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Immerse EM Beijing
For those who are looking for the most cultural China Immersion experience, Beijing is the place to be. Beijing is the political and cultural center of China and offers the clearest picture of how China is developing. Executive Mandarin situates itself in GuoMao, the Central Business District and heart of Beijing. Here you will be able to study Mandarin from our highly experienced instructors and then step outside into the most rapidly changing city in the world.
The Scene
Beijing is no longer shrouded in mystery and seclusion because of the central government’s presence but instead leads China in cultural progress and contemporary ideas.
Over 59 universities situate themselves in Beijing, producing a vibrant and growing student community, both foreign and local. The top young minds of China congregate together here and produce new exciting initiatives that inspire the nation. The local student hangouts are not to be missed as one can truly indulge in the evolving ideas and individuals that will power China’s future.
Most business people who come to Beijing are quickly acquainted with HaiDian district, into an area called ZhongGuanCun. This area is known as the “Silicon Valley” of China because most technology firms -- -- set up their China headquarters here in this district of Beijing. Being beside China’s top two universities, Peking University and TsingHua University, it is the real “technology hub” of China and is already a major player in Asia and the world.
The art scene in Beijing is the most contemporary and avant-garde. Local artists and musicians from all over the country and many international artists from abroad, flock to Beijing in search of becoming part of the newest movements. The music scene is equally vibrant and fresh. Beijing continues to be the progenitor for a thriving new Rock and Jazz scene pioneering the way for China’s new music industry.
Being the nation’s capital, embassies from around the world reside in this metropolis adding a constant influx of foreign diplomats, their families, and associates. International expatriates join affluent local inhabitants to create a unique scene where bohemians, yuppies, business executives and diplomats mix and mingle to their heart’s delight. Every month sees new bars and clubs opening, as construction around Beijing continues to teardown, and build-up, new venues for the city’s fun-lovers.
The government decreed that all construction in Beijing must be finished before the Summer Olympics come in 2008. Therefore it is impossible to miss the frantic pace at which buildings are being erected. A familiar sight in Beijing is looking down a major street and seeing every other building still being completed, or seeing an entire neighbourhood, often times some fifteen high-rises, being erected at the same time.
Beijing of course is always the first destination for anyone interested in classical Chinese culture. In addition to the Forbidden Palace (Imperial Museum), Beijing has a star-studded cast of other high profile cultural sites. Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace, the Ming and Qing Tombs and last but not least, the Great Wall of China all attracts hordes of visitors annually.
Orientation
Beijing is located in the north eastern corner of China. Its city limits extend some 80km (50mi), including the urban and the suburban areas and the nine counties under its administration - in other words, it's huge. Though it may not appear so in the shambles of arrival, Beijing is a place of very orderly design. Long, straight boulevards and avenues are crisscrossed by a network of lanes. Places of interest are either very easy to find if they're on the avenues, or impossible to find if they're buried down the hutongs (narrow alleys).
The Forbidden City acts like a bull's-eye, surrounded by a network of roads, including five ring roads which cup the city centre in concentric circles. The First Ring Rd is a mapmaker's fiction and just part of the grid around the Forbidden City. However, the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth (opened in 2002) are multi-lane freeways. Roughly within the Second Ring Rd are the four central districts: Xicheng, Dongcheng, Chongwen and Xuanwu. Outside the Second Ring Rd are the so-called 'suburban' (now urbanised) districts of Chaoyang (east), Fengtai (southwest) and Haidian (northwest). Then there are the 'villages' (li). Beijing was once surrounded by many tiny villages, though over time these have in fact become neighbourhoods within the megalopolis.
*Taken from Lonely Planet
Quick Profile
Location: Beijing- The capital of China is located in the northern part of the North China Plain and its terrain is high in the northwest and low in the southeast.
