I have a lot on my shoulders...

[randall_flagg]

Hi there!

I am going to be to go to school in China for about two years, starting this summer. Isn’t that great? I think it is. And for those of you who are in Beijing, could you perhaps give me advice on the following?

I’ll be flying into Beijing with two friends before going on to my university, which is NOT in Beijing (don’t know which one I’ll be sent to, yet). I’ll get into Beijing over a month before school starts and will do some backpacking with my two friends, return to Beijing after that (for a conference type of thing) and then go on to my school. Of course, I’d loathe to have to carry around all the stuff I’m packing for two years of study (laptop, books, books, books and clothing). So here’s my question: do you know of any reasonably safe place were I could leave those things while I am out west hiking? Of course, I could always just leave them at the hotel – but I know how “safe” these things are in hotels. Any pointers?

Thanks,

Randall

[imron]

One thing you might want to consider is that several types of visas (at least Z and X) require that you go through the formalities of getting your residence permit within 30 days of entry. This has to be done at your local PSB (i.e. local to where your university will be). The visa itself is usually valid for only 30 days, and it's your residence permit that allows you to stay long term.

If you're coming in on an X visa, this is something that will have an effect on your travel plans, as presumably you weren't planning on visiting your school for a week or so within that first month. On the other hand, if you go to your university straight away, you could probably leave a whole bunch of your stuff there.

[sissi]

Do you know somebody in Beijing?if not,I think you can consult the students office of the school which you are going to.

[randall_flagg]

Imrom, I think I have the visa stuff figured out. I will go into China on a tourist visa and will get my X visa only in Beijing, after returning from my travels. Pretty soon after getting the X visa, I will head to my school.

Unfortunately, I don't really know anyone in Beijing and I don't know what city I'll be sent to. I think it will be Xiamen, which is a loooong ways a away from Beijing. It wouldn't really make much sense to head down there just to drop of a bunch of stuff, I guess.

[gato]

Have you thought about backpacking around Xiamen then and return afterwards to Beijing for the conference?

Xiamen is reputed to one of the most beautiful cities in China. I'd envy you if that's where you are headed.

[imron]

Unless things have changed recently, or unless you go through an agency, I don't think you can pick up an X visa in Beijing. Visas usually have to be applied for outside the Chinese mainland, which typically means a trip down to Hong Kong. One of the other foreign teachers at the school where I work basically wanted to do what you did, and when he finished travelling had to make a trip down to Hong Kong and back - unfortunately the school's in Hebei province so it was quite the trek. I guess that Xiamen is close enough to Hong Kong anyway so it's probably not going to be too big an issue.