, there’s plenty of options at Topwin Center, like Beyond Yakitori and Avocado Tree, or the neighboring Courtyard 4 where you’ll find Home Plate BBQ and Taco Bar. Head over to Dongzhimen’s Guijie, for acres of hot pot restaurants. Here, you’ll also find that the nearby hutongs have numerous local noodle shops and regional Chinese cuisine. Xingfucun is also home to a growing number of bars and restaurants, including O’Steak, 京-A Taproom, and Cannon’s Burgers.

Where to Play

Beijing is a huge city with a lot of places to go and things to do, yet many venues can be intolerably crowded during the weekend. During the hot days of summer, Tuanjiehu Park is home to the downtown’s best water park and also features roller-skating and rides. There are also several cinemas in Sanlitun that show a handful of Hollywood films. Just a short walk west from Taikoo Li you will spot Shimao Department Store, which is great for finding many kid-friendly activities including play learning venues, toy stores, and much more. For bibliophiles, The Bookworm is Beijing’s long-running bilingual bookstore and book lending library with regular story times, baby singing groups, and other family-friendly fun that can be a great escape from the hustle and bustle of this commercial neighborhood.

Photos: Kipp Whittaker
This article appeared on p18-29 of beijingkids July 2018 Home & Relocation Guide issue

We often think of Beijing as a massive, cosmopolitan metropolis awkwardly positioned on top of an ancient city, but surprisingly the majority of Beijing is rural. Taking up over 16,000 sqkm of land, Beijing is so massive it actually should be viewed as a county rather than a city. This can make it a daunting task for finding the most appropriate neighborhood for you and your family to settle down.

Beijing itself is broken up into districts, with the center districts considered to be the main part of the “city” of Beijing. Districts themselves can be massive, with populations equaling the size of whole European cities, and they house diverse, ever-changing, neighborhoods within.

Like in all major cities when settling on an area to live in, your neighborhood very much reflects your personality and the unique social, professional, or cultural needs of you and your family.

Areas like Sanlitun, the Central Business District (CBD), and Liangmaqiao are expensive and filled with shopping malls and a more developed western food scene that attracts a wealthier Chinese and expat clientele.

The trendy areas of the city, where many young expats tend to reside would be the hutongs. These neighborhoods are located primarily in Dongzhimen or Gulou and often attract those looking for a more authentic Beijing experience, due to their picturesque though sometimes gritty setting. But this can be an inconvenient option for some families as markets with international goods aren’t very close, the plumbing is old, and these old houses can get cold during the winter.

For expat families who’d prefer to settle down in neighborhoods near reputable schools, Shunyi is likely your best option, but it is a far drive out of the dynamic city center. Far-flung neighborhoods have much cheaper rent, but can often lack nightlife, a diverse dining scene, or many other creature comforts that we crave to maintain our social lives.

In our Beijing Neighborhood Guide you’ll discover all of the pros and cons of each area, which we hope will help guide you in your search for the perfect place to live, learn, eat, and play for as long as you decide to call this incredible city home.

Photos: Kipp Whittaker
This article appeared on p18-29 of beijingkids July 2018 Home & Relocation Guide issue