Area: 750 sq. km (City) 16,807.8 sq km (Administrative Region)
Climate: Continental type, cold and dry winters, due to the Siberian air masses that move southward across the Mongolian Plateau. Summers are hot owing to warm and humid monsoon winds from the southeast bringing Beijing most of its annual precipitation. January is the coldest month and July is the warmest. Winter usually begins towards the end of October. The summer months, June to August, are wet and hot with about 40% of the annual precipitation.
Population (Official estimate, 2001): 13.82 million
Time Zone: GMT/UTC +8 (Standard Time)
Telephone Area Code: 010
Program Duration
Program duration depends on your availability and language goals. The longer your Immersion experience, the higher your language fluency, and the greater your understanding of China. Executive Mandarin caters to all durations and already services clients who fly in for one week to clients who stay for over six months.
The most popular program durations are:
One-Week
One-Month
Three-Months
Six-Months
Executive Mandarin can accommodate all your scheduling parameters, no matter the length or limitation.
Classroom Options
Executive Mandarin is transparent when it comes to fees. We will tell you upfront what you can expect to pay for our intensive, immersion language classes. In keeping with our approach for tailored service, you have options when it comes to class options.
Class sizes include:
1 on 1
Small group (2~3 students)
Medium group (4+ students)
Executive communications does not offer class sizes larger than our medium groups, as we want to create a highly interactive atmosphere and give you as much of the instructor’s attention as possible. The small group options are perfect should you and your friends want to study together.
The standard fees for classes are as follows:
Beijing Pricing Structure
| Number of students in one class |
RMB per student per hour |
| 1 |
RMB 120 (14 USD) |
| 2~3 |
RMB 75 (9 USD) |
| 4+ |
RMB 50 (6 USD) |
You have the option to pick a combination of classes; they do not all have to be 1 on1, small group or medium group. Your mornings may be one group and your afternoons another. You can also split them up into alternating days of the week.
Should you choose to join a small or medium group class, and there are no other students to join you at that moment, we will continue to charge you the agreed-upon group rate while you enjoy a 1-on-1 immersion experience. However, should other students become available; they have the right to join your class in order to fulfill the small or medium group class status.
Classes are split up into learner-levels. Before you begin your classes we conduct a free assessment of your Mandarin proficiency in order to place you in the right environment. Even if you come with your friend and your Mandarin levels are different, we will immediately place you in the right class so each of you can continue on your way to Chinese fluency.
Class scheduling is up to your discretion. Executive Mandarin is open seven days a week, from 8am to 9pm. Therefore whether you learn best in the morning or evening person we can accommodate you. This option is also perfect if you have other interests and activities in China. You can study in the morning and early afternoon, and still have the evening and night to explore the city. You can also schedule your classes so that they are only during the first part of the week. This way you can have several consecutive days off to do weekend trips, or work, or whatever interests you! Here at Executive Mandarin we make your schedule our priority.
Accommodations
Executive Mandarin will act as an agent to help find the most suitable living quarters that will meet your expectations. Whether your priority is budget, comfort, location, or all three, we will ensure a satisfactory home for you so that there are no surprises when you land.
Accommodation Options Include:
Accommodation type:
Hostel (short-term budget minded, 4, 8+ beds per room, public)
Less than 1000 RMB/month
Host family experience (live with local Chinese family for authenticity)
1000 – 1500 RMB/month
Standard Chinese-style apartment (privacy with lower cost than Western Private)
1500 – 3000 RMB/month
Private western-style apartment (personal privacy or shared with friends)
3000 – 10000 RMB/month
Half hotel-serviced apartment (personal privacy with some amenities)
4000 – 15000 RMB/month
Fully serviced apartment (full comfort minded)
7000 – 20000 RMB/month
3 – 5 star hotel room (Complete comfort)
300 – 1000 RMB/day
Location: As close as five minutes walk from EM Office, or any other desired location of the city
Transparency: can request photos of the apartment before signing; Executive Mandarin staff will personally inspect premises to ensure quality and standard
Finding your price within these ranges will depend on factors such as location, tenancy duration, season, payment plans, etc.
