Study Abroad Beijing

About Beijing

Beijing is a large and bustling metropolis located in the heart of a rapidly developing country. It is referred to as the “Capital of a Thousand Years” and has a population of over 12 million people. If you enjoy the constant hum of a big city, Beijing will not disappoint you.

Beijing is a modern city with a fantastic transportation system which is fast and efficient. Getting around is easy and quite cheap. You can explore all of the many shopping and eating options that every nook of the city has to offer.

Despite being very developed, Beijing has managed to hold onto its historical roots, cultures, and traditions. You can easily visit a number of historically significant locations such as the Forbidden City and Mao’s Mausoleum.

Why Study in Beijing?

If you’re wondering why you should choose Beijing as your study abroad destination, here are a few things you should consider.

Beijing:

• Has two universities which are listed among the top 50 universities in the world
• Has number of other universities which rank among the top 500 in the world
• It is a symbol and reflection of China’s booming economy
• Has a rich and storied cultural history
• Is a thriving metropolis which has a diverse local and international population
• Is the cultural, economic, and social hub of the most populous nation in the world
• Provides fabulous international career prospects
• Is economical and cheaper than studying abroad in Europe and many other western countries
• Has a fantastic transportation infrastructure
• Features a load of tourist attractions to explore
• Is centrally located and allows for easy access to the rest of China via high-speed railways or planes
• Has a large and unique nightlife scene
• Has a number of institutions which offer worldwide recognized academic qualifications

Universities in Beijing

There are a number of universities in Beijing, including two which are ranked among the top 50 in the world. These are:

Tsinghua University

Ranked 25th in the world

One of the best Chinese universities, Tsinghua University has produced two Chinese presidents as well as a number of Nobel laureates. It is known for its fantastic business programs and its MBA program is the second highest ranked in the world.

Peking University

Ranked as the #2 Best Global University in Asia

Peking University is the oldest university in China and has a huge number of international students. The university has partnerships with prestigious universities such as Yale, Cornell, and Stanford, and even has faculty from these universities teach occasionally. Peking is known for its progressive academics and offers excellent programs in sociology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, economics, and business.

Popular Academic Programs

In Beijing, some of the most popular majors that international students enroll in include:

• Finance
• Medicine
• Engineering
• Trade
• Economics
• Science
• Business (MBA programs)

Living in Beijing

If you like big city life, you’ll settle into Beijing just fine. This huge metropolis is crowded and very busy. Pollution is a huge problem and you may have to purchase a few face masks. Be sure to keep certain items with you, such as toilet paper and hand sanitizer because most bathrooms won’t have any.

Accommodation

International students in Beijing primarily choose to live on campus in dorms. However, there is always the option of private housing. You can rent an apartment or small house or live with a friend.

Recommended areas for private housing include Wudaokou, Haidan, and Lido because these communities have large numbers of international students.

 Transportation

Beijing has a sophisticated transportation infrastructure which includes buses, taxis, subway systems, and trains. Getting around the city as well as in greater China is easy and inexpensive.

Students can purchase a transportation card from all major subway stations. It is advisable that you avoid rush hour which is from 8-9am and 5-7pm.

Language

The Beijing Dialect is the form of Mandarin which is spoken in urban Beijing. Also known as Pekingese, it is slightly different from Standard Chinese. Native speakers in China can instantly tell if you’re from Beijing based on your use of the regional Beijing variant of Mandarin.

Mandarin is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Studying in Beijing will give you the opportunity to pick up on this language which could prove to be an excellent skill to add to your resume.

It is recommended that you memorize some basic Mandarin phrases to help you get by in the city.

Climate

The climate in Beijing is temperate and continental monsoon like. There are four distinct seasons throughout the year, with summer being hot and humid, winter cold and dry, and fall and spring being short and pleasantly cool.

There are also huge variations in temperatures between the day and night.

Food

Be prepared to hear "Ni chi le ma?" (Have you eaten?) very often. In Beijing, you’ll find a host of delicious snack and foods that you must try. These include:

• Beijing Roasted Duck
• Tudou Si — Shredded Potato
• Stuffed dumplings
• Jing Jiang Rou Si — Shredded Pork in Beijing Sauce
• Nai lao - Rice wine yogurt with red bean
• Candied sweet potato chips
• Tuckahoe Pie - A pancake wrapped in sugar, honey and an assortment of nuts
• Zhajiang mian - Noodles with Soybean Paste  
• Stir-fried Mung bean jelly cake
• Spicy crayfish
• Mung-bean milk

Things to Do in Beijing

• Visit the Forbidden City
• Walk along the Great Wall of China
• Take a trip to the Summer Palace
• See the Temple of Heaven
• Stroll through Beihai Park
• Visit the Beijing hutongs to discover what traditional life in Beijing looks like
• Visit the Tibetan Buddhist temple Yonghe Lama Temple
• Go to the Beijing Opera, considered to be a Chinese cultural treasure
• Go shopping at one of the many outdoor markets
• Watch a traditional kung Fu show
• Take a trip to Fragrant Mountain – here you’ll see spectacular views of the Chinese countryside. There are also lots of temples, statues, and monuments to see
• Visit Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square

Studying in Beijing is your chance to see another side of the world. You’ll get to dive head first into the Orient and experience life in a thriving city. Choose from exciting majors and study at highly ranked universities. You’re sure to have an experience of a lifetime.