THISNEWEMPLOYEEWELCOMEKIT

AbriefguidetohelpyougetstartedinBeijing!

TsinghuaInternationalSchool

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Table of Contents

Climate, Clothing, and Air Quality ..................................................................... 2

What to Bring.......................................................................................................................................3

What Not to Bring..............................................................................................................................8

Budget.....................................................................................................................................................9

Pre-Departure....................................................................................................................................10

Arrival.....................................................................................................................................................11

StayingintheForeignStudent’sDorm....................................................................................11

Apartments:........................................................................................................................................13

Utilities...................................................................................................................................................16

Water and Food................................................................................................................................18

Medical Care and Health Insurance......................................................................................19

Transportation...................................................................................................................................20

Money and Banking.......................................................................................................................22

Learning Chinese............................................................................................................................26

Entertainment,CultureandNightLife....................................................................................34

Raising a Young Family in Beijing..........................................................................................40

Having a Baby in Beijing..............................................................................................................49

Pre-departure and arrival should be first- explanation as to what will happen those first few days…

Add an example of a budget – without scaring the new employees

Travel in and out of China – Police registration

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Get ready for a great adventure! Beijing is an exciting, vibrant city offering

many activities and cultural events for everyone.

The information offered here was written by THIS teachers and staff. Before

you head to Beijing, we have a few recommendations to help you come

prepared.

Climate, Clothing, and Air Quality Weather: Beijing is a four-season city with extreme weather

conditions: long hot humid summers and long snowless-but-very-

cold winters between beautiful short breaks of spring and fall.

Expect January temperatures to be 20 degrees Fahrenheit or -7

degrees Celsius. July temperatures average a humid 80 degrees

Fahrenheit, or 26 degrees Celsius. The rainy season generally

occurs between July and August (source: ebeijing.gov.cn).

Go to the following website to convert between Celsius and

Fahrenheit:

http://www.onlineconversion.com/temperature.htm

Clothing: In spring and autumn, pants and a sweater are usually

enough. In the warmer months, T-shirts and light pants, shorts or

skirts are the best bet. In the colder months, it is wise to dress in

layers: long underwear and jeans, shirt, sweater, down jacket and

boots. Rain gear is necessary, especially during the summer

months. Hats and gloves can easily be purchased in China.

Depending on size it can be VERY difficult to find clothes to fit. Brand clothes are more expensive in China as in other countries

School attire for teachers is dressy casual. For men this means

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long pants and shirts with collars Polo shirts are a popular option.

Women may wear dressy capris. Teachers may wear nice looking

jeans. For parent events, teachers dress more formally with men

wearing ties. Flip-flops, shorts and tank tops are not allowed.

Since many travel by foot or bicycle to work, it is wise to bring

comfortable shoes. Heels are not advisable due to slick streets

and stairs.

Air Quality: Beijing, like most major cities in China, experiences

days with high levels of pollution. The U.S. Embassy in Beijing

website reports up-to-the-minute pollution levels

http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/070109air.html. A second

good website for current air quality is

http://www.aqicn.info/city/beijing/.

What to Bring Medication and Toiletries: If possible, bring a supply of

prescription medication that will last the length of the school year.

Over-the-counter medication that is readily available in the U.S.

may be difficult to find in Beijing such as Tylenol and cough and

cold medicine. Here is a list of common over-the-counter drugs

you may think about buying in the US:

• Tylenol / Aleve / Advil

• Tylenol cold medicine, or Nyquil/Dayquil

• Pepto-Bismol

• Tums

• Multi-vitamins

• Allergy medicines

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• Sleep Aids

Those with severe allergic reactions to insect stings/bites, foods, drugs, or other substances should bring extra EpiPens.

Name-brand shampoo and hair products are available in Beijing,

but bring any toiletries you are accustomed to using such as

deodorant, face wash and lotion, tampons, hand sanitizer,

toothbrushes, toothpaste, “specialty” hair products, and

mouthwash.

Smoke Alarms: You might consider bringing battery powered

smoke alarms for your apartment. Few, if any apartments come

with them installed.

Kitchen:

• Cutlery (must be in a new, unopened pack of knives, and

they must be stored in your “checked” luggage)

• Seasonings. While there are many seasonings available, you

might want to bring some of your favorites from home:

Marsala, jerk chicken rub, hot sauce, taco seasoning, etc.

• Favorite candy- this may sound silly, but you will not regret it.

Computers and cell phones: Computers, although many are

made in China, are likely to be cheaper to purchase in your native

country than in China. That includes peripherals and network

hardware such as wireless routers and printers. Cell phones need

to be able to work with either China Unicom or China Mobile. You

can purchase a simple (and cheap) phone in China (not

recommended) when you arrive or you can bring one that is

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already unlocked. SIM cards are easy to purchase and data plans

are cheaper than in the U.S.

Software: For Internet service, you will have several options. You

may want to explore additional software to facilitate faster Internet

service such as a virtual private network service. Have Skype and

all of your friends and family Skype addresses pre-loaded ahead of

time. One popular and reliable VPN service that people currently

use is called Express VPN. Another reliable one is Astrill VPN.

You can install your VPN before you arrive in Beijing, or you can

do it once you get here.

Briefly tell costs of internet and that you have to pay for the year- price list etc…and that you get it once you have an apartment- wifi in school and in dorms

Passport photos: For various documents, visas, and official

records, you will need to provide passport photos of everyone.

Pack at least 10 passport photos of each family member.

Books: Books written in English are hard to come by. You may

want to consider loading up an e-book reader such as Kindle and

take along a selection of paperbacks. If you buy a Kindle to bring

to China make sure it is a Kindle 3G or an e-book that works

outside of the U.S. A Chinese phrasebook will come in handy. A

tour book of China or other places you may want to visit will come

in handy too, as books in English are harder to find at reasonable

prices.

For small children: Bring any of the above items meant for your

child, plus:

1. Your child’s immunization record (and make copies)

2. Stock up on hardcover picture books. Used books with

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beautiful illustrations are inexpensive, but invaluable when

living abroad. You may purchase quality used picture

books from bookstores, amazon.com, and eBay.

3. Standard games like checkers, chess, playing cards,

UNO, etc. are readily available at various shops, but

boutique games like “Tell a Story,” “Story Cubes,” marble

runs, Candyland, and the like need to be purchased in the

U.S.

4. For sensitive children, you may want to invest in a smog-

reducing pollution mask for heavy smog days. A company

that sells good masks for adults and children is Totobobo:

http://totobobo.com/

*** People with small children: Anti-malaria medications are not

available for small children. If your family is planning to travel to SE

Asia where Malaria is a high risk, you may want to consider

bringing a prescription of Malarone for your child.

Shipping versus what to bring on the plane: You may be able to

bring everything you need in your luggage. Most airlines have a

weight, size, and number of pieces limits for checked baggage.

Find out the limits for your carrier, and weigh your baggage prior to

heading to the airport. Many teachers have said they would rather

just pay for the extra baggage for convenience; it’s a better value

and you will have peace of mind that you are traveling with it.

If you decide to ship some belongings: Make a list of what you may

need for living comfortably for the first two months – until your

shipment arrives -- and take those items with you.

For large moves, THIS has a relationship with Sino Trans Beijing,

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a shipping company. Contact Michael Wan at

wanke@sinotransbj.com. May no longer exist…

For shipping by mail, THIS staff has found the U.S. postal service

to be much less expensive than Federal Express. However, is

probably best to explore all options.

Others:

If you are used to having a cup of coffee (or more) throughout the

day, you may want to bring some of your own from the US. There

is a coffee shop (SPR) by the school and there are also other

chains (like Starbucks) in China, but they cost the same amount of

money as in the U.S.

A fabric softener ball (Downy ball) may be useful to adding fabric

softener to your laundry. Dryers are not as common here….at all!!

