Lifestyle in Beijing

Thankfully for expat parents, there are a host of attractions in and around Beijing to keep children entertained, with the added benefit of helping them integrate into their new surroundings.

Popular activities for expat kids include field trips to major attractions such as the Great Wall of China, the Underground City and the Forbidden City, not forgetting modern offerings such as the interactive Sony ExploraScience Museum.

A day out at the Shijingshan Amusement Park is another popular activity for families. Themed after Grimms' Fairy Tales, parents will enjoy spotting where many of the park’s characters get their inspiration from, while kids can enjoy a range of attractions, such as rafting, the Ferris wheel and the Shenzou Coaster.

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See and do in Beijing

Beijing is a city full of possibilities, and whether visiting as a tourist or settling down as an expat, there’s no lack of great food, culture and fun to be had. Be warned though, no matter where one goes, there will probably be crowds, especially on public transport and at tourist hotspots.

Still, it is worth fighting through the crowds to enjoy everything to see and do in Beijing.

Great Wall of China

There are various sites for expats to visit along China’s legendary Great Wall, but one of the best is Mutianyu. The site has a cable car that takes visitors up onto the wall and offers a toboggan slide down for those willing to walk far enough. As with most of the sites, getting there is the tricky part. The best bet would arguably be to hire a car for the day, although there are bus options available from inside the city.

National Museum of China

This is one of the largest museums in the world, boasting first-class facilities. Visitors can view a collection of over one million cultural relics housed in dozens of galleries. There are permanent exhibitions which focus on Ancient China and The Road of Rejuvenation, and a number of thematic and temporary international exhibitions. Most expats will need more than one visit to truly appreciate this attraction. 

Panjiayuan Antiques Market

Located close to Panjiayuan Bridge, expats will find Beijing's most famous antique market, which has grown considerably from its humble beginnings as a flea market in the early 1990s. Shoppers will discover a whole array of paintings, calligraphy works, ceramics, jade, furniture, coins and Buddhist artefacts for sale among the thousands of stalls. Even people who are not shopping for anything in particular will enjoy wandering around the market. 

The Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven is located in the southern part of central Beijing. If going early in the morning, expats will see locals out exercising and practising tai chi. The temple and altar can get crowded with tourists, but the massive park that surrounds the attractions is just as interesting. Visitors making their way to the east gate of the park will find themselves right across the street from the Pearl Market, where they can bargain to their heart’s content.

Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City

A given for anyone visiting Beijing, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City are connected geographically and offer one of the best sightseeing experiences in Beijing. The square is enormous, as is the portrait of Mao Zedong at the entrance to the Forbidden City. 

798 Art Zone

This is the place for modern art enthusiasts in Beijing. It makes for a refreshing change of pace and is a place where expats can avoid the throngs of tourists as they view some excellent modern art installations and exhibits. There are also plenty of elegant restaurants and shops in this district of Beijing.

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What's on in Beijing

Known for being the cultural hub of China, Beijing is a modern metropolis built on ancient foundations, and the city's annual calendar is reflective of this. While exact dates are subject to change, here are some of the best events expats in Beijing can look forward to.

Spring Festival (January/February)

Also known as Chinese New Year, the Spring Festival is the most important traditional event of the year for most residents. The Spring Festival bursts with colour and activity, celebrating family across ethnic boundaries. Locals start cleaning their houses and stocking their pantries a week in advance as preparations for the festival begin. Many celebrate by eating dumplings and seafood or enjoying the festive atmosphere of Beijing’s streets.

Meet in Beijing Arts Festival (April/May)

Each year, the Meet in Beijing Arts Festival takes on a different theme. Thousands of artists from all over the world come together to perform to an ever-growing audience. Exhibitions and performances last for almost a month, and feature art, dance, music and drama from the classical to modern. The festival is a unique platform for cultural exchange from all over the world, and expats are guaranteed to find something to suit their tastes.

Great Wall Marathon (May)

Two annual races take place on the Great Wall of China, one of the longest man-made structures in the world. Beijing residents often head to the wall to cheer the runners on in either the 3-mile (5km) or 6-mile (10km) races, which are held on some of the steepest sections of the wall.

Dragon Boat Festival (May/June)

One of the most popular festivals in China, the Dragon Boat Festival is also one of the most significant. Said to date back over 2,000 years, the festival commemorates legendary Chinese poet and patriot Qu Yuan.

According to the best-known story, unable to bear the prospect of his state being taken over by the Qin Dynasty, he drowned himself in a nearby river. Residents were said to throw food in the river, as fishermen sailing in search of his body let off fireworks, to prevent the body being eaten by fish. This is re-enacted every year through dragon boat racing and eating zongzi, sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves.

Mid-Autumn Festival (September/October)

A traditional harvest festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival was originally used for moon worship and offerings. Today, residents in Beijing exchange gifts, bake mooncakes and gaze at the moon from places such as the Summer Palace, or the reflective surface of the Beihai Park lake. The Wanping Town temple fair close to the Lugou Bridge is especially popular and features all kinds of local arts and crafts.

Beijing Music Festival (October)

Lasting almost the entire month of October, the Beijing Music Festival is a celebration of classical music, and features performances from orchestras, soloists and opera companies from around the world.