Beijing apartments, China. Rent a room in Beijing How to rent a house in Beijing

Types of housing in Beijing

Finding a good and inexpensive accommodation option in Beijing is very difficult, as in any other city. However, there are many suggestions.

As in any capital of the world, there is the possibility of renting. This could be a whole apartment or room (small with a shared bathroom or with a balcony and a large private bathroom). If you don’t want to bother, then staying at a hotel is the best option. In Beijing you will find cheap hostels, mid-price and quality hotels, and luxury rooms. It is possible to rent entire houses or simply rent a room in an apartment hotel for a couple of months. It all depends on the length of your stay in the country and, of course, your financial condition.

Hotels

Hotels in Beijing are a very interesting topic. There are a huge number of luxury hotels in the capital, but the concept of good service between us and the Chinese is very different. I myself worked for almost a year in an expensive traditional Chinese hotel, the old part of which was a police station during the Qing Dynasty.

So, one day guests began to complain that the floors in the rooms were very cold and there were no slippers. Almost all the guests called the reception. To this the service staff told me:

The slippers are out.

Just like that, there’s no escape. The slippers are out. In a five-star hotel, where a room costs no less than 400 USD per night. Therefore, the price per room in China is not an indicator of quality. But service in hotels of such well-known chains as Hilton, Mariott or Hayat always remains at its best.

What else I noticed in China: either the rooms are luxurious or downright bad. The middle is quite rare. It's either master or bust here.

The trick of cheap and mid-priced Chinese hotels is unwashed windows. I don’t know why, but I noticed this sad detail. Dirty carpets, slightly cracked mirrors, a TV with ripples - this is quite normal practice in inexpensive places. I think that not a single average Chinese hotel would pass the inspection of the Russian Revizorro program. This is the whole point: the Chinese do everything to ensure that the service is good, but in the end it always falls short.

Luxury Accommodation - 5 Star Hotels

Of course, if you want to definitely get into a good hotel, then you need to choose a hotel of some well-known chain. But in purely Chinese hotels the service is purely Chinese. Although I once had an interview at the Chinese Kunlun Hotel (located near the Liangmaqiao metro station, line 10). I found him very pleasant. We (me and my work colleagues) were also taken on an excursion to the Legendale Hotel. We were shown the rooms, the pools and all the restaurants. I thought: “This is the level.” And I can definitely recommend this hotel.


If you plan to stay in China for a couple of months, then you can easily rent a room in a hotel, which is an apartment, not just a room. As they explained to me, in such hotels they can even repaint the walls or change the furniture for you, but this is only if you stay there for a long time, for example, for a couple of months. The most famous chain is, perhaps, Ascott, but there are cheaper options. The cheapest room at Ascott Raffles costs about 120 USD per night.

If you come to and just want to spend a couple of days in a traditional place - this is quite possible. There are many such hotels near Nanluoguxiang Street, more about it below. These are old but restored courtyards, very beautiful, with wonderful small Chinese gardens and ponds. But the rooms in such hotels are usually quite expensive; I would still prefer good service at the Hilton for the same money.

That is, you have several options:

  1. ordinary hotel,
  2. traditional chinese hotel,
  3. hotel-apartments.

I think it’s quite difficult to guess from a photo whether a hotel is good or not. Photos are always much more colorful and beautiful than things really are. Especially in China. Add a little color, photograph the room from the right angle, and voila - the room seems endless and bright. When choosing a hotel, it is always better to ask your friends. If anyone has been to China, they will definitely be able to recommend a good place. If you don’t know anyone, you’ll have to check the quality of the room when you get there.

As with all hotels, you will have to leave a deposit. The amount of the deposit depends on the level of the hotel and the cost of the room per night. Most of the good hotels are concentrated in the embassy area, Sanlitun and Dongzhimen, the business district of Guomao, or Sibidi (Guomao, CBD), as well as Dongcheng and Xicheng. I will show these places on the map below in the “Districts” section.

So, the list of the best luxury hotels:

  1. Eclat,
  2. Opposite House,
  3. Legendale,
  4. Intercontinental Sanlitun,
  5. New World Beijing Hotel,
  6. Four Seasons Beijing,
  7. Rosewood,
  8. Shangri-la Summit Wing,
  9. Waldorf Astoria,
  10. NUO Hotel Beijing.