You can find boots (rain and snow boots) here, but you may want to bring ones you already know and like. Asian sizes for bigger people are pretty rare- especially for those who don’t know that sizes are so drastically different

Bring photos from home (or on your computer to print out).

Frames are cheap in China. In general, plan to bring your own

clothes. Good quality clothes cost the same as home (or more)

and depending on your size, you may not find what you need. It is

almost impossible to find men’s larger size shoes (above 10) and

women’s size 9 and above. It would be wise to invest in a good

running shoe as well.

Don’t worry! Just about everything can be found on Taobao.com

(You’ll just need a translator to order it for you).

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What Not to Bring Appliances with 110-120V only: They will not work here without a

converter, and converters may degrade over time. Electric

shavers, hair dryers, coffee makers, alarm clocks, DVD players,

flat-screen TVs, etc. must have dual 120/220V to work in China.

Laptops and cell phones generally work without requiring

converters.

Electronics, air purifiers, etc.: Air purifiers start at $125 on up.

For anyone with only a one-year work visa, your electronics are

subject to import fees. To avoid these fees, plan to purchase them

within China rather than ship them.

Housewares: Kitchens do not come with ovens. Most kitchens

have two burners only. Sheets, comforters, pillows, and towels are

easy to buy here, although do bring a couple of towels for staying

in the dorm.

For children: Don’t worry about clothes, toys, and dolls. Take

advantage of Beijing prices! They are made here, are of good

enough quality for kids to grow out of, and there is a huge

selection.

Politically sensitive material: To respect Chinese government

positions regarding Taiwan, Tibet, unauthorized religious material,

and related, be sensitive to bringing in materials that may be

inadvertently considered against Chinese policy.

Religious materials for distribution: It is ok to bring religious

materials for personal use; however, they are not intended for

distribution or sharing.

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Pets

If you plan to bring a pet, understand that there may be extended

quarantine periods for weeks and possibly months. It is best to

hire a relocation company specializing in relocating to Beijing, to

help you cut through the red tape and get your pet into your home.

Budget Reimbursable expenses: Usually the school will pay for your

plane fare, however, if for some reason you pay, the school will

reimburse you. The school will also reimburse you for your visa

expenses and the health exam. Keep all of the receipts to give to

Toni.

Rent deposit and pre-payment: Prior to arrival, have enough

money for a rental deposit and first three months of rent. Most

landlords require a cash payment of 1-2 months rental deposit and

three months advance payment for rent. You may also be subject

to an agency fee and foreigner tax. Your rental allowance from

THIS is taxed and will kick in after the first pay period. Have a

working knowledge of rental prices prior to arrival so that you

budget accordingly.

Here an example of a single monthly budget and for a family!

Work visa: Prior to your arrival, you will need to secure a work

visa, for which you will be reimbursed by THIS. If you are coming

with a family, you will need to budget for your family’s visas.

Health inspection: Upon arrival, all foreign adults are required to

obtain a clean bill of health from a specific health inspector in

Beijing. THIS will assist you with all aspects of the health check. If

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you are coming with a spouse, you will need to budget for your

spouse’s inspection.

Additionally, for families all schools require a copy of your

child(ren)’s vaccination records as well as a health inspection from

an approved hospital in Beijing. THIS will assist you with the

paperwork. The health inspection fee is minimal for young children.

Vaccinations: No vaccinations are required. However, it is

advisable to make sure you are up to date on them. Some

important ones to check are your MMR and tetanus. In addition,

when working with kids or traveling, it is always good to have the

Hepatitis A and B vaccines. Both of these are given in a series so

timing is everything. You may be able to get the vaccines at Beijing

United Family Health. Flu shots are available for between $10 and

$15 at BJF but were also provided by the school nurse last year.

Other health centers are also reputable and may offer the same

thing.

Pre-Departure Once your employment at THIS is confirmed, the school will take

care of booking your flight. However, it is imperative that you

receive your flight information and confirmation in plenty of time to

make arrangements to the airport. If you still have not received

your flight confirmation several days before you are scheduled to

leave, contact the school immediately to confirm dates and times.

If you feel pressed for time, it is best to call the school directly

rather than wait for email. Make sure you have received a copy of

all travel documents and retain all emails for your personal

records. Once you have received your confirmation number, make

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sure to visit the airline’s website to confirm that it is accurate.

Arrival On your arrival in Beijing a THIS staff member will meet you at the

airport and escort you to the Foreign Students Dorm where you

may stay for 21 days while you find an apartment.

Staying in the Foreign Student’s Dorm Below is some basic information about the school dorm. This will

be your first stop after arriving in Beijing. You will be staying in the

dorm until you find your apartment.

• When you check into the dorm, the THIS staff member who

picks you up at the airport will fill out the forms for you and the

dorm attendant will take care of the police registration. You will

not need to deal with police registration until you find an

apartment.

• The dorm is located right next to the school. College students

and visitors live on the other side of the dorm. Our students will

move in the last week of August.

• You will each have your own room. There will be no need to

share rooms.

• The beds have sheets, a pillow, a pillowcase, and a

blanket. You will need to provide your own towel so bring one

from home. Small hotel-like toiletries may be available but not

what you’re used to at home.

• Each room has its own bathroom, which also contains a

shower. In China, the shower is often part of the bathroom and

does not have a separate enclosure.

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• The room is air-conditioned.

• There is a washer in the hallway and a small dorm sized

refrigerator in the 2nd floor hallway, which is a shared

refrigerator.

• You will be given some drinking water. Do not use the faucet

water except to shower.

• Some basic supplies will be provided such as a small amount of

laundry soap and a pen and notebook in order to get you

started.

• You will also receive a bus card with some money on it. Your

Tsinghua University Cafeteria card will also have money on

it. The food there is very cheap (lunch for under $1.00 usually)

and quite good. They cut up watermelon on demand and it is

delicious at this time of the year.

• You will receive an Ethernet cord? to use in connecting your

computer to the Internet but the Internet generally goes off at

11pm and sometimes earlier. Put wifi is used and the code

• The room is secure and you will receive a key card to use when

opening your door.

• There is a snack bar behind the check-in desk. Not open until

school opens…check in desk? Take this out!!

• The dorm attendant does not speak English so rely on the

person who picks you up at the airport for anything you need.

Advice: Get to know each other. Spending time together will help

you bond and make the beginning of the year much more

pleasant. There are a few restaurants in the area including a

coffee shop inside the local Subway Sandwich shop where the Wi-

Fi is free and unlimited. Next to Subway is a convenience store

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where the water and snacks are cheaper than in the dorm.

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EAT ANYTHING FROM

THE STREET VENDOR CARTS!! Much of the food looks and

smells wonderful but your body needs time to adjust to the

different bacteria in that food than the bacteria it is used to. Eating

street food is the quickest way to a bad stomach problem that may

last a couple of days.

You will also receive a welcome bag from the staff. Each bag

contains useful items to help you settle comfortably in the dorm.

You will be provided with snacks, fruit, and bottled water to get you

started. Additionally, you will find a map of Beijing that includes the

subway lines and key Chinese phrases. This will be very helpful

when you first arrive, so make sure to keep it someplace handy.

The welcome bag will also provide laminated wallet-sized cards

with the phone numbers of bilingual staff members in case you

need help translating or have questions about life in Beijing.

Phone numbers for restaurant delivery will also be provided. Never

given to new residents this year… perhaps make some sort of

laminated card that goes into the gift bag?!

Apartments: THIS staff will assist you in finding an apartment. Usually you will

be dealing with a real estate agent who will show you various

apartments. The agent will negotiate the lease with the landlord;

you may also be able to negotiate the rental amount. The “new”

staff arriving last year pay between 5500,-RMB and 11.000,-RMB

rent per month in Haidian depending on size. Apartment prices are

compared to some countries higher in Beijing, but the costs of

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utilities are very low. Apartments come furnished, often with some

basic kitchen ware.