If you are traveling with friends, sharing an apartment with them will significantly reduce your accommodation costs. The rent will remain the same, and you can split the costs among you and your party. We feel the more, the merrier! It is your money, your experience. Executive Mandarin wants you to get what you pay for.
Travel: Domestic, Airfare
Airfare to China should be obtained through your own local travel agent as this ensures the best prices for your area. We will assist in all necessary aspects to have you arrive to your Immersion city without incident. An Executive Communications China Immersion team member will receive you at the airport and escort you into the city where we will quickly orientate you to your new surroundings and neighbourhood.
Airfare from North America is between 800 to 1500 USD depending on season, carrier and location.
Domestic transportation within China is comparatively cheap. All Immersion cities have highly developed public buses, subways and taxi systems. The more traditional methods of walking and bicycling are also available. Regardless of your choice of location and accommodations, Executive Mandarin will show you the ropes of the transit system so you can explore your new metropolis independently and with confidence.
Bus fare typically costs between 1 to 3 RMB per trip (0.12 to 0.36 USD)
Subway fare costs between 3 to 5 RMB per trip (0.36 to 0.60 USD)
Taxi fare costs between 1.6 to 2 RMB per kilometre (0.19 to 0.24 USD)
A popular option is the bicycle, for local trips to the grocery store, or, if you live in the vicinity, to the Executive Communications Office. Bicycle theft is high in China, the equivalent to car theft in North America, but do not fret, the norm is buying a used bike, which costs on average 100 RMB (12 USD). Usually the anti-theft lock costs more than the bike itself. Needless to say, the transportation costs are not going to break your back.
You must prepare yourselves for the traffic in China though. The first complaint is usually the congestion. Chinese mega-cities with populations of ten to twenty million people, naturally have an obscene number of trucks, buses, cars, taxis, motorcycles, bicycles, mopeds, scooters, and pedestrians on the road. You have to be assertive and ‘creative’. We’ll show you how.
Food
Food is a huge attraction to visitors coming to China. The main distinctions in Chinese food are: South East (Cantonese), North East (Beijing), East Coast (Shandong), North Central (Hunan), and the most famous, South Central (Sichuan). In your Immersion city you will find all culinary tastes from all over the world, in addition to the local food. Local food is relatively cheap, with your Immersion city’s local specialties being the cheapest. Chinese food generally will cost between 5 to 25 RMB ($0.61 to $3 USD) per meal, and Non-Chinese food will cost between 50 to 100 RMB ($6.09 to $12.18 USD).
Visas
Most people coming to visit will require an Entrance Visa to be admitted into China. Please check with your local Chinese Embassy or consulate for confirmation. A Visa is necessary and can only be obtained from your respective Chinese embassy. The Visa must be in your passport before you board your flight to fly to China.
Executive Mandarin will help walk you through the process of getting an Entrance Visa. For those who plan to have an Immersion Experience for one month or less, the Visa situation is easy; simply bring your passport into your Chinese Embassy and apply for a Tourist Visa (L Visa). Most countries have a Visa agreement with China that allows for a one-month Tourist Visa. Again please check with your respective Embassy.
For those who plan to stay in China longer than one month, we will discuss with you the most appropriate Visa to obtain. The other common Visas foreigners often get are Student Visas (X Visa), Business Visas (F Visa) and Working Visas (Z Visa). These visas are awarded for durations of 3 months, 6 months or 1 year, depending on your expected duration. A Student, Business or Working Visa requires a letter of sponsorship from the host company. As China Immersion participants, Executive Mandarin will help you obtain the right Visa to allow you to study.
It is naturally easier, and cheaper, to obtain a Tourist Visa. There is also the option, for those who plan to stay longer than one month but shorter than three, to obtain a one-month Tourist Visa and extend for an extra month once here in China. China only allows for only one extension, so a Tourist Visa can afford you a maximum of a two month stay.
