🇨🇳 China
Beijing: what to see and whether to move there
Beijing is a city where imperial palaces sit across the road from skyscrapers, and Qing-dynasty courtyard alleys share the map with one of the fastest high-speed rail networks on earth. China's capital is both an open-air museum and a fast-moving modern megacity.
Forbidden City
The world's largest palace complex - nearly 1,000 buildings that housed China's emperors for centuries.
Great Wall at Mutianyu
The most scenic, least crowded stretch of the Wall, snaking through forested mountains a couple of hours from downtown.
Temple of Heaven
A round altar built without a single nail, where emperors once prayed for good harvests.
Summer Palace
A sprawling imperial park around Kunming Lake, with a marble boat and a 700-panel painted corridor.
National Museum of China
One of the world's largest museums, spanning Shang-dynasty bronzes to 20th-century artifacts on Tiananmen Square.
798 Art Zone
A former military factory turned contemporary art district full of galleries and designer cafés.
Nanluoguxiang Hutongs
A maze of old alleyways with courtyard homes, teahouses, and bars at the heart of old Beijing.
Metal Hands Coffee
One of Beijing's original specialty coffee shops, which set the tone for the city's new-wave roasters.
Da Dong Roast Duck
Peking duck with famously crisp, near-translucent skin - the signature recipe that made this restaurant a citywide legend.
Wangfujing Night Market
Beijing street food in all its variety, from scorpion skewers to sugar-coated tanghulu.
Is it worth moving to Beijing in 2026
Beijing is China's capital, the country's political and cultural centre with a huge market, strong universities and technology companies. The city is safe, with an excellent metro and digital infrastructure where almost everything is paid by phone. People move here for work, study and business: contract specialists, students and entrepreneurs trading with Russia. The difficulties are language, internet restrictions, winter air pollution and a property market closed to foreigners.
What it costs to live in Beijing
| Item | Per month |
|---|---|
| One-bedroom flat in the centre | ~$940-970 |
| One-bedroom flat outside the centre | ~$510-530 |
| Utilities for an 85 m² flat | ~$59 |
| Home internet | ~$15 |
| Public transport pass | ~$32-35 |
| One person's costs without rent | ~$460-590 |
| Family of four without rent | ~$1,680-2,180 |
Prices come from two independent 2026 price databases, with yuan converted at the European Central Bank rate of 5 October 2026, about 6.70 yuan per dollar. A square metre in the centre costs about $12,480-12,540.
Where to live in Beijing: districts
- Chaoyang and Sanlitun - the business centre, embassies, restaurants and most foreigners.
- Shunyi - villas and international schools in the north-east, convenient for families.
- Haidian - universities and the Zhongguancun tech district.
- Dongcheng and Xicheng - the historic centre with hutong lanes by the Forbidden City.
- Wangjing - a modern district with tech company offices.
Entry, work and residence
Since 15 September 2025 Russian citizens can enter China visa-free and stay up to 30 days per trip for business, tourism, family visits and transit. In May 2026 China's foreign ministry extended this arrangement until 31 December 2027. Visa-free entry does not cover study, work or long-term living. Citizens of many countries can use visa-free transit of up to 240 hours, or 10 days, through designated airports. Work requires a work visa and a work permit through an employer, followed by a residence permit after arrival. Foreigners run businesses through a foreign-invested company.
Taxes in China
Income tax for residents is 3% to 45% on an annual scale, with a deduction of 60,000 yuan a year, about $8,950. Residence arises after 183 days in a year, and worldwide income is taxed only after 6 consecutive years of such residence. Dividends, interest, rent and property sales are taxed at 20%. Corporate tax is 25%, 5% for small businesses on profits up to 3 million yuan, and VAT is 13%, 9% and 6%. There are no inheritance or gift taxes, and the treaty with Russia has applied since 2017 and is not suspended. More on the Taxes in China page.
Housing and money
The property market is more closed to foreigners than in most countries: a home can generally be bought only after a year of living, working or studying in China and only for own use. So newcomers rent, with one-year leases, a one-to-two-month deposit and several months paid in advance. An individual can exchange currency within an annual limit, usually about $50,000. Payments are almost always made through mobile apps linked to a local or foreign card.
Climate and everyday life
The climate is continental: hot, humid summers around 30 degrees and cold, dry winters down to minus 10, with dust storms in spring. Air quality has improved noticeably, but there are smoggy days in winter. The metro is one of the world's largest, and taxis and car sharing are booked through apps. Many foreign websites and services are unavailable in China, so communications and work tools are planned in advance. There are international schools and private clinics for foreigners.
Pitfalls
- Language barrier: without Chinese, daily life and paperwork are hard.
- Restricted access to foreign websites and services.
- Buying a home is difficult for foreigners.
- An annual currency exchange limit for individuals.
- Visa-free stays are limited to 30 days per trip.
Murblz specialists help with company registration, bank accounts and taxes in China, and check counterparties. A consultant in the chat will calculate the cost of support.
Services
Murblz services in China
A passport or residence permit opens the door, but life behind it is awkward without a bank account and a roof over your head. Murblz specialists help with the account, property and company in the same country. The quote is fixed in writing before work starts.
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