Of course, there are many more good hotels than 10, but my top ten looks something like this. Rooms in these hotels will cost about 130–220 USD per night.

Mid-range accommodation - 4 star hotels

The price for a room in an average quality hotel starts from 50–90 USD. Most often, breakfast is included in the room price. If you take the more expensive four, the room will be quite decent. If it's cheaper, the situation will be worse. Everyone, of course, has different needs, but I, for example, value cleanliness above all, and the Chinese have an open conflict with it.


I myself stayed in these four: the Xijiao Hotel near Beijing Language and Culture University in the Haidian district and the Park Plaza Wangfujing Hotel - both are quite pleasant, and the prices are not bad. Although the carpets are a little untidy, the floors are a little unwashed - everything is as always.

Inexpensive housing

3 star hotels

Room rates can start from 25 USD per night, but such a hotel will not look like a hotel. For a hostel - yes. It seems to me that it’s generally better not to shoot “three rubles” in China. In my opinion, the cheaper the hotel, the simpler it is. But even in such hotels they must clean and maintain cleanliness - I pay for the rent. Therefore, it is better to rent a more expensive room, but it will be cleaner.

Hostels

Since hotels in Beijing are not always of high quality, what can we say about hostels. The only hostel that I could call good is Youth Hostel. There is good decoration, clean rooms, and generally quite pleasant rooms. Moreover, one of my good friends once got tired of renting an apartment and simply moved there for a few months. It was Drum Tower Youth Hostel - one of the Youth network. She lived in a fairly spacious room with a toilet and a nice balcony.


In the evening, young people hang out in hostels, drink beer or wine, and surf the Internet. Some rooms have their own bathroom and some don't. I'm a rather squeamish person, but even I can say that the shared bathroom there is quite good.

It seemed to me that most hostels are located in the Xichen and Dongchen areas, right in close proximity to all the main attractions (see the map in the “Districts” section below).

This is my personal opinion, but I think that in China it is still better to spend a little more money and check into a hotel than to try your luck in hostels. On you will find hostels for 28 USD per night. Well, as always: rooms with a private bathroom are much more expensive than a bed in a room for four.

Breakfast in hotels and hostels

Food, again, depends on the quality of the hotel. I've been to several Chinese hotels, but the breakfasts have never really impressed me. Although the quality of breakfast in the 10 hotels that I listed above is simply excellent. That is, 5-star hotels almost always please, although they, in fact, are obliged to do this for that kind of money.

As you know, the Chinese have their own traditional breakfast. These are, most often, zhou (very boiled rice or corn porridge without adding salt; they say it is good for the stomach), mantou (steamed buns, by the way, they are also absolutely tasteless). Many Chinese have already become a little European and started eating croissants, muesli and omelettes, but it seems to me that they prefer the traditional Chinese breakfast. So, in hotels you can try both their breakfast and the usual Western one.

Hotel breakfasts always include toast, buns, eggs, ham (don't try Chinese ham: it tastes disgusting) or sausages, fruit, a little something sweet, a little Chinese, juices, coffee and tea. In more expensive hotels it is a buffet, and the more decent the hotel, the more choice. Or maybe not a buffet, that is, for example, you choose a continental breakfast (from 3-4 options), and they bring you eggs, toast, some jam, butter and rolls.

If your room rental does not include breakfast, and you really want to eat, you will have to shell out 12–20 USD for a continental breakfast brought to your room. In hostels, breakfasts are much smaller, but there will definitely be toast, coffee and eggs.

Villas

Personally, my friends and I have never rented villas because the prices are simply prohibitive. Once my friends celebrated the New Year in a huge house, practically a villa, near the Great Wall of China, but they rented it, of course, not for a month, but only for 2-3 days. Renting a large, good house will cost 3,600–6,500 USD per month, and this is far from the limit.

Moreover, all expensive houses and apartments are located not in the city center, but on the outskirts. A couple of times I visited fashionable areas for work. They reminded me a bit of Europe: neat houses, lots of greenery and great cars. I have been to the Shunyi area, it is located very close to the airport. Very, very rich people live there. And what I noticed: wealthy people in Beijing still mostly prefer to live in apartments.