On top of duration, the other major aspect of an Entry Visa is the number of entries you are permitted. The cheapest and simplest is the Single-Entry Visa. All Visa types begin with the Single-Entry, which is the essence of the Entry visa. However, with a little more money spent, you can buy either a Double, or even Multiple Entry Visa. This allows you the flexibility of travelling in and out of China, should you choose to visit some other Asian countries during your stay here with the China Immersion Program. If you are unsure whether you will leave the country, you can always first buy a Single-Entry Visa, and apply for Re-Entry Visas when you arrive in China, but it is not always guaranteed that the Chinese Visa office will grant you a Re-Entry Visa. Most people opt for a Double or Multiple Entry Visa just in case, and not have to worry about it later. It is noted that the Chinese government is now loosening Visa rules like these for foreigners, so it is less of a concern. There are always ways to get around Visa technicalities.
Finally, the cost of the Visa. As with all other Visa inquiries, it depends on your nationality and the relationship your country has with China. The general rule is, the simpler the Visa, the cheaper it is. So a Single-Entry, Tourist Visa will always be cheaper than a Multiple-Entry, Work Visa (which you probably won’t be eligible for anyways). Needless to say, we will discuss with you the right Visa for you, and the Visa that requires the least amount of work and stress to get. Generally the cost of a Visa can be as cheap as 50 USD to over 200 USD. It all depends on the type of Visa you apply for, and the country you are from. Simply inquire at your respective Chinese Embassy for details.
Excursions
One of the biggest attractions to China, and probably one of your biggest desires, is the opportunity to travel and discover all the treasures this country has to offers. Here at Executive Mandarin we support you in your adventure and will help you find what you are looking for.
For those that like the independent traveller’s experience, we can provide you with advice, strategies and tips to get you on your way. We can recommend reputable, reliable and cost effective travel or tour solutions for your needs.
Those who enjoy a more stress-free, organized travel itinerary, Executive Mandarin can organize tours for you and your friends. We will package everything so the only thing you need to worry about is how much fun you will have, and how much you will see.
Prices for excursions depend on a case-by-case basis with the influencing variables being location, duration, level of convenience, and level of entertainment. Executive Mandarin will assist you in finding the best solution for your expectations and travel goals. We guarantee your travel dollars will go much farther in China than in your regular travel destinations.
Entertainment
Entertainment, as it is in all countries, is a subjective thing that depends on the individual’s preferences and lifestyle. The Immersion cities that Executive Mandarin offers provides all the amenities and entertainment venues you are used to back at home, as well as trove of new entertainment settings for you to explore. We will help you find the haunts that best fit your tastes. As our magazine attests – China Life Magazine – we accumulate an extensive volume of diverse China Expat experiences. Whether it is musical, theatrical, social, or visual, Executive Mandarin knows the best places to go and have fun. More often than not, we will go with you! Participants are constantly astounded that a 500ml bottle of beer in China can cost as cheap as 2.7 RMB, which is 33 cents USD. That’s right; we will say it again so you don’t think it’s a typo: 500ml bottle of beer for 33 cents. How can you not have fun in China?
The cheap beer is only one side of the coin though; there are many other more expensive vices. It is just as easy to find all the favourite import brands of luxury items that you may be accustomed to, from your Remy Martin VSOP, your Courvoisier Napoleon to your faithful Cohiba cigar. Items of this beauty, unfortunately, cost equal or more in China than they would overseas. But, if you are already drinking cognac and smoking Cubans, I guess money isn’t your greatest concern. Needless to say, serious bar and club enthusiasts tend to spend an average of 300 to 500 RMB per outing within their first month. Curbing this habit after the first-month binge is your own prerogative.