Where to Live:

For a more comprehensive guide to housing options in the city,

read this article:

http://www.beijingexpatguide.com/where-to-live-as-expat-in-beijing/

…or search the Internet that is full of tips and advice.

We recommend that during your first year to live near the school in the Haidian District.

The staff mainly live in three areas near THIS. Based on their

experience here some short descriptions of the areas:

Wudaokou: It is the closest area to the school, about 30 minutes’ walk or 15

minutes by bike. There are several bus options, and there is a

good connection with the subway down town. Here you will find

western shopping options and restaurants. You will find almost

everything you need. The Wu-clinic is also nearby. There are a lot

of foreigners here, and many speak English. Wudaokou is,

however, very crowded, and due to the many foreigners more

expensive than other areas when it comes to apartments and

shopping. If you look for a smoother transition into Beijing

Wudaokou is your best option.

Liudaokou: Also here you will have a short commute to work if you choose to

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walk or take the bike. There is one direct bus, but it goes to

Wudaokou before it continues to school, meaning a quiet long

commute. Subway line 15 offers good connections down town.

Liudaokou is more Chinese, and has a slower pace than

Wudaokou. It is considered more like a neighborhood. It is quiet,

and there are hardly any western restaurants, and no western

supermarkets, which means that not many people speak English.

It is not as expensive as Wudaokou when it comes to apartments

and going out.

Shangdi: This area is a little far away, but if you go by bus before the rush

hour, the commute by bus is easy and you have several options,

15-20 minutes’ bus ride. The apartments here are in general newer

and more western. The Oak Bay apartments are very nice, clean

and modern, surrounded by green areas and playgrounds. Close

to the Oak Bay apartments is a big western style mall with

everything, including a Walmart, MacDonald’s KFC and Papa

John’s. You will also find a nice and clean gym with a swimming

pool in Shangdi. It is a quiet area very well suited for families and

staff looking for a quiet and western area to live, but for some it is

too quiet and isolated as it is a long commute down town. Even

though it is very western, there are not many people here speaking

English.

Police registration: When you have secured an apartment, your

THIS guide will go with you to help you register with your local

police station.

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Utilities Water Bill: The water supply to your apartment will probably be

paid in one of two ways. A representative from the water company

will come to your apartment, read the water meter, and you will pay

them in cash. They will give you a receipt. Or you will take the

water bill, you find taped to the door of your apartment, to a bank

and pay the bill there.

Gas Cards: A Gas card will be given to you by your landlord.

These are pre-pay cards that can be refilled at the Bank of Beijing

via machine (the same machine is used to refill both Gas and

Electric cards). You will need your ATM card to refill the Gas card.

The machine commands are mostly in Chinese (There is very little

English). The bank may have someone on staff who can speak

English. The bank’s staff is very friendly and courteous. A little

patience may be involved, but you’ll get your card refilled. There is

a maximum of 500 RMB that can be put on your Gas card.

Once you have money on your Gas card, you need to locate your

gas meter. The gas meter is usually in the kitchen. You insert your

card into your gas meter. Once inserted, it will automatically

recharge and give you a reading of your total. Gas is very cheap

and on average you’ll pay about 600 RMB or less for the whole

year. When your meter gets low, there will be a flashing red light.

Generally speaking, once it hits 100 RMB it is time to recharge!

Note: Gas cards are not used in every apartment complex

Electricity Cards: An Electricity card will be given to you by your

landlord. These are pre-pay cards that can be refilled at the Bank

of Beijing via machine. It is the same machine you used to refill

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your Gas card. The machine is mostly in Chinese with very little

English, but the bank’s staff is friendly and willing to help. There is

a maximum of 1000 RMB that can be put on your Electricity card.

Once you have money on your card, you will need to locate the

Electricity meter. The Electricity meter is usually just outside your

apartment door in your hallway. Sometimes they are hidden in

closets and sometimes these closets are locked – ask where yours

is and discuss opening it with your landlord or Real Estate Agent

when you sign your lease. Once you have inserted the card, it will

automatically recharge and gives you a reading of your total.

Electricity is fairly cheap in China. Of course this would depend on

how often you use your air conditioner. On average you will pay

1000 RMB or less for the entire year. When your meter gets low

there will be a flashing red light. Generally speaking, once it hits

100 RMB it is time to recharge!

Note- electricity cards are not used in every apartment complex

Heat: Heat for apartments is delivered in one of two ways. The

heat in some apartment buildings is turned on November 15th and

turned off March 15th. The heat may be extended on either end if it

is extremely cold. Heating for your apartment may be included in

the rent. In other apartments individual tenants regulate the heat.

Tenants receive a gas card, from the landlord, to purchase gas for

heat (see section on gas). Users moving into new houses in

heating season shall pay heating fees of that season; users

moving into new houses in non-heating season shall pay the

heating fees for one heating season one time; no institution is

allowed to charge users more than a year's heating fee.

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Heating Hotlines: Beijing Heating Service Hotline: 86 10

62357575

Heating Service Hotline of Beijing District Heating Group: 86 10

65339933

Home Telephones and Internet: The home telephone and

internet situation can be a sticky one, as it is often different

depending on where you live. Depending on your apartment

complex, you may or may not need to have a phone line installed

in order to have the internet installed. The basic phone service,

which includes making and receiving calls within Beijing, is usually

between 8-15RMB/month. The cost of internet service depends

on the bandwidth, but you can expect to pay around 150RMB

(2MB) to 300RMB (4MB) per month. Be aware that prices are

rising so these estimates are conservative.

When you sign up for internet service, you should be given the

choice to pay per month, or to pay for several months at a time

(which should also lead to a discount). As with other monthly bills,

if you have an ayi (home help), they can often help you pay these

bills every month.

In some cases, people have been required to pay up front for the

entire year.

Water and Food Bottled Water: People in China drink bottled water, as the tap

water contains an unhealthy level of heavy metals. Bottled water is

cheap and easily available. Most people have water dispensers

with large bottles of water delivered by the local water company.

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Your landlord or real estate agent will help you set this up.

Delivered water is paid for in cash, or by tickets you purchase from

the company in bulk, at the time the water is delivered. When you

decide on an apartment, many agents will assist you with this

process.

Water Filters: Raylient offers home installation of water filter:

http://www.raylient.com/product-category/water-filters/. Contact

Vivian through WeChat: w37481101.

Food: There are a variety of places to shop for food in Beijing.

Inexpensive fresh fruits and vegetables are available from outdoor

carts and stalls, as well as supermarkets. Some supermarkets,

such as Carrefour, BHG, Jenny Lou’s, April’s Gourmet, and D-Mart

carry a range of foods for the Western shopper. There are also

loads of Chinese supermarkets. Prepared hot food, sandwiches

and salads can be found at 7-11 and Subway. Hot food may also

be purchased from street vendors. Veteran teachers and Chinese

staff can help you to set up food delivery from a range of places to

include McDonalds.

Add a section here about phone apps that are helpful/ necessary.

Medical Care and Health Insurance Beijing offers three types of medical care. One type of medical

care is Western style hospitals and clinics with English speaking

staff. A second type is Chinese hospitals and clinics which are

used by the majority of the people residing in Beijing, with Chinese

speaking staff. Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is gaining

popularity in the West, is the third type of medical care.

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Cigna Insurance offers two plans to THIS employees. The most

economical plan provides care in Western style hospitals and

clinics, as well as Chinese hospitals in China, and one month of

emergency care in the U.S. The other plan provides worldwide

services. THIS contributes 20,000 RMB per year for each

teacher’s health insurance. If the insurance plan selected is less

than that amount, teachers will receive the difference. If the more

expensive plan is selected teachers may make a large monthly

contribution.

