Basic Beijing – 5 Things You Should Know

Beijing is constantly in the news as China’s growth has continued, and is one of the most appealing places for your study of Chinese. It has all the excitement and culture shock you might want, whilst also being comfortingly familiar thanks to its modern infrastructure and facilities. For anyone coming from a large Western city, it can be quite easy to fit in once you know your way around. Here are five facts about Beijing that will reduce that initial culture shock for you and allow you to settle in more easily when arriving for your Global Language arranged courses.

■Beijing is BIG!
The entire municipal area is some 6,487 square miles, and whilst this is far larger than the area than you will be travelling, it is important to understand that this is one of the biggest cities in the world. It is also one of the most densely populated, so be prepared for crowds in most places.

■Traffic, Traffic, Traffic.
Beijing has over 5 million cars, and traffic is terrible. Although limits have been put on new car buying, getting around can be tough and so it is important to live close to where you spend most of your time. If you are studying, then it is definitely worth living close to where your college for convenience.

■Weather.
Beijing can get very cold in winter (-10C/14F) and very hot in summer (35C/95F and above). Combined with the pollution, it is important to be prepared for extremes of temperature. That being said, it rains very infrequently and there are many days of blue sky each year.

■Prices.
Some things are still very cheap in Beijing. Compared with many places in the US or Europe you will likely find it a cheap alternative. With Global Language arranging your accommodation and schooling, you will have saved money already! However, if you want to maintain your Western habits, eat foreign food and experience nightlife, then prices are comparable to most major developed cities in the world.


■History and Modernity.
Despite some of Beijing’s drawbacks, it is still the greatest city in China, and probably in the whole of Asia. It has an amazing amount of history – from the quiet hutongs to the imposing Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City. It is also a truly modern metropolis with top-class facilities, all your favorite international brands and everything else you could possibly want in a cosmopolitan city.


Understanding Beijing’s good and bad points is important. At Global Language we don’t want to give you a false impression of where you will be studying, and understanding these five features of China’s capital will help you make the choice that is right for you.

Global Language study in china offers study abroad program packages for students or individuals wishing to study Chinese or take martial arts in China. Packages include tuition fees, accommodation, tutoring, school registration, tours, social events, 24/7 service and more…