Aside from nightlife entertainment, there are of course the cultural attractions that all Immersion participants come to see. Admission to these sites increase year after year as tourism in China continues to skyrocket. The average cost is between 10 to 40 RMB for an adult. One special tip: if you still have a valid student card, try flashing it at the ticket booth and you might get away with the student’s discount which can be as high as half off. A normal visitor will see around 7 of these sites during their first few weeks.
Orientation, Social integration
One concern many clients have, especially during the first few weeks in China, is the orientation and social integration. No need to worry, Executive Mandarin will take care of you. Orientation of your city we make certain you will pick up in the first few days of landing. You may also opt in the China Immersion Buddy program that our company provides. One of our China Immersion team members will buddy-up with you and help you get settled in as quickly as possible. You can learn more about the city, about our company, and about China! Most importantly, you will make new friends fast. We have both native English-speaking and native Chinese-speaking buddies available. All our buddies are bilingual.
In addition to our buddy program, Executive Mandarin will help you get integrated socially. Most participants choose to make their own friends and explore the various social circles themselves, but our company also offers additional opportunities for meeting new people. Since Executive Mandarin is part of Executive Communications, every week we join with our sister organization, Executive English, to have a Culture Salon. Here our Chinese and English students gather together for a culture and language exchange. If you have not already met other students, either in your small group activities or around the office, then you will meet them here. You will have the opportunity to meet Chinese learning English, and Foreigners learning Chinese, all from very different walks of life. Your social circle will grow exponentially and you will find yourself associating with people you never thought possible. Executive Mandarin also has relationships with many special interest associations, to help you connect with people how share the same passions. Examples include rock-climbing groups, hiking groups, various dance clubs, and cultural associations. Executive Mandarin wants you to feel socially engaged, because we believe that induces the most successful learning atmosphere.
Payment Options
Executive Mandarin accepts all normal forms of payment – Cash, Cheque, Credit Card and Transfer. In Beijing most clients prefer to pay in cash as it continues to be largely a cash-based society, although other financial other credit-based instruments are rapidly growing in popularity and use. Hong Kong clients use a variety of payment forms to settle their accounts.
Sample Cost Tally
The following are some sample cost tallies to help you plan your China Immersion Experience. We provide three different tallies for different types of participants; the Luxury, Standard, and Budget Traveller. Please be informed that these tallies are in Renminbi, and costs reflect Beijing standards. Hong Kong and Shanghai prices will differ.
These sample tallies are NOT to be taken as your expected costs. Your costs will most definitely be higher or lower than the numbers presented here. Each person has areas where he/she will want to spend more, or less, depending on their preference. These samples are merely to help you thinking about the different areas that you have to consider and budget for. ALL numbers below are only estimations based on experience and accurate market knowledge.
Please note that Excursions are not included in this tally as they represent too great a variable to budget. These samples below are only estimations of the cost of living within your Immersion city for a period of one month. We have however, added in the price of a double entry entrance visa for the standard and luxury cost tally to reflect these participant’s tendency towards taking other trips while being in China.