Transportation It will be important for you to find out where your apartment is

located in proximity to the school. This may determine your

transportation needs. Subways and buses are very popular modes

of travel in Beijing. If you live near a subway or bus station, then

you can easily get around here.

Bicycle & Scooter: Bicycles and scooters are popular modes of

transportation if you live near the campus. They allow you to avoid

crowded public buses and traffic jams. At rush hour on the busy

roads in Beijing, they are the most convenient vehicles for a short

journey. Cost- range?

Subway: The subway system is an excellent, inexpensive (2RMB

single-journey ticket) option for getting around. It is fast and

convenient, with English signage and most stations have self-

serve ticketing machines. It is also recommended to buy a swipe

card (20rmb) for public transport called the “Yi Ka Tong” at subway

stations and bus stations and preload it with cash to save time

(minimum 20RMB). The subway system runs from about 5 a.m. to

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11p.m. daily. The subway can get very crowded during peak hours

but trains run frequently. There is a terrific map to be found at

http://www.explorebj.com/subway/, which displays travel times, as

well as station information.

Bus: You can get almost anywhere within the city limits by bus.

And they are pretty useful for getting to the major subway stations.

Buses are generally crowded because they are the cheapest form

of public transport. The bus service is not timetabled like the

subway system, but buses are usually quite frequent. They run

from about 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Most of the information is

written in Chinese, while most buses have recorded

announcements giving the stop's name in both Chinese and

English. Most buses have a conductor - some don't, getting a

swipe card to pay can free you from buying tickets from them. And

with a swipe card a 1rmb bus journey costs only 0.4RMB! There

are no discounts for using swipe cards on the subway though.

Didi and Uber: These are super convenient and affordable. They

have an app that you can download to your phone and attach it to

your bank card / WeChat Pay etc. Rumor has it that Didi is

planning to launch an English version of the app soon.

Taxi: Taxis are affordable and plentiful, and the comfortable way to

get around. All taxis are metered, and fares are 2.3RMB per

kilometer, with a base rate 13RMB for the first three kilometers.

Journeys in excess of 15 kilometers cost 3.5RMB per kilometer for

the portion above 15 kilometers. Currently, there is a 1-rmb fuel

surcharge added to all fares above 3 kilometers. Night rates (11

p.m. – 5 a.m.) are 20% higher, with a base rate of 13RMB. Tipping

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is not required or expected. Most of the taxi drivers don’t speak

English, so it’s relatively easy to navigate with maps and

destinations written in Chinese characters to show them.

Money and Banking

The work hours and days vary from bank to bank in Beijing,

however, most of the banks open approximately from 9 a.m. to 5

p.m. on weekdays, and have some branches open on weekends.

Upon your arrival, the school would open an account in China

Construction Bank? for you and you may get the bank card

within one week.

Currency: The Renminbi is the official currency of mainland

China. It is abbreviated as RMB, and the units for the Renminbi

are the Yuan (it can also be called Kuai) (one Yuan is like one

dollar), Jiao (one Jiao is like 10 cents), and Fen (one fen is 1 cent).

One Yuan=10 Jiao=100 Fen.

Please note that cash is more popular in China than in many

Western countries, so it is important to carry enough cash and

change for your daily expenses.

ATM: ATM machines can be found at most bank offices, shopping

malls and some grocery stores. You can withdraw RMB amounts

from international accounts if the ATM displays either a Visa or

MasterCard sign.

*When out of China, you can withdraw foreign currency from your

Chinese debit card at ATM machines if the ATM displays a Union Pay sign.

23

Banking: Many foreign banks have branches or representative

offices here, but their services are limited by Chinese law to

businesses. At larger banks, such as the Bank of China and Bank

of Beijing, you may open an account with a passport and proof of

residency.

Credit Card: Although cash is more popular, foreign credit cards

are becoming more and more acceptable in China. Now foreign

credit cards like Visa, MasterCard and American Express can be

used here.

Online banking: It is difficult to pay bills from a China account to a

foreign vendor. Plan to pay your ongoing bills (credit card, student

loan, etc.) using a bank account in your native country that has

online banking capabilities through the Internet.

Wechat Wallet Another popular method of payment is through Wechat Wallet. If

you don’t have cash at hand, this function of Wechat lets you pay

through a linked debit card by scanning a store’s QR code. To set

up Wechat wallet you will need a debit card from a participating

bank (we recommend China Merchants bank). Ask a staff member

for additional help to set this up.

Banks and ATMs around THIS

北京银行 Bank of Beijing with ATM Location one: two bus stops

from school, highly recommended;

Location two: on campus, 15-minute-walk from THIS.

建设银行 China Construction Bank with ATM

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Out the gate of THHS, on the right.

中国银行 Bank of China with ATM Two bus stops from school.

Transferring: You can transfer money to your home country

through China Construction Bank. Foreigners are limited to

sending out of country, only as much money as they have officially

made within a calendar year. Before you come to Beijing tell your

local bank you will be making Bank Wire Transfers from China to

your home account. Ask them to provide you with the relevant

routing information which includes the bank address, account number, swift code, etc. Many banks can print you a document

with the necessary info such as the one below:

25

You should also ask your bank how much they charge to receive wire transfers. Most banks charge for this.

To make bank transfers when in China, all you need to do is bring

your passport and fill in a transfer form. The section you will need

to fill in is shown in the picture below. Expect that the local bank

will charge a small handling fee. Most banks charge about 0.001%

(RMB) commission plus a flat fee anywhere between 100 RMB -

150 RMB to send the money. Remember your home bank may

also charge you to receive the transfer.

For the first time, a Chinese speaking staff member will go with

you to make things easier. They will help you get the right form, fill

it out, talk to bank employees, and answer your questions.

*Remember you cannot send more money out of the country than

you have officially made. This may affect you if you make excess

money tutoring on the side. If this is the case a Chinese staff

26

member may be able to assist you.

Learning Chinese

Studying Chinese can seem daunting, but learning even just a little

bit of the language will really open up opportunities and

experiences in Beijing. However, despite being surrounded by

Chinese, most people find it very difficult to just “pick up” the

language. Luckily, there are many ways to learn start learning

Chinese ranging from lessons offered after school to THIS staff,

self-guided study, to private tutors, to small-group classes. Here is

a list of schools and tools that you might find useful.

If you are interested in self-guided studying, you might want to

check out some of these mobile learning tools. These are tools

you can use on your computer or on your smart phone, some are

free and some are not.

• Pleco: This dictionary app is available in free and paid

versions. The free version is a basic dictionary which

supports input in English, pin-yin, and hand-drawn

characters (using your finger), while the paid packages offer

other features depending on your needs. The most popular

package is the “basic” package (US $49.95) which

includes "A Chinese-English Dictionary" and the NWP

English-Chinese Dictionary. This package also has a handy

flash-card feature, and a document reader that will scan and

translate documents using your smart phone’s camera.

Neither version requires the internet. http://www.pleco.com/

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• Chinese Pod: This subscription based podcast service

offers short conversation lessons based on everyday

situations, like fixing your bike tire, ordering food in a

restaurant, or going to the bank. They also offer speaking

lessons online via Skype! http://chinesepod.com/

• Rosetta Stone: This world famous language learning

software is available for all levels of Mandarin Chinese.

Rosetta Stone is available in online and CD versions, and

they offer a six-month, no-risk money-back guarantee when

you buy the CD version. http://www.rosettastone.com/learn-

chinese

• nciku: This is a great online resource. It’s more than a

dictionary, providing words with contextual examples, short

dialogues, and even short video lessons. The user can look

up words in English, pin-yin, or by entering the Chinese

• character. http://www.nciku.com

For those working in an international school and living in Beijing,

the most important aspects of the language are speaking and

listening. A language company called, Language Links¸ provides

tutoring that focuses primarily on speaking and listing. Tutoring is

general 1-on-1 and you can meet with your tutor at a location

convenient to you. A series of videos are made available to

learners prior to even coming to China should they wish to begin

their learning experience. This method of learning has seen great

success in helping people feel confident in their ability to engage in

Chinese conversations. There is a contact person on THIS staff

who can connect you with a Language Links tutor.

