HELP!!! Life in Beijing?....
HELP!!! Life in Beijing?....
My husband and I are considering a job in Beijing. We love the jobs and the package, but we're a bit worried about living (breathing!) in such a crowded city. Can anyone speak to the pollution/traffic situation in Beijing? We really enjoy being outdoors and running/hiking. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!
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eion_padraig
- Posts: 408
- Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2010 8:18 pm
It's been some years since I was in China and I never lived in Beijing, but I've spent some time there. Running outside is best done (safe from traffic and having open space) in big parks and/or in villa neighborhoods if you're looking to get off tracks and the like at schools.
Depending on what you expect by outdoors, it can be a challenge to access from Beijing. On a day to day basis, the best you are going to find is large public parks in the city. (Nanjing is the only large Chinese city I've been to that seemed to incorporate large, somewhat natural parks within the city limits.) There has been an upsurge in young, wealthy Chinese looking to do hiking, rock climbing, and backpacking which means there are some companies catering towards their needs. So during your school breaks, or weekends you may be able to get outdoors. I wouldn't expect it to be as easy to access as what is available in Southeast Asia or say Ecuador. I had some good experiences hiking on sacred mountains (Tai Shan, E Mei Shan, Huang Shan, etc), but it's markedly different from hiking on the Appalachian Trail or in state/national parks I've done in Australia and in North America. I had friends go skiing in Northern Chinese trips too, but I don't recall where exactly they would go.
Air pollution remains a problem, so it can be hazardous if you have breathing problems. Admittedly, access to outdoors when I was in China was one of the toughest things about my time, but there were other things about my time that made up for it.
You might get some more valuable and more up to date information on outdoor opportunities on Lonely Planet's Long Haul or Northeast Asia page. Good luck making a final decision.
Depending on what you expect by outdoors, it can be a challenge to access from Beijing. On a day to day basis, the best you are going to find is large public parks in the city. (Nanjing is the only large Chinese city I've been to that seemed to incorporate large, somewhat natural parks within the city limits.) There has been an upsurge in young, wealthy Chinese looking to do hiking, rock climbing, and backpacking which means there are some companies catering towards their needs. So during your school breaks, or weekends you may be able to get outdoors. I wouldn't expect it to be as easy to access as what is available in Southeast Asia or say Ecuador. I had some good experiences hiking on sacred mountains (Tai Shan, E Mei Shan, Huang Shan, etc), but it's markedly different from hiking on the Appalachian Trail or in state/national parks I've done in Australia and in North America. I had friends go skiing in Northern Chinese trips too, but I don't recall where exactly they would go.
Air pollution remains a problem, so it can be hazardous if you have breathing problems. Admittedly, access to outdoors when I was in China was one of the toughest things about my time, but there were other things about my time that made up for it.
You might get some more valuable and more up to date information on outdoor opportunities on Lonely Planet's Long Haul or Northeast Asia page. Good luck making a final decision.
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wrldtrvlr123
- Posts: 1173
- Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 10:59 am
- Location: Japan
I would definitely keep Beijing high on your list. There a number a very good schools here and even the second tier schools offer a very nice package/lifestyle. There are many good size parks in the city and outdoor/hiking opportunities on the weekends (hiking to and on the Great Wall for example). Many of the expat areas out by some of the larger int'l schools are wide open and nicely landscaped and you could think you were in South Florida if you didn't know better.
We have been here since July and live closer into downtown but even here you don't really get a sense of an oppressively busy noisy city. When we do hear a car horn it is noticable because of how infrequently it happens. There are many restaurants and shopping opportunities and parks within walking distance and it is not all intimidating to be out and about. We just went to a temple fair for the New Year and it was one of the few times since we have been here that I felt crowded.
As for the pollution. While I can't say it's not on our minds, strangely it is not really an oppressive or life interfering issue. It really has not been the problem I was expecting. Basically we can go weeks where the skies are blue and the air clear, then you may get a few mediocre days, maybe a couple of really nasty ones, then back to clear skies. We just recently had 36 straight days of real blue sky days (a new record apparently). Since we have been here, there have really only been a few days where you just look outside and dread going out (and even then you go and it's not like you are choking on every breath).
So, to sum up. I really like it here and many families seem to agree!
We have been here since July and live closer into downtown but even here you don't really get a sense of an oppressively busy noisy city. When we do hear a car horn it is noticable because of how infrequently it happens. There are many restaurants and shopping opportunities and parks within walking distance and it is not all intimidating to be out and about. We just went to a temple fair for the New Year and it was one of the few times since we have been here that I felt crowded.
As for the pollution. While I can't say it's not on our minds, strangely it is not really an oppressive or life interfering issue. It really has not been the problem I was expecting. Basically we can go weeks where the skies are blue and the air clear, then you may get a few mediocre days, maybe a couple of really nasty ones, then back to clear skies. We just recently had 36 straight days of real blue sky days (a new record apparently). Since we have been here, there have really only been a few days where you just look outside and dread going out (and even then you go and it's not like you are choking on every breath).
So, to sum up. I really like it here and many families seem to agree!
I can't speak for Beijing, though I do love the historical and cultural aspects of the city, but one reason my wife and I are looking to leave Shanghai is the lack of access to the out-of-doors. Its fine to say there are big parks, and believe me Shanghai has more than its share of beautiful parks, or to say you can get out of the city to hike and walk but its not always as easy as it would appears to get "outside" in China on a regular basis.
Having said that, the opportunities to hike and walk in places like on the Great Wall or in Yangshuo, Lijiang, Hangshen or Moganshan are fabulous, it just takes time, planning and money to get there and to enjoy them.
I wouldn't base my entire decision on whether to go to Beijing on outdoor access, there are plenty of other reasons why life and jobs there would be fabulous, but there are trade-offs and you have hit one of them on the head.
Having said that, the opportunities to hike and walk in places like on the Great Wall or in Yangshuo, Lijiang, Hangshen or Moganshan are fabulous, it just takes time, planning and money to get there and to enjoy them.
I wouldn't base my entire decision on whether to go to Beijing on outdoor access, there are plenty of other reasons why life and jobs there would be fabulous, but there are trade-offs and you have hit one of them on the head.
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wrldtrvlr123
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