- name
- Beijing
- slug
- beijing
- version
- 1.0.0
- homepage
- https://clawic.com/skills/beijing
- description
- Navigate Beijing as visitor, resident, tech worker, student, or entrepreneur with neighborhoods, transport, costs, visas, and local insights.
- metadata
- {"clawdbot":{"emoji":"🏯","requires":{"bins":[]},"os":["linux","darwin","win32"]}}
When to Use
User asks about Beijing for any purpose: visiting, moving, working, studying, or starting a business. Agent provides practical guidance with current data.
Quick Reference
| Topic | File |
|---|---|
| Visitors | |
| Attractions (must-see vs skip) | visitor-attractions.md |
| Itineraries (1/3/7 days) | visitor-itineraries.md |
| Where to stay | visitor-lodging.md |
| Tips & day trips | visitor-tips.md |
| Neighborhoods | |
| Quick comparison | neighborhoods-index.md |
| Chaoyang, CBD, Sanlitun | neighborhoods-downtown.md |
| Haidian, Zhongguancun | neighborhoods-tech.md |
| Dongcheng, Xicheng (Historic) | neighborhoods-historic.md |
| Shunyi, Changping, Tongzhou | neighborhoods-suburban.md |
| Choosing guide | neighborhoods-choosing.md |
| Food | |
| Overview & dining scene | food-overview.md |
| Beijing & Northern Chinese | food-local.md |
| International & fine dining | food-international.md |
| Best areas for dining | food-areas.md |
| Dietary, alcohol, practicalities | food-practical.md |
| Practical | |
| Moving & settling | resident.md |
| Transport (subway, DiDi, bikes) | transport.md |
| Cost of living | cost.md |
| Safety & laws | safety.md |
| Weather & AQI tips | climate.md |
| Local services (banking, SIM) | local.md |
| Career | |
| Tech industry & salaries | tech.md |
| Business setup & WFOE | business.md |
| Visas (Z, X, M, residence permit) | visas.md |
| Startups & funding | startup.md |
| Lifestyle | |
| Culture & customs | culture.md |
| Healthcare & insurance | healthcare.md |
| Schools & education | education.md |
| Expat lifestyle & social | lifestyle.md |
| Driving & car ownership | driving.md |
Core Rules
1. Identify User Context First
- Role: Tourist, resident, tech worker, student, entrepreneur
- Timeline: Short visit, planning to move, already there
- Load relevant auxiliary file for details
2. The Great Firewall Reality
China operates the world's most sophisticated internet censorship system:
- Blocked: Google, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, most Western news
- Essential: VPN before arrival (cannot download inside China)
- Super Apps: WeChat (微信) is EVERYTHING — messaging, payments, food, transport, social
- Alternative Apps: Baidu (search), Amap/Gaode (maps), Alipay (payments), Taobao (shopping)
See local.md for comprehensive app ecosystem.
3. Language Barrier
Beijing is NOT English-friendly like Singapore or Hong Kong:
- Mandarin essential: 90%+ of daily interactions require Chinese
- Even expat-heavy areas: Limited English compared to Shanghai
- Apps help: Translation apps, DiDi has English mode, some menus have pictures
- Pinyin: Learn basic tones and phrases — it matters
See culture.md for language survival guide.
4. Weather Reality
Beijing has extreme continental climate:
- Winter (Nov-Mar): -10°C to 5°C, bone-dry, occasional snow
- Summer (Jun-Aug): 30-40°C+ with high humidity
- Spring (Mar-May): Sandstorms possible, pleasant otherwise
- Autumn (Sep-Nov): Best season, crisp and clear
- AQI: Air quality varies dramatically — check daily, mask recommended
See climate.md for monthly breakdown and AQI survival strategies.
5. Current Data (Feb 2026)
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| 1BR rent (CBD/Chaoyang) | ¥8,000-15,000/month (~$1,100-2,100) |
| 1BR rent (Haidian) | ¥6,000-12,000/month (~$830-1,650) |
| Senior SWE salary (local) | ¥40,000-80,000/month (~$5,500-11,000) |
| Senior SWE salary (foreign) | ¥60,000-120,000/month (~$8,300-16,500) |
| Subway single ride | ¥3-10 (distance-based) |
| Hotpot dinner (mid-range) | ¥100-200/person |
| International school fees | ¥150,000-350,000/year |
6. Registration & Compliance
All foreigners must register with police within 24 hours of arrival:
- Hotels: Register automatically
- Private residence: YOU must register at local PSB (Public Security Bureau)
- Penalty: Fines, visa issues, potential deportation
- Every move: Re-register if you change address
See visas.md and safety.md for compliance details.
7. Transit Excellence
Beijing has world-class public transport (but traffic is horrific):
- Subway: 27 lines, 800+ km — largest network globally
- Buses: Extensive but complex for non-Chinese speakers
- DiDi: Chinese Uber equivalent — essential for non-subway trips
- Bikes: Dockless bikes everywhere (Meituan, Hello, Didi)
- Driving: Restricted by license plate lottery, not recommended
Most expats use subway + DiDi. See transport.md and driving.md.
8. Neighborhood Matching
| Profile | Best Areas |
|---|---|
| Young professionals | Sanlitun, CBD, Guomao |
| Families (expat) | Shunyi, Chaoyang Park area |
| Tech workers | Zhongguancun, Wudaokou, Haidian |
| Students | Wudaokou, Haidian university area |
| Budget-conscious | Tongzhou, outer Chaoyang |
| History/culture lovers | Dongcheng, Xicheng (hutongs) |
| Luxury seekers | Sanlitun, CBD penthouses, Shunyi villas |
Hukou & Work Permit Context
Beijing has unique residency restrictions:
- Hukou (户口): Chinese household registration system
- Beijing hukou: Extremely hard to get even for Chinese citizens
- Impact: Access to schools, healthcare, property purchase differs by hukou status
- Foreigners: Not affected by hukou directly, but work permits are tier-based
- Work Permit Tiers: A (top talent), B (professional), C (temporary/intern)
See visas.md for work permit details and education.md for school implications.
Beijing-Specific Traps
- No VPN = no Western internet — Must install BEFORE entering China. Cannot download inside.
- WeChat dependency — Without WeChat Pay, daily life is extremely difficult. Link bank card ASAP.
- 24-hour registration — Forgetting to register at PSB is a serious offense. Hotels do it automatically.
- License plate lottery — Cannot just buy a car and drive. Beijing plates require years of waiting.
- AQI underestimation — Heavy pollution days (200+ AQI) happen. Have N95 masks and air purifier.
- Cash almost useless — China is nearly 100% mobile payment. Carry ¥500 max as backup.
- Taxis without DiDi — Flagging taxis is hard; most drivers use DiDi exclusively.
- Saturday/Sunday schools — Kids often have weekend classes (tutoring culture).
- Noise levels — Beijing is LOUD. Traffic, construction, people — expect it.
- Spitting and smoking — Common in public, including restaurants. Improving but still present.
Legal Awareness
Key laws visitors/residents must know:
- VPN: Legal gray area. Personal use tolerated, selling/promoting is illegal.
- Registration: 24-hour PSB registration MANDATORY for all foreigners.
- Work permit: Working without proper Z visa + work permit = deportation + ban.
- Drugs: Zero tolerance. Death penalty possible for trafficking. Any amount is serious.
- Photography: No photos of military, police, government buildings.
- Political speech: Criticizing government/Party is risky. Avoid completely.
- Social media posts: WeChat is monitored. Be careful what you share.
- LGBTQ+: Not illegal, but no legal recognition. Discretion advised.
See safety.md for comprehensive legal guidance.
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