I searched and didn't find much info on this on LYN. Just wondering if anyone's had much experience working in China specifically Beijing. I've been offered a post in Beijing but it's not a full expat position so while I get flights, housing and medical insurance, food and transportation are on me. I've googled and it seems like the cost of living is maybe 30% higher than KL but not outrageous.

Any other things I should be aware of? Anyone living there now?

Thanks, the wages are still under negotiation but hopefully it'll be good. How much is BIG here? It looks as if it'll only be around 1500-2500€
which to be honest isn't much by Beijing/Shanghai standards. At least they'll be covering flights and accommodation for me and my family along with medical and insurance coverage. I'm doing IT stuff, dealing more with outsourcing so I don't expect to be doing dangerous stuff

The food quality is worrying, will have to keep that in mind. I've been following the Beijinger for now, lots of info there so far.

Haha no I'm Malay and don't speak/read chinese I don't expect food to be a big problem unless the quality is really going to be bad. But I am preparing for the worst in terms of the pollution and air quality. Air filters seem to be the way to go in apartments but they're expensive...

Ah thanks, I've not read the taxation stuff very closely but double taxation sucks big time. I will have income in Malaysia and the US, this is going to be a headache Will check with the company to find out.

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Added on January 6, 2011, 11:03 pmYep, I have Pimsleur and have already started practicing putonghua


This post has been edited by rollover: Jan 6 2011, 11:03 PM

This is a sort of a 6-month look and see period for me. If the folks in Beijing like me and I like Beijing then there's another negotiation obviously to continue my services there.

For now my salary in Malaysia is continuing. How much it is? It quite a bit more than the 2k euro allowance they're providing. The additional allowance is there for food, transportation and "hardship" which admittedly isn't much. What I'm trying to negotiate flight for me and family to Beijing, an apartment in a decent expat location with the normal facilities, language lessons and maybe a car/driver but given the terrible traffic I'm not sure if it's a good idea to be driving around

What I've learned so far:
- lots of people everywhere all the time
- good apartments are expensive
- learning Mandarin is a good idea
- traffic is bad
- subways are good and cheap, crowded during rush hours but reasonable otherwise
- cost of living is about the same as KL
- food quality can be bad
- air pollution is bad, get a good quality air filter for the apartment and 3M facemasks
- cycling is an option but could be dangerous depending on where you go
- there is double taxation if staying more than 183 days
- power supply is 220V/50Hz similar to Malaysia but the plugs are similar to Japan/Europe
- mistresses are expensive