In general, the option of renting a villa will suit you only if you have nowhere to spend tens of thousands of dollars. The villas and houses are certainly excellent, only with the caveat that the concept of quality and service is different between us and the Chinese.

Apartments

What and where to shoot

If you want to move to Russia for permanent residence or, say, do an internship for several months, then renting an apartment is an excellent option. Although this also has its pitfalls.

  1. The best rental in China is long-term, that is, for a year. Almost all contracts are concluded for a year.
  2. In order to find an apartment, you better speak Chinese or go with someone who has lived in the capital for a certain amount of time.
  3. Chinese standards, again, are very different from Russian ones. What the Chinese agent thinks is a wonderful home, for us is an apartment that looks like the scene of the movie “Saw”.

The price category is completely different, it all depends on your needs. And, of course, the location of the apartment. Apartments in the center will cost much more than an apartment on the outskirts of the city. I can say that I have never met foreigners who rent apartments on the outskirts for pennies; usually everyone tries to find housing in the central areas. Fortunately, there are quite a lot of them, and I will talk about them below. There are several options for renting an apartment:

  1. One-room apartment
  2. Two or three rubles with friends.
  3. A room in a large apartment.

Rent a one-room apartment

Renting a one-room apartment is quite expensive, especially a new one, in the center and in a good house. It will cost about 700–1,000 USD per month. You also need to take into account that you will have to pay for gas, water, and possibly heating.


By the way, a big plus of living in Beijing is the presence of central heating, which is very necessary in the winter months. In Shanghai and Guangzhou, for example, there is no such luxury. And the Chinese themselves have a strange attitude towards batteries or air conditioners: it’s hot - and that’s okay, it’s cold - so you can wear a jacket.

Joint tenancy

Renting an apartment with friends is very convenient; you can split everything between two or three: agent fees, utilities, and expenses for kitchen utensils. A two-room apartment will cost about 800–1,300 USD. Again, there is no ceiling; an apartment can cost 3,000 USD if it is located in an elite building. Three rubles are, of course, more expensive. My friends and I once rented a three-room apartment with a jacuzzi, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and it cost 1,600 USD.

The problem with all Chinese apartments is cockroaches. They live in all houses, my friends have poisoned everyone, I have never even encountered such insects. I don’t know why this is, maybe because of the habits of the Chinese, or maybe because no one really wants to breed such domestic animals. However, sometimes (very rarely) there are clean apartments. The best option is to move into an apartment that is being rented for the first time, but this, of course, is a one in a million chance.


In general, I was very lucky with the apartment owners, they always helped me, and if something broke, they fixed it at their own expense, which is logical, but not all apartment owners are ready for this. By the way, you should always have the apartment owner’s number with you so that if something happens you can quickly call him. I survived the breakdown of all possible appliances, a flood, and an unheated toilet.

Rent a room

This is the last option. And not the most successful one. One day I was looking for a particular room, but after several weeks of futile attempts, I realized that finding a good room was almost impossible. They are all shabby, old, scary, I generally keep quiet about the kitchen and bathroom with toilet.

By the way, I would like to mention one Chinese feature: in most apartments there is simply no normal shower. There are no cubicles or bathrooms. Just a bare floor and shower, water spreads everywhere, getting onto the toilet, into the sink and, in fact, all over the floor. Then you have to either go over it with a rag, or use some magical method to dry everything under your feet. There are also no ovens in Chinese apartments, only gas stoves, so small ovens that can be bought at any hardware store are very popular.

How to rent a house

There are 2 options to find an apartment/room:

  1. agencies.
  2. sites, for example, or Beijinger.
Through agents

If you decide to rent an apartment through intermediaries, you will have to shell out a huge amount of money. Why? Firstly, you pay for 2 or 3 months at once, plus a deposit equal to the monthly rental amount, and an agency fee, which is also equal to the monthly fee. And the more famous the company that helps with finding an apartment, the higher the agent fee will be.


There are quite popular “I love my home” (Woaiwojia) or Homelink. There are small offices that are located on the first floors of residential buildings. In China they are literally everywhere. And, of course, they are trying to make money by renting your future home, so I highly recommend negotiating for an agent's fee. Or refuse to pay it altogether and give some money to the agent who is looking for housing just for you.

