Beijing is an enormous city and deciding which part of town to live in can be difficult. But as big as the city is, not all neighbourhoods are created equal; foreigners looking for alternatives to the usual expat “ghettos” would do well to check out these areas. These neighborhoods have the comforts of home without the inflated prices. Start your apartment search here.

Wanquanhe and Suzhoujie 万泉河、苏州街
Wanquanhe and Suzhoujie are in Haidian’s university district hotspot, sandwiched between the Foreign Studies University (often referred to as Bei Wai) and People’s University (affectionately known by many as Ren Da). Virtually next door to Zhongguancun, the areas are popular with the ‘China Silicon Valley’ crowd – e-business owners and IT people – which means that quality apartments abound, as well as many of the services one would expect in more western living style-suited locations such as Chaoyang. Wanquanhe and Suzhoujie are friendly to both those working in the northwest and students; they are handy for many decent restaurants and good locations for commuting as they are very close to subway line 10 and the new line 4, the Bagou bus station and the northwest 3rd ring road. Wanquanhe and Suzhoujie offer more genteel and leafy surroundings perfect for those in the aforementioned groups, although the peace and quiet does not come so cheaply.

Huilongguan and Longze 回龙观、龙泽
Huilongguan and Longze are two of Beijing’s more rough and ready areas which have received considerable face lifts in recent years. At the very north of subway line 13 in Changping District, Huilongguan is one of Beijing’s largest suburbs with low rise complexes stretching as far as the eye can see. With new apartments and developments in the area, it is becoming increasingly foreigner friendly. Most suited to living in Longze and Huilongguan are those working in neighbouring areas Xi’erqi (西二旗) and Shangdi (上地), which are home to a large number of international companies and IT companies. They are also a short train journey to Wudaokou making them suitable places for those studying in Wudaokou but wishing to avoid the hiked-up prices of apartment rental in the immediate vicinity of the universities. With large modern apartments at a fraction of the cost that they would be in more central areas, Huilongguan is definitely an option to be considered by students and newcomers to Beijing. Almost equidistant from Xizhimen and Dongzhimen along subway line 13 (half an hour to Xizhimen and slightly longer for Dongzhimen) Longze and Huilongguan are not as inaccessible as they seem – easy access to the Badaling Expressway means a taxi trip downtown is not such a jaunt.

Wangjing and Shaoyaoju 望京、芍药居
Wangjing and Shaoyaoju are the areas most popular with South East Asian expats outside of Wudaokou. Located in the north of Chaoyang District they are very handy for the central business district but far enough out to make for lower rents. Wangjing is now home to a large number of multinational companies’ Chinese headquarters and it has also earned itself the moniker of being Beijing’s very own Korean town, boasting a large Korean population, a number of Korean run businesses and even a Korean shopping mall. Most of Wangjing’s apartment complexes are recent and the area has all the amenities the average expat would expect. Shaoyaoju is home to one of Beijing’s largest student populations outside of Wudaokou and is a travel hotspot as those living there have easy access to subway Lines 10 and 13 at Shaoyaoju station, and nearby Huixinxijie Beikou (惠新西街北口) is on Line 5 which runs along Beijing’s north-south axis. Apartments in Shaoyaoju are more commonly a bit older and are priced accordingly.

Shuangjing 双井
Shuangjing in the last few years has become one of Beijing’s “foreigner ghettos” – don’t panic though, it’s actually a rather pleasant place. At the southern terminus of subway line 10 and just a ten minute walk south of Guomao, which is unarguably the heart of the CBD, Shuangjing is very much a popular alternative to slightly more expensive areas around the business district. Most of the apartment complexes in Shuangjing are modern light airy buildings and western restaurants and Wi-Fi equipped coffee shops are par for the course. Shuangjing is best suited to those who cannot tear themselves away from the conveniences of back home but can’t quite afford the inflated prices that people on expat relocation packages, living in more central areas can. Shuangjing is also a favourite of those who enjoy Beijing nightlife as it is within a stones-throw of infamous bar street Sanlitun.

Once you have an idea of where you want to live, finding an apartment in Beijing is not nearly such a chore – the battle is already halfway won. Check this article for more advice on how to find the perfect pad in Beijing.

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