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.
For a suburban family vibe you need look no further than Shunyi. There are several large international schools in this mostly low-rise residential community, and the numerous villa residential communities with their tree-lined streets and backyards make this area desirable for families and popular with expats. There are plenty of different housing options available: apartment buildings, multi-level townhouses with small yards, village style courtyard houses, and large houses complete with two-car garage. While Shunyi provides quick access to the airport, and shorter travel times for the kids, the commute to the city is quite a distance and will add considerable time onto an already long work day. You may not get the real ‘Beijing’ vibe living out here, but if you prefer a slower pace of life with more space, then Shunyi may be the right place for you. Keep in mind that when most expats talk about ‘Shunyi’, they are usually referring to North Chaoyang and the Houshayu (or Central Villa District) of Shunyi, rather than the ‘real Shunyi’ which is actually several more miles north.
Pros
+ Close access to the airport, rivers, parks & mountains
+ Safe suburban-style neighborhoods
+ Easy access to kid-friendly activities
+ Good selection of international schools
+ Green space
Cons
– Largest distances between interest points
– Car needed
– Expat bubble
– Cost of living
Residential Compounds
There are a lot of good options in the area. Most have lots of on-site businesses, like cafes, supermarkets, restaurants, and gyms. Laiguangying is the closest to the city and has several options. Beijing Riviera has large green spaces and an artificial lake, along with a clubhouse, cafe, swimming pool, gym, tennis and squash courts, and a bicycle track. Right across the street is Quanfa Garden, which can have some lovely homes for rent although not much green space. Lane Bridge and Orchid Garden are also worth checking out in that area.
In the Central Villa District, most villa compounds have clubhouses with swimming pools, gyms, kids playgrounds and more. Capital Paradise is an older compound that offers more affordable options for large houses, and neighboring compounds River Garden and Yosemite also have great facilities. Le Grande Villa, Merlin Champagne and Chateau Regalia round off the list. For apartment complexes, try Dragon Bay, Shine Hills, I.D City, Vanke and Central Park.
Schools
Most of Beijing’s prestigious international schools are located in this district. There are a range of options and curriculums here so there’s something for everyone. Harrow Beijing, British School of Beijing, Shunyi, Dulwich College Beijing, Montessori School of Beijing, Keystone Academy, Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), and International School of Beijing are just a few, but you can check out our yearly beijingkids School Choice Guide for complete listings of other great schools as well.
Shopping
There’s not a lot of options for shopping within close proximity, especially if you like the popular retail and fashion stores. However, Shine City is a fantastic outdoor mall that is a pleasure to stroll around and has a good selection of stores and outdoor dining options as well as plenty of kid-friendly activities always happening. Cathay View, Euro Plaza and Pinnacle Plaza have food and boutique stores, but if you really want the typical mall experience you’ll need to head to BHG Mall, in Shunyi New Town. Roundabout is a great place to pick up second-hand toys, clothing and home items at a bargain, while their newly opened boutique and community center is a great place to pick up locally sourced crafts, home décor, and organic cosmetics.
Dining
There’s plenty of dining options in Shunyi, especially with the opening of Shine Hills. The Orchard, Green T. House, and Doko can be found providing Shunyi residents with a variety of impressive eats. Walk beside Roma Lake and discover many different options including Malacca Legend or check out the art and antique cafes. Other western restaurants and brands include Element Fresh, The English Tearooms, Annie’s, Avocado Tree and Pie Squared. Also, the new EATAria has been generating a lot of buzz for their variety of high-quality family-friendly eats ranging from paella, pizza, and breakfast offerings.
Where to Play
Shunyi is rich in kid’s activities. Shine Hills is packed with kids’ stores, petting zoos, cinemas, and there is usually always some interactive activities for the kids – remember to take the kids swimming suits so they can cool down in the fountains during those hot summer days.
For something more active, jump around and get loose with your kids at trampoline parks and indoor adventure playgrounds, Latitude or Le Fan Tian. For biking, Eagle Hub offers some epic pump tracks for your little BMX riders, or just hit the river cycle paths. Heyuan Park is a scenic park that surrounds a manmade lake, perfect for scooters, bikes, flying kites, or playing Frisbee. Take a few sand toys to keep the younger kids amused on the artificial lake edge. Crab Island is a massive amusement park that has a lot to offer visiting families. Some highlights include an ecological science park, go-karting, mini zoo, and water park.
This article appeared in the beijingkids June 2019 Home & Relocation Guide issue.