Through Internet resources

There is an option to find accommodation through websites. Sometimes there are listings from owners, not agents, so you don't need to pay an agent fee. But I would like to warn you that housing often looks different from the picture. And not just wrong, but like a completely different apartment. There are agents who post photos of good apartments, but in the end they show destroyed premises that are unsuitable for living. But on the same site you can also find advertisements for finding an apartment neighbor; sometimes you come across some good guys.

Beijinger is perhaps the only Chinese site where you can really find something worthwhile, because all the ads here are actually viewed and not left hanging for six months. This site was made specifically for foreigners in Beijing, and there you can find any information about apartments, rentals, concerts, restaurants and all interesting events.

You can choose housing for yourself and. My friend found and rented a nice large room there. The owner of the apartment periodically fed him Chinese food (even for free, the Chinese always prepare a lot - you can treat a poor tourist :)).


But I will say again that Chinese standards are something completely different. You can rent a decent room, but the toilet will be absolutely terrible. Or the kitchen. The Chinese are somehow not very concerned about the cleanliness of toilets. Sometimes it seems to me that renting rooms from the Chinese is like playing roulette.

Conclusion

As a result, it turns out that renting an apartment through an agent is easier: he does everything, takes you to apartments on a bike, shows you, but nevertheless it is expensive. Finding an apartment through websites will be cheaper, since you won’t have to pay an agent’s fee, but you need to understand that you won’t have as much choice as with an agent.

Helpful information

It should also be added that the Chinese really like it when you pay not for one month, but for three. And this is the norm. If you want to pay monthly, you will have to negotiate with the owner. Therefore, the most important thing is a good relationship with the fandong (in Chinese, the owner of the apartment).

When you move into an apartment, pay attention to EVERYTHING. In front of the agents, check all the light bulbs, all the handles, stoves, water, water heater, bed, sofas (for example, it may well turn out that they are broken), cabinets, toilet, and so on.

And the last thing I would like to say: in some countries, when renting an apartment, you pay, say, 500 USD, and that’s all. In China, you will have to pay for water, gas and the Internet (sometimes heating, TV and telephone), so every month utilities will be added to the rent (for me it was about 30 USD for a one-room apartment).

The Internet in China, by the way, is very slow. And quite expensive. Uploading or downloading anything is a pain, so be prepared to be very patient. And get yourself a VPN: Google, Twitter, Instagram are blocked in China.

Hutongs

Many foreigners, having lived in China for some time, want to try staying in hutongs - these are traditional Chinese streets, narrow and very colorful. Previously, hutongs had no toilets in the houses, only public ones on the streets. To be honest, I just can’t imagine how you can go outside to use a public toilet, but on some old streets nothing has changed. Foreigners, naturally, rent houses that are renovated and equipped with all amenities. However, such houses are far from ideal. They are very hot in summer and cold in winter. The heating or air conditioning system simply cannot cope. But, of course, it is very beautiful and picturesque there. These houses also have patios where you can barbecue and grow tomatoes.

If the house has not been completely restored, insulated and equipped with good air conditioning in every room, renting such housing simply does not make sense. I lived in a house like this for several months, and after I saw steam coming out of my mouth when I walked into the kitchen, I realized that I needed to move out today.

I found housing in the hutongs through friends, but if you want to try, then head to the hutongs area near Nanluoguxiang or Dongzhimen and look for agencies that will help you with rent. They are very easy to detect, since they put advertisements and photographs of these very rented apartments on the glass; the windows are completely covered with them. I rented a room for 500 USD per month, but the house was not ready to accept tenants at all. The heating system was no good. If you want a normal house with a human air conditioning system, then be prepared to shell out 800–1,000 USD, or even more.

Where to stay in Beijing

When you look through the Booking map, your eyes will most likely run wild, because there are a lot of hotels. If we talk about safety, then you can book a hotel in Beijing in absolutely any area: both in the center and on the outskirts (you never know, if you need it for work). Nothing will happen to you, no one will beat you or rob you. Even though Beijing has many shortcomings, security is not one of them. Want to take a walk around the area at night? Please. There is nothing to be afraid of.

If you are going on a business trip and need to stay at a specific hotel, then fine. But if you have a choice, settle in a more interesting area. It is best to stay, of course, in the city center (Chaoyang, Dongchen, Xichen).

