China’s booming economy has attracted many US citizens to embark on a new life adventure. According to the latest research, there are between 71,000 and 110,000 American expats who live in China. If you’re also thinking of moving to Beijing, be prepared to experience a real culture shock since the culture is entirely different from the US. To understand it better, we’ve prepared the ultimate guide through must-visit sights in the former imperial city of Ying.
The Capital of China is a Prosperous Metropolis in Need of Foreign Experts in its Business Circles
Aside from learning about the booming economy and almost limitless possibilities to scale businesses, another thing to be aware of is the rich cultural heritage. The one that puzzles all the people who plan on moving internationally. To enjoy all the beauties of China’s capital, make sure to check out these details and include them in the relocating abroad checklist before moving overseas. From visas to jobs, there is so much you should learn before the relocation.
Check What Requirements You Should Meet to Obtain Visa
Although the relations between the two countries are pretty tight when it comes to economic and political matters, China still has a very open visa system for US citizens. The most popular type of visa is definitely a travel visa that implies a 10 years term visa with multiple entries.
However, acquiring working visas looks a little bit different, so make sure to check the official data at the embassy and meet all the requirements accordingly. Here you will find all the documents needed to travel abroad, and all other useful information.
Jobs for Americans in the Vibrant Ying
Finding work as an American in Ying is much easier than you could possibly expect. Teaching English, business consulting, and marketing-related positions, as well as IT, and trade are only a few sectors that offer a wide range of different work positions. To be completely ready for a move, don’t forget to create a list of relocation questions to ask the employer, this will certainly resolve many of your dilemmas.
Language Is the Greatest Culture Shock of All You’ll Face With
Compared to the English alphabet that counts only 26 characters, the Chinese language contains more than 50,000 characters. Fortunately, there are only 4,000 characters in use. That being said, undeniably, learning Chinese is tough.
That’s why one of the best tips for learning a new language is to start learning it way in advance. Since only 1% of Chinese speak English, communication can be challenging. So, make sure you know at least some basic phrases that will help you do your daily tasks like grocery shopping or calling a cab.
Of course, explore expat communities and network with other members who live abroad. This will certainly help you adjust easier to different environments or find a new work opportunity. Still, China is considered one of the friendliest countries in the world since the Chinese are very welcoming to foreigners. And they will most certainly help you practice Chinese.
Relocating With Kids? Keep these Things in Mind When Enrolling them Into Schools
Being a kid is already hard. But being an expat kid, well, this is even harder. Forced to adjust to new environments, getting used to entirely different cultures, people, and languages can be pretty challenging when relocating overseas with kids.
Although it is certain they are more likely to learn a language abroad faster, it would be a better decision to enroll them in some private schools specially designed for expat kids. This way, your children will be able to master not only English but also Chinese, but in a tempo adjusted to them.
Like Expats Say – Cost of Living Is Pretty Affordable in One of the Most Populous Cities on Globe
The cost of living is quite affordable in the Chinese capital, which makes it one of the best places to live abroad. According to Numbeo, the rental prices range from $600-$2,500 on a monthly basis, depending on the apartment size and location. To cover other living expenses, you’ll need around $600 per month.
Another plus? Local food is sold at very low prices, so you can easily skip cooking whenever you’re not in the mood to do it! To learn more about all other costs related to life in Ying, take a look at the video below, which will help you plan your budget accordingly.
Top Attractions to Visit in Beijing, a Home of 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, if You’re an Expat
The most populated country in the world offers an astonishing cultural heritage. The best way to learn everything about the former Empire is by visiting its great sights that still tell all the exciting stories of this ancient time. Here are the top palaces you should not miss visiting after you relocate to China and Beijing.
Forbidden City – A World for Itself, and One of the 5 Most Important Palaces on the Globe
Formerly home to 24 emperors, the largest palace on the globe was built for 14 years, and in this construction, over 1,000,000 workers participated! Not impressive enough? Let’s try this one! In the Forbidden City’s complex, there are 980 buildings with more than 8,700 rooms. In the time before Corona, daily there were 80,000 visitors, meaning there were 14 million visitors per year, curious to find out the most interesting stories about powerful and mighty dynasties.
If you ever wondered why Forbidden City is called forbidden, the answer lies in old Chinese tradition where the Emperor was considered a son of a God, and his palace the divine place. That meant that ordinary people weren’t allowed to enter the palace or even look at the Emperor.
From the beginning of the 15th century until 1912, the palace was home to the imperial family. In 1912, this palace was proclaimed a museum and opened to the public. After the end of WWII, the whole sight was reconstructed, and in 1987 Unesco recognized it as one of the World Heritage Sites.
