Regions.
When traveling in Beijing it is absolutely essential to know the principal regions of the city, if for no other purpose than to avoid an outrageous cab fare.
Every day, the city’s massive public transportation system moves millions of people across Beijing’s 16,800 square kilometers. Unfortunately, getting to your desired destination on time is an art not easily mastered. However, with the right combination of public transportation and know how, one can get to desired destinations on time and at a reasonable price.
Beijing is divided into 16 districts that make up the greater metropolitan region, of which eight of those compose the city’s central, urban area. Finding and maintaining your bearings in Beijing is fairly simple, due to the fact that most major roads run north to south and east to west. Also, Beijing’s 5 major highways, known as the “ring roads,” traverse Beijing in concentric rings around the city’s center. Regrettably, the city’s districts fail to be as neatly defined.
The city’s most important, centrally located districts are as follows:
Chaoyang District
Directly east of the city center, in between the Eastern 2nd and 4th Ring roads, is Beijing’s Chaoyang District. As the largest and most modern of Beijing’s various districts, Chaoyang is home to most, if not all, of the capital city’s foreign embassies, and foreign representative offices of the United Nations. The Worker’s Gymnasium and Worker’s Stadium, significant venues for the upcoming Olympics, are in Chaoyang District, as well. With over 3,000 foreign companies, hundreds of international agencies, and the bulk of the city’s finer hotels, restaurants, and nightlife, it’s no surprise that the majority of expats choose to reside in this district.
Xicheng (West City) District
Xicheng (West City) District is located just west of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City in the center of Beijing. The most important feature of this district is Zhongnanhai, or the complex of buildings that houses the Communist Party of China and the government of the People's Republic of China. Beijing’s Financial Street, which is comprised of more than 600 financial institutions, the Beijing Zoo, and the famous Xidan commercial quarter, are all located in Xicheng, as well.
Haidian District
As the second largest district in urban Beijing, the Haidian District, or the “University District,” as referred to by foreigners living in Beijing, houses the majority of Beijing’s numerous universities. Comprising most of the northwest quarter of central Beijing, Haidian District is a hotspot for college hangouts, restaurants, and shopping. Zhongguancun, or the “Silicon Valley” of Beijing, offering the largest electronics market in the city, is also within the Haidian District.