The center of Beijing is simply huge, sometimes it seems there is no end to it. There is simply no point in booking a hotel in remote areas unless it is the Haidan region, where all the universities are located.

Business district with luxury housing

All business travelers often stay in the Sibidi (Guomao) area - this is the business district of Beijing with good and expensive hotels and restaurants. This is where the bar is located on the 80th floor, where you can stop by in the evening to watch the sunset and try one of the signature cocktails (the name of the building is Guomao Dasha).

High concentration of attractions

If you come just to see Beijing, it is better to stay in the Xichen or Dongcheng areas. These areas are nearby, many of the attractions are located there. There are a lot of Chinese restaurants and eateries, street food and colorful little snack stalls. You can walk to Confucius Temple, Yonghegong, Nanluo Guxiang Walking Street, Beihai Park and the Forbidden City. In addition, in the Shichahai lakes area there is a huge number of bars and clubs, especially underground ones.

Great accommodation and parties

If you want to stay in a good hotel and be surrounded by European restaurants, then choose a hotel in Chaoyang. For example, in the area of ​​​​Sanlitun Street, where bars, clubs, offices and many foreigners are concentrated. You can always find a good place for breakfast there and get to the main attractions in 10–15 minutes (by any type of transport). There is also a street in Chaoyang called Yabaolu (Yabaolu / Yabalou / Yabalu - everyone pronounces it differently), which for some reason is called Russian. There are many restaurants (Turkish, Caucasian, Kazakh), multi-storey shopping malls with fur coats and Chinese people trying to speak Russian. But is it really worth leaving Russia to settle on a Russian street? Of course not.

Close to universities

If you want to learn more about Chinese universities, take a closer look, and maybe even enroll in one of them (or at least enroll in courses), then Haidan is for you. Or the areas of Wudaokou and Zhongguancun. The hotels there are not as good as in the center, but that’s okay. There are universities, restaurants, cafes nearby, but Zhongguancun Street is famous for electronics, you can buy anything there: both originals and fakes. However, if you want to go to the center, you will have to shell out 10 USD (if there are traffic jams). You can also take the metro, changing to line 10. It will take longer by bus, but much cheaper (0.30 USD).

conclusions

In general, the choice is quite large. The prices are varied, you can always find a suitable hotel. The main thing is to decide what you want from this trip and what food is closest to you.

Transport connection

Getting to your place of residence will not be difficult. The airport is located relatively close to the city. If you go to the center by taxi without traffic jams, you can get there in 30 minutes (especially at night). If you don't want to take a taxi, the Airport Express runs this route, you can take it and then take the metro to your hotel. If you are a fan of public transport, there are also buses from the airport, but only the Chinese take them; foreigners always take a taxi, plus they are inexpensive in Beijing. A trip from the airport to the center will cost 14 USD.

There are a great variety of train stations in Beijing: Beijing, South, West, North and East - from any of them you can go to another city. You can get to them by bus, metro, and taxi.

In general, Beijing's transport system is very good. And although there are a lot of traffic jams in the city during rush hour, cars still move and do not stand still like in Moscow. In all areas of the city you can easily find bus stops, hail a taxi or walk to a metro station. There shouldn't be any problems with transport.

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The economy of the People's Republic of China is growing at a rapid pace. In a matter of years, once backward Chinese villages have turned into huge megacities with skyscrapers and all the benefits of civilization. Science is developing rapidly in the country, and the Chinese language is becoming increasingly popular. Thousands of students, tourists and migrant workers from all over the world come to China every year. And the first thing they have to face is finding a roof over their heads. In this article we will talk about how real estate rental occurs in China.

What rental housing options are possible in China?

The first thing to keep in mind when planning a trip to China is that the country is home to a huge number of local residents and visiting foreigners, and therefore there is no abundance of available housing, despite the amazing pace of construction. Of course, any website or real estate agency will offer you a lot of options, but when the issue of renting becomes especially relevant, it turns out that quality housing at reasonable prices is a rather scarce commodity.

Therefore, if you are going on vacation or have a business trip, you should think about short-term rental housing while still in your own country. There are quite a lot of sites on the Internet offering to rent housing in various cities of China. There are also Russian-language versions among them - we will talk about them below. If you are going on a short-term trip on a tourist package, make sure that the travel agency has taken care of your accommodation in the Middle Kingdom.