Old Summer Palace and Imperial Gardens
Only 4 miles away from Beijing and Forbidden City, there is a famous complex of Old Summer Palace, whose original name refers to the Imperial Gardens. Although there are only ruins of the palace, the breathtaking natural surroundings and gardens tell the glorious story of a whilom architectural miracle.
What Versailles gardens for the western civilization are, the Imperial Gardens means for the Eastern world. The imperial gardens consisted of three different parts:
- Garden of Perfect Brightness,
- Garden of Eternal Spring, and
- Garden of Elegant Spring.
Combined, those three gardens were spread on a surface almost five times bigger than Forbidden City, and eight times larger than the Vatican! To go through the whole complex, you’ll need approximately 2-3 hours. However, keep in mind that the Old Summer Palace and Summer Palace aren’t the same. Those two sights are completely different places, so don’t mix them up when planning your visit.
Summer Palace – the Best Preserved Imperial Garden on the Globe!
In the immediate vicinity of the Old Summer Place, only 10 miles away from Beijing, stands one of the best-preserved imperial gardens on the globe, the masterpiece of Chinese landscaping. It’s clear, after moving to Beijing from the US, this spot is simply a must-visit!
To enjoy all the beauties of this gorgeous garden and the palace, prepare to spend a half-day there. Since it is situated at Kunming Lake, taking a slow boat ride on the lake is definitely worth it. Also, you’ll be enjoying the harmony of breathtaking landscapes and the architecture of temples, pavilions, and thousands of other small things and details. This is another sight recognized by the Unesco World Heritage List, so if you plan to keep in touch with your friends, invite them to visit you and make sure to take them here.
Here is in the video below a short look at all the beauties of a secret imperial garden that will make moving across the world worth it!
Top 3 Must-Visit Buddhist Temples to Visit After Your International Moving to Ying
Aside from different local customs, living overseas may also face you with entirely different religions and spiritual practices. There are three main belief systems in China – Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism – which is a prevailing religion.
Learning about those practices will definitely help you understand the local community better. Don’t forget that all of those systems are based on philosophy, so making some of them an integral part of your life will be more than beneficial. Here are the top three temples to visit that will provide you with an understanding of the belief system in the right direction.
Tanzhe Temple – the Oldest Sacred Building in Beijing
“First came Tanzhe Temple, then Beijing,” many locals state. Built almost 1,700 years ago, the Tanzhe Buddhist temple still stands today. Surrounded by spectacular nature, and a famous pagoda forest – a group of 70 pagodas that serve as tombs of the royal dynasty, makes this place so special. Many believe too, that Tanzhe was a model for Forbidden City, so when in Ying, don’t miss visiting the oldest and largest temple here.
Fayuan Temple – the Educational Centre for Young Monks
If you want to experience the real Buddhist experience and see young Buddhist monks in their orange dresses, then visiting the Fayuan temple is definitely a good idea! This Buddhist temple serves as an educational center for young monks. Moreover, it is home to a few very important institutions like China Buddhism Institution, China Buddhism Library, and Relic Centre.
Check out how Buddhist monks are singing during a prayer session in the video below
White Pagoda Temple and the Hall of 10,000 Statues of Buddhas – Place You Simply Have to See By Your Eyes
Undoubtedly, one of the most attractive temples in whole China is the White Pagoda temple, or Miaoying temple, in the Tibetan style. Situated within the metropolis, surrounded by tall modern buildings, the White Pagoda temple stands out, emphasizing spirituality in a concrete world.
The Pagoda was built in the 13th century, and it has gone through many renovations. It consists of three halls. It is good to know that the most important and captivating is the second one, also called the 10,000 Buddha Hall, representing the fabulous display of Buddha statues.
Relocating to Beijing Soon? Let the Whole Experience Go Smooth, With the Help of an International Moving Company!
No matter what the reason for your move is, whether you’re relocating to another country for love or because you want to start all over again, moving stress is something to expect. Nevertheless, there is an easy and trustworthy way of shipping overseas all your belongings and organizing the whole process smoothly.
The Solution Is – Ask an Overseas Moving Company to Help You Out!
Choosing the right overseas shipping company that can provide you with the whole set of international moving by sea services is the best possible solution when preparing to move overseas. Especially if you are going as far away as Beijing.
No matter if you really want all of your belongings to enjoy special treatment, or you want to book vehicle shipping overseas, finding a company that can offer all the services you need will ease the whole relocation process. So, after you’ve finally decided what to pack when relocating abroad, let the moving day preparation start! While the professionals take care of your stuff, relax, and start planning what things to visit first once you find yourself in the most populous area on the globe!
