China » Living in Beijing

Living in China

How can one sum up the experience of living in China, or any other country? The reason we go abroad to study, live or travel is precisely because we want to go beyond what we read on the printed page. We want to taste, smell and get the true feeling of a place. The OUS Beijing program provides an introduction and the skills for students who want to explore China and “look behind the curtain.”

Materially, life in Beijing today is not much different than life in the United States. Consumer goods, from coffee and donuts, to designer jackets and cosmetics are all readily available in the city (if notably absent outside of the cities). So students today worry less about what they can bring and what can they find there.

Getting around Beijing is similar to getting around New York. There are buses and subways and taxis, though they are a lot (and I mean, a lot) more crowded. And like New York, there are the same types of cultural activities that one would find in any large city, plays, museums, night clubs, historical sites, etc.

Beijing is:

• Chinese. The heart and center of 2,000 years of civilization; the capital of China for the last 400 years.
• China’s capital city. And the epicenter of China’s efforts to build and project its rightful place on the global stage.
• Developing. The rapid pace of China’s economic development have created large gaps between the haves and have-nots. Chinese from all over the country immigrate to Beijing in search of economic opportunity for themselves and for their families.
• A global city. On a par with London, Paris, Moscow, New York, Singapore, Mexico City and more. Home to a stunning range of international businesses and organizations.

So, on one level, it’s not too different from living in the U.S., is it?

But of course, it’s not really the same. It’s not as simple as that. None of that even begins to capture the flavor of China, the experience. Some things are universally true, however. Students tell us that they were often frustrated by an aspect of Chinese society; by pollution; by vestiges of bureaucracy or disorganization; by buses, subways and other infrastructure that was full to bursting. In the end however, they all tell us that over time they began to both understand “why” and “why it is important.”

The Location

The Beijing Language and Culture University is located in the Haidian district in northwest Beijing. This area is home to most of the universities in Beijing including Peking University, the Central University for Nationalities, Tsinghua University, etc. As a result of its large concentration of universities, the district is often referred to as the “University District” by foreigners living in Beijing. The BLCU campus is located in the Zhongguancun Science and Technology Zone, and covers an area of 38 hectares.

BLCU has more than 40 fully equipped language labs and multi-media classrooms, including some exclusively designed for phonetic training. On campus can be found several canteens offering various types of Western and Eastern food. There are several sports facilities, including a newly built gymnasium and swimming pool. There is also a clinic, a bank, a post-office, a convenience store, and a laundromat on campus. The University is located on several bus routes that go directly into downtown, and a taxi trip from the University to the Beijing airport only takes 30 minutes.

Accommodations

OUS Beijing students typically live in student dorms on campus, in either single or double rooms. The dormitories are located in a natural setting, with several trees, gardens, and scenic areas. Many students live in the dorms with non-English speaking roommates, where Chinese becomes the common language of communication.

On-Site Support

Throughout your stay, you will receive academic and advising support from the Dept. of International Cooperation and Exchanges at BLCU.  Since there is no OUS-employed resident director, students must be prepared to work with local advisors and with staff on your home campus in Oregon. 

Campus Contacts

Click on the name of your University for contact information.

* Also serves as the program Coordinator/Assistant.

Downloads

• Program Application
• China Program Handbook

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