For those looking for a more traditional classroom approach

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(reading, writing, listening and speaking), you might like to try one

of the many Chinese language schools. These types of schools

often offer small group classes or private lessons for students of all

levels. This is a list of schools that teachers at THIS have tried

and recommended, but a brief internet search will surely return

many other options. As their offerings often change, please call

the school to find out more information.

• Beijing Mandarin School: o Location: CBD-Guomao,

o Telephone: 6508-1026,

o Website: [www.beijingmandarinschool.com]

• The Bridge School: o Location: Nurenjie area and CBD-Guomao

o Telephone: 8451-7605, 6506-4409

o Website: [www.bridgeschoolchina.com]

• Frontiers: o Location: Dongzhimen and Jianguomen

o Telephone: 6413-1548, 6515-8278

o Website: www.frontiers.com.cn/

• The Hutong School: o Location: Gulou

o Telephone: 6403-8670

o Website: [www.hutong-school.com]

• Juncheng Language School: o Location: Shunyi

o Telephone: 8049-0302

o Website: [www.junchengedu.com]

• Sinoland

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o Location: Wudaokou Area o Telephone: 6280-0077 o Website: [http://www.sinolandchinese.com/index1.asp]

Basic Chinese

Words

• hello 你好（nǐ hǎo）

• goodbye 再见（zài jiàn）

• airport 机场 (jī chǎng)

• bag 包（bāo）

• bar 酒吧（jiǔ bā）

• bathroom 洗手间 (xǐshǒu jiān)

• battery 电池 (diàn chí)

• charger 充电器 (chōng diàn qì)

• book 书（shū）

• camera 照相机（zhào xiàng jī）

• chopsticks 筷子 (kuài zi)

• cigarettes 烟 （yān）

• credit card 信用卡 (xìn yòng kǎ)

• lighter 打火机 (dǎ huǒ jī)

• clothes 衣服 (yī fu)

• catch a cold 感冒 (gǎn mào)

• computer 电脑 (diàn nǎo)

• laptop 笔记本电脑（bǐ jì běn diàn nǎo）

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• elevator 电梯（diàn tī）

• embassy 大使馆（dà shǐ guǎn）

• passport 护照（hù zhào)

• glasses 眼镜（yǎn jìng)

hospital 医院（yī yuàn）

• hotel 酒店 (jiǔ diàn)

• hutong 胡同（hú tòng）

• allergic 过敏（guò mǐn）

• internet 网络（wǎng luò）

• taxi 出租车（chū zū chē)

• subway 地铁（dì tiě）

• bus 公共汽车（gōng gòng qì chē）

• map 地图（dì tú）

• menu 菜单（cài dān）

• mobile 手机（shǒu jī）

• name card 名片（míng piàn）

• job 工作（gōng zuò）

• teacher 老师（lǎo shī）

• colleague 同事 tóng shì

• napkin 餐巾纸 cān jīn zhǐ

• newspaper 报纸 bào zhǐ

• number 号码 hào mǎ

• phone 电话 diàn huà

• paper 纸 diàn huà

• pen 笔 bǐ

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• photo 照片（zhào piàn）

• policeman 警察 jǐng chá

• purse 钱包 qián bāo

• raincoat 雨衣（yǔ yī）

• umbrella 雨伞（yǔ sǎn）

• restaurant 饭店（fàn diàn）

• rice 米饭（mǐ fàn）

• suitcase 箱子（xiāng zi）

• sun glasses 太阳镜（tài yáng jìng）

• supermarket 超市（chāo shì)

• ticket 票（piào）

• toilet paper 卫生纸（wèi shēng zhǐ）

• phone cards 充值卡（chōng zhí kǎ）

• tour guide 导游（dǎo yóu）

• watch 手表（shǒu biǎo）

• travel 旅游（lǚ yóu）

• bicycle 自行车（zì xíng chē)

• motorcycle 摩托车（mó tuō chē）

• dorm 宿舍（sù shè）

• apartment 公寓（gōng yù）

• renting 租房（zū fáng）

• I 我 wǒ

• my 我的 wǒ de

• you 你 nǐ

• your 你的 nǐ de

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• they 他们 tā men

• friend 朋友 péng yǒu

• one 1/一（yī）

• two 2/二（èr）

• three 3/三（sān）

• four 4/四（sì）

• five 5/五（wǔ）

• six 6/六（liù）

• seven 7/七（qī）

• eight 8/八（bā）

• nine 9/九（jiǔ）

• ten 10/十（shí）

• eleven 11/十一（shí yī）

• hundred 百（bǎi）

• thousand 千（qiān）

• red 红色（hóng sè）

• yellow 黄色（huáng sè）

• purple 紫色（zǐ sè）

• white 白色（bái sè）

• green 绿色（lǜ sè）

• pink 粉色（fěn sè）

• black 黑色（hēi sè）

• glass of water 一杯水（yī bēi shuǐ）

• a book 一本书 （yī běn shū）

• a suit of clothes 一套衣服（yī tào yī fu）

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• a room 一间房间（yī jiān fáng jiān）

• a student 一个学生（yī gè xué shēng）

• a piece of newspaper 一张报纸（yī zhāng bào zhǐ）

• a table 一张桌子（yī zhāng zhuō zi）

Sentences (show the person these Chinese characters):

• How much does this cost? 多少钱？

• I need to go to the airport. 我需要去机场。

• Can you help me with my bag? 你能帮我拿一下包吗？

• Where is the nearest bar? 最近的酒吧在哪里？

• Is there a bathroom here? 这里有洗手间吗？

• I need to buy some batteries. 我需要买一些电池。

• I lost the charger for my phone. 我把充电器丢了。

• I want to buy a book. 我想买一本书。

• I want to buy a camera. 我想买一部照相机。

• I’m sick.我生病了。

• You should take some chopsticks home for your family.你应该买

一些筷子带回去送给家人。

• Can you tell me where the Canadian Embassy is? 你能告诉我

加拿大的大使馆在哪里吗？

• May I have your name card? 能给我一张名片吗？

• Waiter, I need some napkins, please.服务员，给我拿点纸巾。

• Do you have any English newspapers? 你有英语报纸吗?

• Does this hotel have free internet? 这个酒店有免费上网吗？

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• You'd better take an umbrella. 你最好带上雨伞。

• I'd like to take you to a local restaurant. 我想带你去一家地方饭

馆。

• Would you like some more rice? 还要米饭吗？

• I need some things from the supermarket. 我需要去超市买点东

西。

• Where can I take a taxi? 在哪里可以打到出租车？

Entertainment, Culture and Night Life

Beijing is a dynamic city, whether you like to take a stroll in a park

or go see experimental movies, learn how to make “jiao zi”

(dumplings), listen to Chinese pop or underground music, or go

dancing, there is a lot to do for everyone

A good starting point whatever you want to do on evening or

weekend is to go to the website called the beijinger, especially

dedicated to the expat community, listing all events, happening in

Beijing :

www.thebeijinger.com

Additional resources:

http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/beijing/

35

http://www.timeoutbeijing.com/index.html

Cultural life: ART Beijing has a rich contemporary art scene in addition to good

national museums. There are a few art districts. The “798” art

district is a pleasant pedestrian district hosting about 200 galleries,

cafes and shops.

Some of those galleries also program movie screenings and

various art related event including workshop for children such as

UCCA.

