Where to rent in Beijing

[northern_guy]

I'm looking at short term rentals in Beijing. I will be in Beijing for about 2 weeks per month and trying to find out where would be a good central location to stay. I'm not working in Beijing so don't need to be in a particular area for work. Any suggestions?

I was looking at this place.....

http://www.easyaccommodationbeijing.com/view1.asp?area=0&id=88

[roddy]

That's a reasonably central location. Beijing doesn't really have a center as such, but for business, bars, eating and foreigners then Chaoyang, particularly the chunk of land between the east second and east fourth ring roads, would probably be it. That place is just on the south edge of that. However there are plenty of other areas with their own pros and cons.

You'd probably be better off renting an apartment and leaving it empty half the time than using serviced apartments.

You'll get better advice if you can tell us what kind of budget you have, what you'll actually be doing here, and what or who you'd like to be close to.

[northern_guy]

Thanks for your reply Roddy. I will be in Beijing to study martial arts with a teacher there, he has a school in the Dongcheng district. I did think about taking a language course there too but I had Madarin lessons in the UK and found the Pimsleur audio course better for me, I will continue with this for the time being.

I work in europe on a 2 weeks on 2 weeks off rota and will spend my time off in Beijing studying with him.

I'm reluctant rent a place full time as i assume it would be a min of a 6 month contract and I'm unsure as to how long I will be studying there. I was in Beijing for 2 weeks for the first time last October and enjoyed it. My plan at the moment is to do 3 months and then see how I happy I am in Beijing.

I don't know anyone in Beijing apart from this teacher and would like to live in a place that has a good social scene, nice bars, restaurants and good transport links.

[JenniferW]

Have a look at these apartments:

http://www.mohotel.com/

I've not used them but they look OK and are cheaper than what you've been looking at. I was planning to use them on my last trip to Beijing but ended up somewhere cheaper on a university campus through a friend there.

I'd suggest booking into a cheapish hotel and actually going to see these people. If you're going to be a regular, you should be able to get a good price.

Jennifer

[guest1234]

Hi

I practice in that area. I have sent you a pm ( lots of questions ) I have being doing something similar for the last six years.

phil

[imron]

I'm reluctant rent a place full time as i assume it would be a min of a 6 month contract and I'm unsure as to how long I will be studying there.

Even so, I imagine a min 6 month contract is probably still going to be cheaper than going with a serviced apartment for 6 weeks (2 weeks a month x 3 months). E.g. for comparison, I live 1 subway station away from Chaoyangmen. The serviced apartments opposite where I live cost about the same for one week as I pay in rent for 3 months.

[JenniferW]

You say that you will be in Beijing studying martial arts with a teacher who has a school in Dongcheng. Have you asked your teacher about accommodation?

So much that works well in China comes out of using your contacts. Your teacher may have other students with similar needs, and maybe sharing a rental might work. He may have contacts with people with apartments to let, and he might get you a better deal than you'd get by trying to sort this out on your own.

I lived in China for 6 years, and there were several times when I sorted out something for myself, only to find that the longer I was there, I ended up with more satisfactory arrangements when I told all my Chinese contacts what I was trying to sort out. So, I'd recommend telling anyone you know in Beijing, however limited your contact, what you're trying to organise - including your teacher.

[northern_guy]

Yes most people that go and study with this teacher stay at the New dragon Hostel which is close by. The new dragon is pretty cheap and I'll probably stay there while i'm looking for something better. I'd rather stay in a place that has a seperate bedroom/living room and feels bit more like home rather than being stuck in one room.

[imron]

I ended up with more satisfactory arrangements when I told all my Chinese contacts what I was trying to sort out.

Haha, I've usually found the opposite to be true