High Rent Prices In Wudaokou

Picture taken near Golden towers, walking distance from BLCU, Wudaokou

Say Hello To Shopping In Beijing

People come to China from all over the world to shop mostly due to the relatively low prices and what seems like unlimited variety. Shopping online on sites like Taobao is not only common but also a better shopping option because of these simple reasons. Even if you don't have an online account, there are a bunch of places you can visit here and make your trip worthwhile.

Tourist Go-To Places 

Yashao in Sanlitun, Silk Street/Market in Chaoyangmen

Silk Market

Tourists make sure they stop by these places. Very similar locations, standing a few stories tall, every floor is dedicated to clothes, shoes, bags or electronic accessories. For first timers, these places seem like a good option but I personally don’t like to bargain to the extent of spending more than half my time talking about the price with the salesperson. These people spend a lot of time dealing with foreigners so interaction with them is easier but some of them could prove to be unnecessarily persistent to the point of being pushy.

Must See 

Wangfujing Market, Xidan Shopping Area and The Place

Wangfujing famous for its bizarre street food

As the most famous commercial area of Beijing, Wangfujing has been known to be the earliest business activity center. The street is less than one kilometer long, but it is crowded with specialty and long-history shops, which are full of modern atmosphere and high taste.

West of Tiananmen square, Xidan is an up-market commercial area just like the US department store. Providing mid-and high-quality commodities, this shopping area is another place with the big brand names all located here. Same goes for The Place located in Guomao. You will find everything from Zara, Gucci to Giorgio Armani here.

My Winner 

Golden Towers

Golden Towers

Golden towers is located approximately 20 minutes from the Wudaokou subway station and is without a doubt my favorite place to shop. Having lived in Wudaokou for a year, I have had the chance to shop at this amazing place almost religiously. Offering the lowest prices, with minimum bargain involved, Golden towers offers clothes, (amazing) shoes, and accessories along with the chance to get a simple manicure for just 10 RMB.

Electronics? Zhongguancun 

Also referred to as "China's Silicon Valley", and "electronics avenue," because of its connections to information technology and the preponderance of stores along a central, crowded street. If electronics are what you're into, this is the place for you.

Living in Haidian V/s Living in Chaoyang

A First-hand Experience into moving & living in Major Urban Districts: Haidian and Chaoyang in Beijing, China

Beijing is spread across 16,801 km² with a population over 20.18 million (20122 census). The vast size and the constant economic growth of this city are a vital part to what foreigners are attracted to and the possible reason they promptly leave the life they were living in their own country and move here in the City of the East.

Beijing Municipality currently comprises 16 administrative county-level subdivisions. But in this post, I am only going to be focusing on the districts located at the center of the city and moving from one end to another. In the heart of hearts, lies Xicheng and Dongcheng. Moving further away, between the 2^nd and 5^th ring road, lie the major Urban Districts: Chaoyang, Haidian, Fengtai and Shijingshan.

The central part of Haidian's economy is the Zhongguancun electronics district, which hosts the Beijing offices of many software and computer technology companies. Whereas, Chaoyang is home to the majority of Beijing's many foreign embassies, the well-known Sanlitun bar street, as well as Beijing's growing CBD.

Wudaokuo, Haidian crossing

CCTV Building, Haidian 

Having lived a major part of my time in Haidian, an educational district, with the majority of universities located here, it is definitely going to be a change to be moving to the Chaoyang district, to be more precise- Chaoyangmen. The Chaoyang Gate (the Gate Facing the Sun) was the main gate of the East City. The gate was demolished, along with the walls and moat of the East City in the 1950s and replaced with the 2nd Ring Road where the moat and walls had been.

Chaoyangmen crossing

One observation that cannot be ignored is that Haidian is more relaxed than the ever-busy Chaoyang. I am most certainly 2 minutes walking distance from Starbucks which, just by the way, I regard as a complete hype for absolutely no reason at all. I've tasted better coffee, better food in the most local of the local places. That is my one line review of the God-knows-why-famous Starbucks. In Chaoyangmen I live right across what seems to be the Russian District. There are numerous cafes, shopping malls all Russian. There are plenty of foreigners on this side of the city. H&M, Suning, U-town, Walmart, Costa coffee, Mc Donalds and even Burger King join the list of places within 5 minutes from where I live on Chao wai nan lu.

A walk on the Chaowainanlu, and the Russian malls are all around this place, also a very interesting find is the lack of Chinese restaurants and a bunch of stores selling fox skin. It was shocking to see the amount of skin people had outside their stores, very casually just counting the number of dead animal fur. 

Although this Business District is suppose to impress, it fails to do so as compared to the Haidian soul. Good inexpensive chinese food is hard to find, and this is a vital point to focus on as is good housing, places promoting themselves for students. A good location is mostly all that matters, not only does the apartment count, but don't forget to also look carefully around the locality you choose to live in Beijing.

[All images are self clicked]

Visit To Wudaokuo, Haidian With Risha

New and Improved BLCU

This is the first time ever I visited Wudaokuo with my sister. I studied in BLCU in 2011 for an year and Risha went to study there for an year in 2012. So we did miss each other out by that much. This was the first day we were in the same school at the same time. We went across the U center and entered from one of the southern gates of BLCU. Packed out our separate favorite dishes from the BLCU canteen. And to add to that, we closed the deal by going shopping to Golden Towers. This time, like all times, I came across the cheapest pair of gorgeous heels. Brown. Yum. We bought a couple things and even got the famous 10 RMB manicures done. My nails like that little treat. After lunch, while waiting for Risha to come back from buying a calling card, I was sitting right in front of the famous BLCU library, right out front of the canteen. BLCU is gorgeous as ever. And the construction that was going on when I left has most definitely been completed. BLCU is gorgeous!