THE BOOK WORM is a cafe/restaurant/bookshop geared toward

the expat community also hosting well known speakers.

http://beijingbookworm.com/

Movie and Performances: Some large movie theaters play movies in original version with

Chinese subtitles.

Megabox in sanlitun: www.imegabox.com

There is the Wudaokou Worker’s Theater in Wudaokou that often

shows English-speaking films with subtitles. Popcorn is kettle-corn

style and all listings are in Chinese so you will need a translator.

They have half-price discounted movies during the week, though!

And if you know Chinese you can pick your seats J

Also, there is the Megabox theater in Zhongguancun that is more

Western-friendly, with buttered popcorn, right in the mall. What’s

nice is that you can pick your seats.

36

The Moma cinematheque has a thematic screening, independent

movies and sometimes foreign movies. (http://www.bc-cinema.cn/)

A few embassies have cultural centers organizing events such as

the French cultural center (an excellent festival in May and June

show-casing cinemas, dance, concerts and movie every night with

both English and Chinese subtitles.) http://www.institutfrancais-

chine.com/?lang=fr

Other places to see performances include the Peng Hao theater.

The national center of performing art is dedicated to national

performing arts such as classical music, opera, dance, theater and

also hosts foreign performing art companies.

http://www.chncpa.org/

Night Life: Where to have a drink/listen to music, go dancing? Beijing has

quite an exciting night life. Several area neighborhoods with

different vibes play host to entertainment, including Wudaokou,

Lido, Gulou, YongheGong (Lama Temple), Houhai, & Sanlitun.

Wudaokou: the closest from the school, is the student area, you

will find few nice cafes (The Bridge, Lush), restaurants, and clubs.

Around the Drum & Bell Tower and the Lama Temple: the heart of

the Historical Beijing offers a lot of charming places in its windy

roads: Mao Live House, Temple, and Yugong Yishan host bands

from the local pop, rock scene as well as foreign bands. Nice bars

include the Drum and Bell (鼓楼北鼓巷旧鼓楼大街41 Zhonglouwan

37

Hutong, Dongcheng District城区楼湾胡同41号 tel: 8403 3600),

Amilal. And the very charming street Nanluoguxiang.

www.maolive.com

http://www.yugongyishan.com/?lang=en

Sanlitun: It is the trendy and out of control night life dive where you

will find plenty of bars and night clubs open until dawn.

(http://www.sanlitunvillage.com/eng/pages/index.aspx)

Outdoor:

Some of the sports offered in Beijing include rock climbing and

skiing. For weekend trips, the Beijing Hikers organize hiking

around Beijing.

http://www.beijinghikers.com/

www.oleclimbing.com

http://www.cnadventure.com/community.htm

Other Activities:

The Hutong offers cooking classes, language and cultural

activities.

Shopping:

Beijing is at the heart of many options for fashion and bargain

hunting. Each neighborhood has a bargaining shopping center

38

and/or mall to fulfill your needs. A few pointers:

• Expect to haggle and love it!

• Know Chinese clothing sizes. They have a different

measurement system from European and American sizes.

• Know the language or have a translator with you. Chinese do

not tend to speak English. If they do, expect that they will offer

you Western prices that you will have to negotiate.

• Know the street prices for what you want to buy. See bullet

point above.

Expat Resources

Beijing is home to many, many expats. When you feel the need to

connect with other expats, here is a list of resources to get you

started:

The Beijinger: Monthly print and online magazine for expats

including resources for activities, events, interviews, reviews, etc.

Freecycle: A resources for offering and getting rid of what you want

and want to get rid of.

BeijingCafe: (by invitation only). The main discussion board for

expats living in Beijing. An excellent resource for anything you

want to know, do, or seek advice from the expat community.

Beijing Kids: Monthly print and online magazine for expat families

including resources for activities, events, international school

reviews, and ways to connect with parents and their children.

The Hutong and China Culture Center offer English-speaking,

39

Chinese cultural experiences in food, art, history, travel, and other

activities to learn about China and Beijing. They also offer get-

togethers with expats and travelers during major holidays. We

highly encourage you to look at their calendar of events!

http://www.chinaculturecenter.org/

http://thehutong.com/

In addition, if you live in the Wudaokou/Haidian area, check out

The Bridge Café’s regular East-West talks; Tsinghua University’s

Lectures and Performing Arts Center; and in the Sanlitun area,

events hosted by The Bookworm, and Capital M that hosts events

bringing together expats for business, literature, history, non-profit

activities, and food and drink:

Bridge Café (example):

http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/beijing/events/29914/

Tsinghua University major events:

http://www.tsinghua.edu.cn/publish/then/5998/index.html

(for the performing arts schedule, please ask the Chinese staff for

a calendar and to help you translate it)

The Bookworm:

http://beijingbookworm.com/bookworm-happenings/

Capital M:

http://www.m-restaurantgroup.com/capitalm/Upcoming-events.html

A helpful website:

40

www.thebjreviewer.com

Raising a Young Family in Beijing

Raising a young family in Beijing is sure to be fun and never dull!

One of the most important things for your family to thrive will be to

find friends for both the parents and the children…preferably near

where you live!

Hospitals: Pediatric Care

BJU (Beijing United Hospital)

Website: http://beijing.ufh.com.cn/

Phone: 4008-919191

The BJU Wudaokou Clinic is very close to THIS and provides high

quality pediatric and adult care. It is staffed with friendly nurses

and pediatricians. With a location close to the school that still has

many of the services of the main hospital, it provides a great

alternative to making the trip to Chaoyang to the main hospital.

Children can keep up-to-date on vaccines, have regular check-ups

and see a doctor when they are sick.

The clinic also has a general practitioner who can provide health

care for the entire family should the need arise:

1st Floor, Building D, Tsinghua Tongfang Hi-Tech Plaza, 1

Wangzhuang Lu, Haidian District, Beijing, China 100083

北京市海淀区王庄路 1 号清华同方科技广场 D 座 1 层 邮编:

100083

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The main branch is in an area of town called Lidu in the north

eastern Chaoyang district, and it is best reached by taxi:

2 Jiangtai Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100015

北京和睦家医院中国北京朝阳区将台路 2号 邮编：100015

Activities for Young Children in Beijing

Many members of staff have families with young children, and we

tend to support each other and do things together, like birthday

parties, play dates etc.

Many malls have children’s activities and you purchase a card and

then can go multiple times to play. They usually have things like

playgrounds, ball pits, trampolines, sandboxes, etc. These play

areas may or may not have air filters, so you have to check at

each individual location. For the cold winter months, this is a good

alternative to playing outside when the children need to run out

excessive energy! Buying play-place cards in malls with filtered air

means you can go when the pollution is high as well J

The Children's Discovery Museum is a very nice place to go. There

are a lot of hands-on activities. Address: No. 43, Pinganli Xi Da Jie.

What do you do when pollution is bad?

Many families have a ‘cut-off’ pollution level and if the pollution is

above that level, they do not take children outside and don’t go to

locations where the air is not filtered. This means you have to be

42

more flexible with your time, but is what allows families to thrive

long term.

It’s advisable to have a set of ‘pollution day activities’ in your home

for when the air is too bad and the kids have been cooped up for a

while. One staff family suggests exercise time together, a special

set of toys and games for pollution days and always trying to do

something special together during pollution days – baking for

neighbors, making cards for family in the states, or maybe just

having ‘movie night’ in the middle of the day. And then when the air

is good, be outside as much as possible!

Teachers often invite friends over or go to other homes where

there are air filters when the pollution reaches unhealthy levels.

MyGym is a good resource. They usually have air filters/air filtering

systems and offer structured (gymnastics, music, art) classes and

free play times. Membership is required and can be pricey. There

is a MyGym in the Wucaicheng mall (see below).