Luxury Immersion Experience (1 Month Immersion Program)
| Program Options |
Calculations |
Total |
| Class Options |
|
|
| 1 on 1 class, 2 hr/day, 5 days/week, morning, 1 mth. |
120 RMB x 2 x 5 x 4 |
4800 RMB |
| Small Group class, 2 hr/day, 5 days/week, afternoon, 1 mth. |
75 RMB x 2 x 5 x 4 |
3000 RMB |
| Accommodation Options |
|
|
| Half/Fully Hotel Serviced Apt. |
10000 RMB |
10000 RMB |
| Domestic Transportation Options |
|
|
| Taxi, class & city explore, 6 trips/day, 7 days/week, 1 mth. |
15 RMB x 6 x 30 |
2700 RMB |
| Airfare Options |
|
|
| Airfare, average season, return fare |
8000 RMB |
8000 RMB |
| Food Options |
|
|
| Chinese:Western, 1:1.5, 80 meals/mth, 1 mth. |
(26 RMB + 150 RMB) x 16 |
2816 RMB |
| Visa Options |
|
|
| 1 mth. Tourist Visa, Double Entry |
800 RMB |
800 RMB |
| Entertainment Options |
|
|
| Cultural sites, weekly western nightlife, Cheap beer @ local hangouts, 5 bottles/outing, 2 times/week, Western bar, 3 time/week, 1 mth. |
(30 RMB x 7) +(3 RMB x 5 x 2 x 4) + (350 RMB x 12) |
4530 RMB |
| |
TOTAL 1 MONTH COST (BUDGET) |
36646 RMB |
| |
COST (USD) |
$4,463.58 USD |
Standard Immersion Experience (1 Month Immersion Program)
| Program Options |
Calculations |
Total |
| Class Options |
|
|
| 1 on 1 class, 2 hr/day, 5 days/week, morning, 1 mth. |
120 RMB x 2 x 5 x 4 |
4800 RMB |
| Small Group class, 2 hr/day, 5 days/week, afternoon, 1 mth. |
75 RMB x 2 x 5 x 4 |
3000 RMB |
| Accommodation Options |
|
|
| Std. Private Chinese/ Western Apt. |
3000 RMB |
3000 RMB |
| Domestic Transportation Options |
|
|
| Subway, 4 trips/day, 7 days/week, class & city explore, Taxi, 4 trips/week, 1 mth. |
(3 RMB x 4 x 7 x 4) + (15 RMB x 4 x 4) |
576 RMB |
| Airfare Options |
|
|
| Airfare, average season, return fare |
8000 RMB |
8000 RMB |
| Food Options |
|
|
| Chinese:Western, 3:1, 80 meals/mth, 1 mth. |
(13 RMB x 3 + 50 RMB) x 20 |
1780 RMB |
| Visa Options |
|
|
| 1 mth. Tourist Visa, Double Entry |
800 RMB |
800 RMB |
| Entertainment Options |
|
|
| Cultural sites, weekly western nightlife, Cheap beer @ local hangouts, 3 bottles/outing, 2 times/week, Western bar, 1 time/week, 1 mth. |
(30 RMB x 7) + (3 RMB x 3 x 2 x 4) + (350 RMB x 4) |
1682 RMB |
| |
TOTAL 1 MONTH COST (BUDGET) |
23638 RMB |
| |
COST (USD) |
$2,879.17 USD |
Budget Immersion Experience (1 Month Immersion Program)
| Program Options |
Calculations |
Total |
| Class Options |
|
|
| Small Group class, 2 hr/day, 5 days/week, morning, 1 mth. |
75 RMB x 2 x 5 x 4 |
3000 RMB |
| Med. Group class, 2 hr/day, 5 days/week, afternoon, 1 mth. |
50 RMB x 2 x 5 x 4 |
2000 RMB |
| Accommodation Options |
|
|
| Hostel/Host Family, 1 mth. |
1000 RMB |
1000 RMB |
| Domestic Transportation Options |
|
|
| Bus, 4 trips/day, class & city explore, 7 days/week, 1 mth. |
1 RMB x 4 x 30 |
120 RMB |
| Airfare Options |
|
|
| Airfare, average season, return fare |
8000 RMB |
8000 RMB |
| Food Options |
|
|
| Chinese, 80 meals/mth, 1 mth. |
13 RMB x 80 |
1040 RMB |
| Visa Options |
|
|
| 1 mth. Tourist Visa, Single Entry |
400 RMB |
400 RMB |
| Entertainment Options |
|
|
| Cultural sites, no western nightlife, Cheap beer @ local hangouts, 2 bottles/outing, 2 times/week, 1 mth. |
(30 RMB x 7) + (3 RMB x 2 x 2 x 4) |
258 RMB |
| |
TOTAL 1 MONTH COST (BUDGET) |
15818 RMB |
| |
COST (USD) |
$1,926.67 USD |
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