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://25.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 &#8220;just rural&#8221;</p>http://howtobeijing.com/post/9549255542http://howtobeijing.com/post/9549255542Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:48:09 +0800<img src="http://25.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://25.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://25.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://24.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&#8217;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&#8217; haircuts</span> cost about 10-50 RMB. You should be on the low side unless you&#8217;ve got a really elaborate haircut.</p> <p>It&#8217;s hard to say how much <span>girls&#8217; 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 &#8220;back home&#8221;.</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&#8230;</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&#8230;</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&#8217;ve got a bag, or a jacket, or something that&#8217;s troublesome to lug around, they may ask&#8230;</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&#8217;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&#8217;s a good idea to bring a picture with the style that you want. Otherwise, you&#8217;ll have to know how to direct the person cutting your hair. Here are some common phrases and words&#8230;</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&#8217;ll be shampooed again. You&#8217;ll soon likely hear&#8230;</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&#8217;t have to tip. </p>http://howtobeijing.com/post/4434896988http://howtobeijing.com/post/4434896988Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:00:07 +0800beijinglivinghaircut<img src="http://24.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://25.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://24.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&#8217;s a baffling problem; it&#8217;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&#8217;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&#8221; 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&#8217;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&#8217;re a germophobe, I would drench these babies in hand sanitizer, I&#8217;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://24.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