Big museums are usually installed with very good air purifiers – the

AQI is usually under 20. If in there’s a bad pollution day, the

National Museum or Capital Museum will be a good choice for a

day out.

Ayis

It is very normal for families – both Chinese and foreigners – to

have an Ayi to help with childcare and cleaning. It is usually best

to hire an Ayi through a recommendation from a friend or a friend’s

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Ayi. If you hire an Ayi without the recommendation of someone

you know personally, be sure to interview with the Ayi prior to her

starting.

Be clear with expectations upfront and take time at the beginning

to show your Ayi exactly how you would like your apartment

cleaned. Standards are different in China, but Ayis tend to

recognize that working for foreigners means they will need to

adjust what they have done with Chinese families.

If an Ayi is watching your child, give them an opportunity to play

with your child before she is hired. Give them time to engage with

one another without your constant presence. Again, be clear with

expectations and recognize that may need to demonstrate how to

do certain things and that you will probably need to remind them of

your expectations from time to time.

Ayis are usually paid on a bi-weekly or monthly basis. Over the

Chinese New Year, it is common to pay an Ayi an extra month’s

salary as a ‘hongbao’ or Chinese New Year gift…so when

budgeting for an Ayi, don’t forget this extra month. For a part-time

Ayi, the hongbao may only be half of a regular month’s salary.

You also need to be considerate of the fact that you may be your

Ayi’s only source of income. So when you take trips out of the

country over Christmas or the summer, you need to have made it

clear to your Ayi what the payment expectations are during that

time. Talking about money can be difficult with an Ayi, but clear

communication upfront will help avoid difficult situations in the

future.

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Resources

Beijing Kids is a print magazine and website aimed at international

families living in Beijing. Many communities post their listings here,

and so you are sure to find up-to-date information about what’s

going on and what services are available for families here:

http://www.beijing-kids.com

Shopping for Young Children in Beijing

As you may already know, almost any item can be sourced and

bought online at www.taobao.com but you will need a friend to help

you set up your account or place an order on your behalf.

In addition, most things you need for your child can be bought in

regular stores in Beijing; however, some things are much more

expensive than they might be back home. In order to ensure the

standard of quality you expect, you may find that you have to pay

two or three times the price for simple items. One cheaper option

is to pay to bring an extra suitcase with you from your home

country into which you can pack the things you need for your child

made by brands you know and trust.

List of places/shops:

Ikea

Ikea stocks a wide range of toys, furniture and other necessities

such as high chairs, blankets, bath tubs etc. What’s more, most

45

things are very affordable and in fact much cheaper than similar

items in other shops around Beijing. You can check out the full

range and availability here:

http://www.ikea.com/cn/en/catalog/categories/departments/children

s_ikea/

Wucaicheng (Dreamport) Mall

Located in the Shangdi/Qinghe area, this mall has an entire floor of

children’s shops. Toys, clothing, and accessories of varying quality

and price, for children of all ages can be found there. The mall also

has many play areas and shops that provide children’s activities

for a fee. There is also a Walmart in this mall.

No.58, Qinghe Middle Street, Haidian District, Beijing, China

北京市海淀区清河中街 68号华润五彩城购物中心

Solana Mall

Solana Mall has a whole section entirely devoted to babies and

children. There are major brand stores selling everything you could

need, and many things you don’t need (like electric wet wipe

warmers). The major disadvantage of Solana Mall is that it stores

here are very expensive. It’s good to go here, find what you want

to buy, take a photo, and then order it cheaper online with the help

of a friend J

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蓝色港湾 朝阳区朝阳公园路 6号蓝色港湾国际商区

Solana Mall 6 Chaoyang Gongyuan Lu Chaoyang District

Mothercare

Mothercare is a British specialist retailer for parents, mothers,

babies and children up to the age of eight. There are numerous

branches of Mothercare around the city – search on Apple or

Android maps to find your closest branch. There is a large store in

Solana Mall (see above). You can access their Chinese website

here, with an option for English in the top right-hand corner:

http://cn.mothercare.com

Insurance

Your children can be easily and quickly added on to your insurance

policy at THIS (currently provided by CIGNA CMB). Alternatively,

you can choose to purchase a separate insurance policy for your

children, or pay health costs out of pocket, although the latter is

not recommended.

Preschools

When your child is 2-3 years old, they can begin attending

preschool. Prior to 2 years old, there is not daycare available and

if a parent cannot be at home, an Ayi is the option. Local

preschools provide an excellent opportunity for your young child to

47

learn Chinese in a natural environment and to make local friends.

It will be important to note, though, that it may take your child

longer to speak – both their first and second language – because

they are learning two at the same time. Do not be concerned

about this! Once they start speaking, they will be able to switch

back and forth with an ease you won’t believe!

There are also excellent international preschools where you child

will be in an English environment learning age-appropriate skills.

Usually these will also include some sort of Chinese class so that

the children can learn some words and songs in Chinese.

A few things to note:

It is highly recommended that you purchase an air filter for your

home to ensure that the air inside your apartment is always clean

and fresh. Some reputable brands include IQ Air, BluAir, and Alen.

They are available from Raylient, who offer delivery and have an

English-speaking customer service:

http://www.raylient.com/product-category/air-filters/

AQI monitors are available to order online so that you can check

the air quality in your home. There are a number of options. The

so-called “Laser Egg” is available on Amazon.cn and costs around

500RMB. The “Node” is more expensive at around 1000RMB, but

has a number of additional features such as a CO2 monitor and

48

internet connectivity so that you can check your home AQI from

any location using the Air Visual app.

Laser egg: search on https://www.amazon.cn

Node: https://airvisual.com/shop?winzoom=1

You and your family should own good quality pollution masks to

use when you go outside on days when pollution reaches

unhealthy levels. There are a range of masks available and it is

important to make sure you buy an effective mask from a trusted

brand. A range of good masks are available to order from Raylient,

who also have an English-speaking customer service department,

should you need help or advice:

http://www.raylient.com/product-category/air-masks/

Water filters can be easily installed in your apartment to make sure

you have access to drinking water 24/7. Water filters fitted in your

shower also remove chemicals such as chlorine that can dry your

children’s sensitive skin. They are available from Raylient, who

offer delivery, free installation, and have an English-speaking

customer service:

http://www.raylient.com/product-category/water-filters/

49

If you plan to travel to other countries in SE Asia where malaria is

a problem, it has been recommended that you bring Malarone from

your home country for your child (a preventative malaria medicine).

It is not an issue in China. Malarone is the only malaria prevention

medicine for children under 5 and it is not sold in China.

Children are generally very well accepted in public places around

Beijing. Most people will happily give up a seat on the bus or train

for a child. It is common for people to inquire about your child

(where are you from, how old is your child, etc.) Some people,

generally older people, may try to comment on the condition of

your child (if they look tired, cold, thin etc.) This may even result in

someone pulling your child’s pant legs down to cover an ankle or

pulling their hood up if they think they are cold. These types of

comments and actions are not intended to interfere or to be

judgmental of your parenting skills. Rather, they are intended to be

acts of kindness and caring, so try not to take offence.

Having a Baby in Beijing

Having a baby in Beijing is not as daunting as it may sound. In

fact, Chinese society is very caring and hospitable towards

pregnant women, and you may therefore find that you are treated

with more care and consideration than you are back home, for

example, when traveling on public transport or finding a

comfortable seat in a restaurant. High standards in international

50

hospitals ensure that you receive top quality care, and there are

numerous communities you can join as a new parent in Beijing,

whether you want to buy second-hand items or perhaps need

support breast-feeding.

Hospitals

There are many options as to where to receive prenatal care and

give birth to your baby in Beijing. THIS staff have had great

experiences at private international hospitals, and this type of

hospital is recommended for foreign staff having a baby in Beijing.

