HOW TO Beijing is a how-to guide for people living, working and playing in Beijing. It provides quick, simple answers for people who want to learn how to get around the city. Living - Working - Playing - Language - Tourist - Food - ShoppingTumblr (3.0; @howtobeijing)http://howtobeijing.com/<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lrpf4b5j5m1qix73fo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Grandma’s kitchen in jianwai soho. Need. Pancakes. Now.</p>http://howtobeijing.com/post/10349095703http://howtobeijing.com/post/10349095703Sun, 18 Sep 2011 13:55:22 +0800http://howtobeijing.com/post/9650932702http://howtobeijing.com/post/9650932702Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:57:56 +0800<p>Would loooove to know the recruiting process for #beijing taxi drivers. Never know if rude or “just rural”</p>http://howtobeijing.com/post/9549255542http://howtobeijing.com/post/9549255542Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:48:09 +0800<img src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lozqwdufbu1qix73fo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>90 years</p>http://howtobeijing.com/post/8126371329http://howtobeijing.com/post/8126371329Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:05:01 +0800beijing<p>I’ve just been super busy lately, traveling in and out of 中国 . I’ve actually got a bunch of stuff to add on here!</p>http://howtobeijing.com/post/7601801418http://howtobeijing.com/post/7601801418Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:13:05 +0800<p>Short answer: bring a Chinese friend along with you when you open the account. </p> <p>Slightly longer answer: there’s a checkbox when you fill in the form to open a bank account. however, if you can’t read Chinese, you may not want to use internet banking. most English versions of Chinese banking websites are absolutely horrendous (usability-wise) as they’re mostly an afterthought. if you really really need it, use Bank of China and go to a big, main branch. they typically will have English-speaking tellers who have dealt with this request before.</p>http://howtobeijing.com/post/5557882578http://howtobeijing.com/post/5557882578Tue, 17 May 2011 07:09:50 +0800<p>It really depends on your goals. Since you’re considering a host family, I’m assuming you’re after language skills? Host families can be a really cool experience, though the majority of your Beijing experience is determined by the host family. For some people the language, personality or culture barrier can be too much.</p> <p>I went the apartment route when I first started in China. Since I was living more on my own and therefore more ‘detached’ from Chinese society, I had to be very active in seeking out Chinese friends.</p> <p>So, totally depends on your goals - host families help immerse you into Chinese culture much faster than an apartment, but you also won’t have the freedom that apartment gives you. Good luck</p>http://howtobeijing.com/post/5420917158http://howtobeijing.com/post/5420917158Thu, 12 May 2011 22:08:18 +0800<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lk4tz0osNz1qix73fo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>the view from shuangjing bridge</p>http://howtobeijing.com/post/4881671813http://howtobeijing.com/post/4881671813Sun, 24 Apr 2011 13:09:07 +0800beijingshuangjingchina<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljmfd1tCHA1qix73fo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>how do you know it’s summer in asia? umbrellas on a sunny day.</p>http://howtobeijing.com/post/4597442392http://howtobeijing.com/post/4597442392Thu, 14 Apr 2011 14:39:05 +0800beijingsunbrella<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljji3zlfv61qix73fo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Old man schooling everyone in calligraphy. I see this and street ballroom dancing everywhere!</p>http://howtobeijing.com/post/4551866850http://howtobeijing.com/post/4551866850Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:45:02 +0800beijinglivingchina<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljgmd3YbJH1qix73fo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>can you tell where I am based on this pic?</p>http://howtobeijing.com/post/4508064858http://howtobeijing.com/post/4508064858Mon, 11 Apr 2011 05:16:33 +0800beijing<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljdq9ivYSJ1qix73fo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>salon employees group dancing: always an entertaining sight in china.</p>http://howtobeijing.com/post/4463158069http://howtobeijing.com/post/4463158069Sat, 09 Apr 2011 21:56:01 +0800beijingchina<p>Getting a haircut in Beijing is always an adventure because of the language barrier. Even if you go to an expensive, fancy salon, there’s no guarantee that the staff speaks English. If you <em>really</em> want to use English, then head to a swanky hotel and use their salon (and pay a premium for it).</p> <p><span>Guys’ haircuts</span> cost about 10-50 RMB. You should be on the low side unless you’ve got a really elaborate haircut.</p> <p>It’s hard to say how much <span>girls’ haircuts</span> cost in Beijing. The sky is the limit, especially if you want to book the head stylist in the shop. Generally 80-120 RMB is enough to get you a cut comparable to “back home”.</p> <p>So if you choose to go to a local barbershop/salon in China, below are some phrases you will hear and vocabulary you can use to make your Chinese haircut experiences a lot less hair-raising.