BLCU's Location & Transportation

[shoe83]

Dajia Hao,

I'm new to this forum, and have found it incredibly helpful as I plan to spend a month or two studying in Beijing this summer. Thanks so much to everyone!

I have a few questions I haven't found answers to...

1) BLCU's Location -- I'm wondering how far exactly the campus is from the center of Beijing. I'm planning to live with friends in Dongcheng (near Tiananmen sort of). Is that a possible daily commute, or am I in trouble? Is there a subway line from the city center to close to BLCU? Any info on this would be helpful as I'm having trouble finding maps and such online.

2) BLCU's Teacher Training program -- Has anyone done it? Does anyone know anything about it? I'm a first year teacher of Chinese at a high school, and my own Chinese still needs plenty of work. I'm trying to figure it out if I'd get more out of a regular language class, or this program.

I guess that's all I'll ask for now. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!

Melissa

[roddy]

The commute would be doable but not pleasant, I think. You'd need to change subway lines at least once, maybe twice depending on exactly where you are in Dongcheng. I'd guess it would take anywhere between 45 and 90 minutes, including getting to and from the subway at each end.

[sissi]

The BLCU is just nearby the wudaokou(五道口)subway.If your friends live nearby Tiananmen or other subway stations,you only need to have a change at Xizhimen(西直门)。It's convenient.

[mrtoga]

Beijing Foreign Languages University is closer than BLCU. You take the subway to Gongzhufen (about 6 stops on Line 1 from Tiananmen West, then there are a number of buses that go up to the University on 3rd Ring Road West). From Tiannmen it would take about 45 mins in rush hour, quicker off peak, but I doubt your friend is living near that subway station - there are no apartments in the vicinity!

I have a friend that rents a room in an reasonable apartment just a few minutes from Beijing Foreign Languages University - she pays 800 renminbi per month.

[adrianlondon]

It'll take you around 25 minutes to cycle it.

[mlomker]

Beijing Foreign Languages University - she pays 800 renminbi per month.

Really? Most of the ads that I've seen in That's Beijing are more like 1600-1900. Perhaps only the fancier apartments get listed there?

[mrtoga]

Cycling around Beijing - braver man than I!

The room my (Chinese) friend has found for 800 RMB is a little smaller than a BLCU dorm room. It was all furnished and she shares a TV, sofa, kitchen, bathroom with shower etc with two "apartment mates". Seemed like a good deal to me - even had a nice balcony.

She found it through a BBS like this one. Looks like I am going to Beijing soon so I might get her to find me a similar place.....

[adrianlondon]

I went to Beijing last November, to have a butchers (anyone want to learn cockney rhyming slang?) at some language schools before picking one to study at later this year. And, of course, to see if I really could stick 5 or 6 months in Beijing.

I hired a bicycle and cycled around everywhere for the 10 days I was there. It took a while to cycle from my hotel (the Hilton out towards the airport) to BLCU but it was a totally flat ride and, despite the traffic volume, the sheer number of bikes meant I felt safe.