If you are going to China for a long period to live there, or, it is better to rent long-term housing while already in the country itself - it will be cheaper. However, do not put off resolving this issue “indefinitely”. Spend a few days looking for housing and, having selected the most suitable option for you, enter into an agreement - if you think for a long time, the apartment you like will most likely go to someone else.

Chinese real estate market

Despite the fact that China is a socialist state, the country's real estate market operates according to capitalist rules. That is, if necessary, you can rent not only houses, apartments and individual rooms, but also various objects intended for commercial use.

Renting residential real estate in China

The standard of living in China is quite high, so rental prices can hardly be called low.

How to rent an apartment

You can rent an apartment in China for a month in a good area of ​​a large city for about $1,000. Naturally, we are talking about a separate small-sized one-room apartment. Be prepared for the fact that the repairs there will not be of particularly high quality, and the plumbing may leak. Therefore, if you have high requirements for the quality of housing, immediately inform your agents about this. They will try to find something for you, but the prices will be higher - the larger and better the apartment and the closer it is to the metro and the city center, the more expensive it is.

And finally, the most interesting thing is the restriction of travel abroad for debtors. It is the status of the debtor that is easiest to “forget” when getting ready for your next vacation abroad. The reason may be overdue loans, unpaid housing and communal services receipts, alimony or fines from the traffic police. Any of these debts may threaten to restrict travel abroad in 2018; we recommend finding out information about the presence of debt using the proven service nevylet.rf

For this reason, the market for renting out individual rooms in an apartment is well developed in China. Such housing with one bed will cost approximately $400-500 per month.

A good idea is to rent an apartment for several partners to live together. This method allows you to easily choose the most suitable area of ​​the city for you (apartments, especially large ones, take longer to rent) and save on both rent and utilities.

You should look for partners on local forums under the appropriate advertisements, or you should place an advertisement yourself like: “I am looking for partners to rent an apartment.” Housing in China is difficult, so partners are found quickly. As a result, multi-room apartments often turn into real international hostels.

Houses for rent

If you wish, you can rent not only an apartment, but also an entire house. However, it is quite difficult to talk about average prices for renting a house. The PRC is a huge country, and not all territories are developing equally successfully. For example, in the Chinese outback, the offer for rental houses starts at $300 per month. By the way, apartments in such regions are also cheaper. But in more attractive areas of the country, the cost of renting houses can be tens of thousands of dollars, that is, it will cost much more.

Commercial real estate rental

Currently, in China you can rent commercial real estate of any type and purpose - from small hangars and warehouses to hotels and factories. There is no need to talk about average prices for such objects - it all depends on their location, area, intended purpose, rental period, etc.

Real estate by region and city

Speaking about how much it costs to rent a house in China, it should be noted that it depends on a lot of factors: the area and quality of the housing itself, the availability of additional amenities, etc. However, the most important thing is where exactly you want to rent a house: in a large city or in the province. It should be taken into account that in cities the cost of rent also depends on the specific area.

Cost of renting housing in Beijing

Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China, a major administrative, military, economic, scientific and tourist center of the country. The city's population is 21.5 million people. In addition, there are always a lot of visitors in the city, so renting real estate is expensive. For example, a person with a salary of about 1.5 thousand US dollars can afford to rent an apartment in Beijing for a month, and then almost all of it will go towards rent.

Of course, we are only talking about a one-room separate apartment - apartments in the center will cost much more. Housing on the outskirts of the city is somewhat cheaper, but you should be guided by an amount of 1 to 1.5 thousand dollars.

By the way, for CIS citizens to visit China in general and Beijing in particular, special permission from the country’s government is required.

How much does it cost to rent a home in

The population of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province, is 14 million people. The city is an important industrial, administrative and transport center. In addition, it is one of the world's trade and logistics centers - a significant portion of all online purchases pass through Guangzhou. Foreigners flock to the city in large numbers, dreaming of finding work here. Therefore, not everyone can afford to rent an apartment in Guangzhou for a long period of time in 2019 - monthly rent for a separate apartment will cost around $1,000. On the outskirts you can find options for $600-800, but this is a densely populated city, traffic jams are not uncommon here, and being late for work is not accepted. Therefore, choose housing that will provide you with the necessary transport accessibility.

