Beijing is China's capital and second-largest expatriate posting. It has a different character from Shanghai: more government-adjacent, more culturally dense, more historically layered, and — for many residents — more intellectually stimulating. The expatriate community skews towards diplomats, academics, journalists, and senior corporate representatives. The city rewards patience and curiosity far more than it rewards efficiency.
The air quality situation has improved substantially since the 2010s due to a sustained government push to reduce coal heating and industrial emissions, but Beijing still records poor air quality days, particularly in autumn and early winter. Most expatriate families maintain a stock of N95 masks and an indoor air purifier — these are not optional.