What I Like or Dislike About Living in Beijing

As a foreigner, I have many great experiences in Beijing. But, everything is not great at all. There is something hidden behind some pleasant stuff. However, sometimes things are just in front of you. 

Here is a list of things I like or dislike in Beijing. Remember that I don’t mean to outburst about negativities in Beijing. It is just my personal view. It may help newcomers to be ready for life in Beijing and manage their prospects. 

What I like about living in Beijing

Easy Public Transportation: Beijing has cheap and well organized public transportation. Busses and taxis are efficient and inexpensive. The subways get you just about everywhere within the city. Moreover, the fare is less as compared to anywhere else.

Exciting Friends: While living in Beijing, you will meet exciting people. Here I have many good friends both Chinese and foreigners. But unluckily my foreign friends often have to move back to their country. So the friends’ cycle changes eventually. 

Tasty Food: Authentic Chinese food is available everywhere in the city. You can taste all types of provincial cuisines in Beijing. You can eat out in restaurants or street vendors. Chinese foods are full of taste. The ingredients used in Chinese food are cheap and easily available. So you can cook Chinese dishes at home. 

Cheap Prices: From groceries to restaurant food, from haircut to transportation, the cost of living in Beijing is very low as compared to the Western countries. You can easily get cheap clothing, groceries, and household items here.

Personal Safety: As a woman, nowhere else I have felt safe as in Beijing. Walking alone in the evening, traveling alone in a taxi is quite safe here. But keep in mind the crimes happen everywhere so stay alert. However, Beijing is a safe place for a woman.

Rich Culture: Beijing is a famous place for tourism. There are so many things to explore. I spend many weekends in travel around the city, but still, there are many things to see. Chinese culture is very amazing. It attracts every visitor. 

What I dislike in Beijing

Heavy Pollution: This is one of the major problems in Beijing. In China, smog is the most obvious pollution. It is often increasing. You can never see clear skies here. There are many reasons for smog such as pollution caused by heavy traffic, dust, and industrial smoke.

Slow internet: In China, the internet is often slow for foreign websites. Moreover, many foreign websites are not open here. You can access them only through a VPN. 

Some Cultural differences: In China, you will experience some strange things like the Chinese spitting habit. Smoking, pushing and lack of personal space are some common issues here.

Always sticking out: Being a foreigner, tall and pale, I am always on people’s point. When I go out people stare at me and call me waiguoren. Kids pointing at me, sometimes it is very cute and funny. But often it seems the lack of personal space. However, in the ex-pat area, it is not an issue. 

The sheer size of Beijing: In Beijing, it usually takes an hour to get to your office or shopping. But if you live in an area near your friends, work, and shopping centers, it will take less to get everything. 

Here are the few things that wonder me sometimes.

The last hop of change: In Beijing, new shopping malls, subway lines, and parkways opened at incredible speed. All at once, the stores and old Hutong houses fade away to make space for all the newfangled.

Chinese practicality: Chinese make things cheaply and quickly by twisting a rule or taking a shortcut. Their advanced skills make everyday life much easier. But it can be enraging when this rapidity leads to unintentional consequences that even distress people’s protection, for example, in slapdash construction.

If you want to be happy in Beijing, remind yourself what you like here and not getting annoying about what you dislike here. You should try to see the good and take interesting experiences that help you to increase your tolerance with different attitudes and cultures. In China, Many things will get your interest.

So, share your experiences in Beijing.