Some Chinese public hospitals also offer a good standard of care,

but you will need to be prepared for the different style of healthcare

treatment you will receive there.

BJU (Beijing United Hospital)

BJU has become much more natural birth friendly. They have

adopted the UK model of midwifery care, with OB doctors standing

by in case of emergencies. They have a very good tub in your

private suite, for relaxation and pain relief during labor, but do not

allow water birth yet. BJU is one of the most expensive hospitals

in Beijing but does offer a discount for prenatal and birth packages.

You can also rest assured that at BJU you will receive great care.

http://beijing.ufh.com.cn

Oasis Hospital

Oasis is a favorite choice for THIS staff because it is a newer

51

hospital with a much cheaper pre-natal and birth package than

BJU. The hospital is friendly, clean and quiet, and treats each

patient on a personal level. Because Oasis is a relatively small,

private hospital, they do not have specialist doctors in-house 24/7.

Rather, they will call in specialists from other local hospitals if you

have a complication or require specialist treatment. The maternity

suites are well-equipped and comfortable, and at certain times of

year Oasis offers a teacher discount on their prenatal and birth

packages.

http://www.oasishealth.cn

Beijing Sino-Japanese Friendship Hospital

Beijing Sino-Japanese Friendship Hospital is a Chinese public

hospital with an international department. Doctors in the

international department speak English, and in fact many students

at THIS were born in this hospital. Because it is a public hospital, it

is much cheaper than the international hospital, however you will

need to bear in mind that the hospital does not adhere to

international private hospital standards, and therefore you need to

be prepared for whatever this may entail (for example, it is not

standard procedure to allow the patient to view their ultrasound

scans). Also, because this is a famous public hospital, you will

need to book your prenatal checks and birth far in advance, as the

hospital quickly reaches full patient capacity.

http://english.zryhyy.com.cn

52

American Sino OBGYN

“Beijing American-Sino OB/GYN Service is a comprehensive

medical practice of seven physicians providing obstetric,

gynecologic and wellness care services for women of all ages.

Their mission is to provide quality healthcare for all patients using

established, effective methods as well as innovative, advanced

technologies in a competent and thoughtful fashion.

In addition to obstetrics and gynecological services, they provided

accredited 3D and 4D ultrasound on site. These tests can most

often be scheduled at times which are convenient for patients with

busy schedules. Their website can be used to make appointments,

pay bills, request prescription refills, complete patient information

forms prior to appointments, print directions to the office, locate the

most current medical information and communicate questions and

concerns to physicians and staff.”

Time Out Beijing, 27 April 2011

http://bj.am-sino.com

Resources

A helpful Yahoo group has been set up called “BJmamas” which

has great resources for young mothers. It is a private group, but

you can easily join it upon request:

53

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Beijing_Mamas/info

Breastfeeding support is offered by most international hospitals,

and also through La Leche League, who offer mother-to-mother

support, monthly meetings, telephone help and a lending library:

http://www.llli.org/beijing.html

Robyn Wexler is a well-known doula based in Beijing. She

completed her doula training in her hometown of San Francisco,

and she is also the owner of Yoga Yard Wellness Center. She is

available for consultation, prenatal/postnatal consultation, labor

support & advocacy. You may contact her at

robyn@yogayard.com, phone +8610 136-1126-6962.

Yoga Yard Wellness Center offers prenatal and baby yoga classes.

For prices and class times, follow this link:

http://yogayard.com/en/pre-natal.htm

Beijing Kids is a print magazine and website aimed at international

families living in Beijing. Many communities post their listings here,

and so you are sure to find up-to-date information about what’s

going on and what services are available for families here:

54

http://www.beijing-kids.com

Shopping for Baby in Beijing

As you may already know, almost any item can be sourced and

bought online at www.taobao.com but you will need a friend to help

you set up your account or place an order on your behalf.

In addition, most things you need for your baby can be bought in

regular stores in Beijing; however, some things are much more

expensive than they might be back home. In order to ensure the

standard of quality you expect, you may find that you have to pay

two or three times the price for simple items such as onesies. One

cheaper option is to pay to bring an extra suitcase with you from

your home country into which you can pack the things you need for

your baby made by brands you know and trust.

List of places/shops:

Ikea

Ikea stocks a wide range of toys, furniture and other baby

necessities such as high chairs, blankets, bath tubs etc. What’s

more, most things are very affordable and in fact much cheaper

than similar items in other shops around Beijing. You can check

out the full range and availability here:

http://www.ikea.com/cn/en/catalog/categories/departments/children

s_ikea/

55

Solana Mall:

Solana Mall has a whole section entirely devoted to babies and

children. There are major brand stores selling everything you could

need, and many things you don’t need (like electric wet wipe

warmers). The major disadvantage of Solana Mall is that it stores

here are very expensive. It’s good to go here, find what you want

to buy, take a photo, and then order it cheaper online with the help

of a friend J

蓝色港湾 朝阳区朝阳公园路 6号蓝色港湾国际商区

Solana Mall 6 Chaoyang Gongyuan Lu Chaoyang District

Mothercare:

Mothercare is a British specialist retailer for parents, mothers,

babies and children up to the age of eight. There are numerous

branches of Mothercare around the city – search on Apple or

Android maps to find your closest branch. There is a large store in

Solana Mall (see above). You can access their Chinese website

here, with an option for English in the top right-hand corner:

http://cn.mothercare.com

A few things to note:

Maternity clothes will almost certainly be much cheaper and easier

to find in your home country. If you or your spouse is pregnant in

56

Beijing, you may want to prepare accordingly, especially if you

require uncommon sizes.

It is recommended that if you plan to use milk formula, do not buy

formula that was made in China. Buy from a reputable,

international brand that you recognize, like Hipps or Nestle.

Breast pumps are much cheaper in the US, so you may want to

bring your own.

It is highly recommended that you purchase an air filter for your

home to ensure that the air inside your apartment is always clean

and fresh. Some reputable brands include IQ Air, BluAir, and Alen.

They are available from Raylient, who offer delivery and have an

English-speaking customer service:

http://www.raylient.com/product-category/air-filters/

Water filters can also be easily installed in your apartment to make

sure you have access to drinking water 24/7. Water filters fitted in

your shower also remove chemicals such as chlorine that can dry

your baby’s sensitive skin. They are available from Raylient, who

offer delivery, free installation, and have an English-speaking

customer service:

http://www.raylient.com/product-category/water-filters/

57

Citizenship:

After your baby is born, you will be given a birth certificate in the

hospital. Most international private hospitals issue birth certificates

that are in both English and Chinese. If the birth certificate is only

in Chinese, you will need to have it translated and notarized. You

can use this birth certificate (and the notarized translation, if

required) to apply for citizenship through your home country’s

embassy or consulate. Each country’s embassy has different rules

and regulations regarding this procedure and they are subject to

change, so it is best to call them directly or check online well in

advance as you prepare for the arrival of your baby.

Insurance:

Once your baby is born, he/she can be quite easily and quickly

added on to your existing insurance policy at THIS (currently

provided by CIGNA CMB). Alternatively, you can choose to

purchase a separate insurance policy for your baby, or pay health

costs out of pocket, although the latter is not recommended.

When your child is 2-3 years old, they can begin attending

preschool. Prior to 2 years old, there is not daycare available and

if a parent cannot be at home, an Ayi is the option. Local

preschools provide an excellent opportunity for your young child to

learn Chinese in a natural environment and to make local friends.

It will be important to note, though, that it may take your child

longer to speak – both their first and second language – because

they are learning two at the same time. Do not be concerned

58

about this! Once they start speaking, they will be able to switch

back and forth with an ease you won’t believe!

There are also excellent international preschools where you child

will be in an English environment learning age-appropriate skills.

Usually these will also include some sort of Chinese class so that

the children can learn some words and songs in Chinese.