Beijing consists of 16 districts containing over 21 million people. In this series, we will be focusing on seven neighborhoods in four separate districts, which have become the most popular among Beijing’s expat community. While these aren’t the only areas that are home to waiguoren, these are the most accessible and offer, in our opinion, the best Beijing experience depending on your tastes and preferences.
Hello Mart
Surrounded by embassies, Chaoyang Park is the largest, most western-style park in the city and is very popular with middle-class Chinese families and the expat community. Lined with shops, restaurants, and residential compounds, this area is easy for daily living. Solana Lifestyle Shopping Park is pretty much modeled after the mixed indoor/outdoor malls of the west, while nearby Liangmaqiao is a busy commercial area with many expat conveniences and high-end hotels where you can enjoy some amazing fine dining options. This neighborhood is a great option if you require a space that isn’t flooded with cars and electric scooters to get a run in every once in a while.
Pros
+ Proximity to Chaoyang Park (which hosts free yoga sessions, Heyrobics, HeyRunning, pick-up soccer and basketball games, and more)
+ Western supermarkets and restaurants
+ Several embassies and schools
Cons
– Some compounds are farther from subway access
– Living inside the expat bubble
– Higher cost of living when compared to some other inner city areas
Residential Compounds
Several residential compounds are available in Chaoyang. Palm Springs has north-facing units overlooking Chaoyang Park, a Roman-style garden, large clubhouse with an indoor swimming pool, children’s playground, sauna, and gym—it’s no wonder it’s popular with families. Park Avenue has a shopping complex with imported groceries, cafes, and sporting good stores in addition to its children’s playground, swimming pool, and gym. Jingda International Apartment is near the Chaoyang Park, Palm Springs Living Square, and Solana Park. No. 9 International Apartment has many international shopping malls and restaurants. Greenlake Place is another option, and has many stores, restaurants, and even a Jenny Lou’s in the compound.
Schools
Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB), Beanstalk International Bilingual School (BIBS), House of Knowledge (HoK), German Embassy School, and Ivy Academy are all top notch and convenient options if you are residing in this area of the city.
Solana Lifestyle & Shopping Park
Shopping
Solana Lifestyle and Shopping Park is a large, popular open-air mall next to Chaoyang Park. It’s one of the most known shopping centers for families, and features International name brands like Zara, Uniqlo, Muji, H&M, American Eagle, Gap, and more. Also, if you are ever craving something that’s not all that different from the farmer’s markets back home, check out Farm2Neighbors at Beijing Grand Summit each weekend for a selection of some of the city’s best vendors of organic produce and specialty goods. Recent addition, Hello Mart is a sprawling 7,000sqm market, food court, and “mall without walls” that looks to cater to the growing affluence of Liangmaqiao.
Pachapapi
Dining
If you are looking for international restaurants in the neighborhood make sure to head to Beijing Grand Summit where you’ll find Baker and Spice, Obentos (Japanese, healthy), Cue for contemporary Southeast Asian cuisine, and much more. You can also head to Solana which houses Beijing favorites like Moka Bros, Tribe, and Tube Station Pizza. Just a short walk from Solana to get to Maizidian where you’ll find some of the best Japanese food in Beijing at restaurants like Yume Wo Katare, known for serving up hearty bowls of ramen. Recently Liangmaqiao has also generated a bit of attention among foodies with the addition of Xinyuanli, which houses restaurants like Bottega, Q Mex Taqueria, and the Peruvian newcomer, Pachapapi.
Yoga in Chaoyang Park
Where to Play
There’s lots to do in Chaoyang. As the largest patch of green space in Beijing, Chaoyang Park is the obvious choice. Entrance is inexpensive and there’s a lot of room to move around. Young visitors can fly kites, rent a pedal boat for the lake, go on fairground rides, or even participate in group yoga and exercise classes on the weekends if weather and AQI permit. When your kids are exhausted from the park, Solana Lifestyle Shopping Park is located a stone’s throw away. This family favorite has been open since 2008, with its fountains and whimsical decorations. Indoors, there’s an entire children’s wing with play facilities and family-oriented shops. For book lovers, Mike’s Children’s English Book Library near Solana has the original imported British and American selections for children, including children’s books, graphic novels, picture books, teen fiction, and more. At Yoga Summit, you can book family yoga classes to get a little respite from the hectic surroundings of life in the capital.
This article appeared in the beijingkids June 2019 Home & Relocation Guide issue.