</p> <p><strong>Walking in the door</strong></p> <p>As you walk in the door, one of the salon workers may ask…</p> <p><span><u>Do you want a haircut?</u></span> nǐ yào jiǎn tóu fà ma? 你要剪头发吗？</p> <p>Alternatively, you could also say…</p> <p><span><u>I would like a haircut</u></span>: wǒ xiǎng jiǎn tóu fa / 我想剪头发</p> <p><strong>Getting comfortable</strong></p> <p>If you’ve got a bag, or a jacket, or something that’s troublesome to lug around, they may ask…</p> <p><span><u>Can I put your things away in our lockers?</u></span> bāo gěi nín fàng xiāng zi lǐ kě yǐ ma? / 包给您放箱子里可以吗?</p> <p><strong>Washing your hair</strong></p> <p>When you get inside, listen for this word, as it means it’s time to get your hair shampooed.</p> <p><span><u>To wash hair</u></span>: xǐ tóu / 洗头</p> <p><strong>In the barber chair</strong></p> <p>It’s a good idea to bring a picture with the style that you want. Otherwise, you’ll have to know how to direct the person cutting your hair. Here are some common phrases and words…</p> <p><span><u>How do you want your hair cut?</u></span> nǐ xiǎng zěn me jiǎn / 你想怎么剪</p> <p><span><u>To trim a bit</u></span>: xiū yi xià / 修一下</p> <p><span><u>Long</u></span>: cháng / 长</p> <p><span><u>Short</u></span>: duǎn / 短</p> <p><span><u>To thin out</u></span>: dǎ báo yì diǎn (diǎr) / 打薄一点儿</p> <p><span><u>Scissors</u></span>: jiǎn dāo / 剪刀</p> <p><span><u>Clippers/buzzer</u></span>: tuī zi / 推子</p> <p><strong>At the end of your haircut</strong></p> <p>After your haircut, you’ll be shampooed again. You’ll soon likely hear…</p> <p><span><u>Do you want to style your hair?</u></span> xū yào dìng yi xià xíng ma? 需要定一下型吗?</p> <p>Knowing a few of these key phrases makes getting haircuts in Beijing a lot easier. And just like most local places in China, you don’t have to tip. </p>http://howtobeijing.com/post/4434896988http://howtobeijing.com/post/4434896988Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:00:07 +0800beijinglivinghaircut<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lj7w9v4NRJ1qix73fo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>gao yao herbal plaster just saved my neck, and my day</p>http://howtobeijing.com/post/4385438743http://howtobeijing.com/post/4385438743Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:20:05 +0800beijinglivingchinesemedicine<img src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lj6iij5N6w1qix73fo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>fatburger liangmaqiao. how is it compared to home?</p>http://howtobeijing.com/post/4364167726http://howtobeijing.com/post/4364167726Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:25:33 +0800beijingfoodfatburger<img src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lj65exniB01qix73fo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>anyone sign up for a grocery membership card? Worth it? I always say “mei you”</p>http://howtobeijing.com/post/4361299342http://howtobeijing.com/post/4361299342Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:42:32 +0800beijingliving<p>Getting subway maps in Beijing should be much easier than it currently is. It’s a baffling problem; it’s a major city with a huge subway system and yet there are no take-away-able subway maps at the station. If you ask one of the attendants, they’ll just point you to the poster maps or give you a confused look.</p> <p>btw: Subway (dì tiě / 地铁) + Map (dì tú / 地图) = Subway Map (dì tiě dì tú / 地铁地图)</p> <p><strong>Bookstores</strong></p> <p>Beijing subway maps are available in bookstores. Usually. You might have to hit a few bookstores until you find one with a tourist section. </p> <p><strong>Go to a hotel</strong></p> <p>Another easy way is to drop into any hotel and just ask for a map. Better hotels have better maps.</p> <p><strong>Tourist Centres</strong></p> <p>If you go to <a href="http://howtobeijing.com/tagged/tourist">tourist attractions in Beijing</a> you are bound to find a Tourist Centre booth. Easy to get a city map or a subway map of Beijing there.</p> <p><strong>Buy” a temporary subway card</strong></p> <p>The one-ride subway cards have maps printed on one side. Great if you want a subway map that you can fit in your wallet. Next time you’re taking the subway, buy two tickets for your destination; one for your actual ride and one to keep in your wallet.</p> <p>If you’re a germophobe, I would drench these babies in hand sanitizer, I’ve seen people pick their nails, teeth nose and ears with these bad boys.</p>http://howtobeijing.com/post/4357861429http://howtobeijing.com/post/4357861429Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:44:51 +0800beijingliving<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_li6z0w5r5X1qcsc3wo1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>does anyone actually say “ni hao ma”? also, “fly lice”.</p>http://howtobeijing.com/post/4335612661http://howtobeijing.com/post/4335612661Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:48:28 +0800<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lj2kfpLEtv1qix73fo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>drum and bell tower (zhong gulou area)</p>http://howtobeijing.com/post/4306899114http://howtobeijing.com/post/4306899114Sun, 03 Apr 2011 21:16:00 +0800beijingtouristdrum and bell<img src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lj2kc9DUAs1qix73fo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>boating at houhai.</p> <p>ps - tumblr rotate fail</p>http://howtobeijing.com/post/4306876879http://howtobeijing.com/post/4306876879Sun, 03 Apr 2011 21:14:00 +0800beijinghouhaitourist