If you are a novice manager from the CIS and your salary in Guangzhou starts from $1,000, it makes sense to think about renting an apartment in Guangzhou for a month not far from your shared job with a migrant worker like you. When you get comfortable and start earning more, then each of you will be able to afford to rent a separate apartment.

How to rent a house in Shanghai

Located in the Yangtze River Delta, Shanghai has a population of 24.15 million. The city is the second most populous in the country and the world, second only to Chongqing in China. Therefore, housing here is expensive - renting an apartment in Shanghai for a long term will cost about $1,000 per month. Far from the center, on the outskirts, you can find a separate one-room apartment for about $800, but whether this saving will cover your transportation costs is up to you to decide.

Housing rental opportunities in Manzhouli

Consisting of three provinces, the historical region borders the Russian Amur and Primorye regions, which were part of China until the mid-19th century, and is the center of Chinese-Russian trade. Yet this region is not as economically developed as some other cities and provinces in China, so housing prices are lower here. For example, renting apartments in Manzhouli in China starts from $300, and a house in the countryside can be rented for $100 per month.

Cost of rental housing in Shenzhen

Shenzhen is a provincial Chinese city located in Guangdong province on the border with Hong Kong. However, it does not look like the regional centers we are used to. The city's population has increased by a third since 2000 and reached 10 million people. Currently, Shenzhen is actively developing, being built and is among the top five cities with the fastest growing population. At the same time, rental prices in this city are relatively low: renting an apartment in Shenzhen will cost about the same as in Manchuria – from $300 per month.

Housing registration process

When you choose a suitable option, you need to leave the landlord a deposit in the amount of approximately 20% of the monthly rental price so that the apartment remains yours. After this, when concluding the contract, you will need to pay a fee for a month or two (depending on the agreement reached), as well as pay an insurance fee called a security deposit. The size of the security deposit is usually equal to the monthly rent. If you break the lease before the due date, this amount will remain with the landlord, and if the lease ends on time, this money will be returned to the tenant.

Preparation of rental documents

Those who know first-hand how to rent a home in China argue that it is necessary to conclude a rental agreement, since cases of fraud are not uncommon in the Middle Kingdom. The contract must necessarily indicate:

  • the name of the property owner and his ID card number;
  • apartment address, monthly rent and security deposit, as well as payment schedule;
  • degree of responsibility for unexpected incidents: who pays for the repair of broken household appliances, plumbing fixtures, etc.;
  • a penalty paid by the owner in the event of a requirement to vacate the property before the expiration of the contract. Typically the penalty amount is one month's rent.

If you don't know Chinese, never sign anything written in that language - ask for the contract to be written in English.

How to look for housing in China

As in all countries, you can search for housing yourself or entrust this procedure to specialists in this field.

Independent search for housing

Nowadays, independent searches usually begin on the Internet. This is especially convenient because you can search while at home. There are several international rental sites online around the world, including in China. Usually such sites also have a Russian-language version. We will give an overview of the sites below.

Please note that rental prices stated on such sites are always slightly higher - Chinese apartment owners are counting on wealthy foreigners.

In addition, there are English-language sites on an intra-Chinese and even intra-city scale - on these sites the prices are lower, but still aimed at foreigners. The lowest prices are listed on sites in Chinese, and if you speak Chinese, then you should visit them first.

Having selected a suitable option, agree on an inspection of the property and the terms of its rental, and then enter into an agreement and move in.

A number of sites also allow you to book accommodation online.

Finding housing through real estate agencies

If you are already in China, you can use the services of special real estate agencies. Travel to the area of ​​the city where you would like to live - local agents are always up to date with all the news. Walking along the streets, you will find several such agencies - you can recognize them by their advertising stands with photographs of the interiors of various housing. Don’t really trust photographs – the quality of repairs is usually low, but still go to the agency.

In large cities, each such agency usually has at least one employee who speaks English. Contact him. And then rely on his experience. If you have serious requirements regarding the quality of repairs, state this clearly and immediately - thereby you will save yourself from many visits to apartments that are not suitable for you. Also name the maximum rental price that suits you right away and firmly defend it. Remember that it is always more profitable for agents to sell a more expensive service - they live on the percentage of transactions. As a rule, the cost of agency services is about 30% of the monthly rent, but immediately clarify this issue.

Real estate rental sites in China

The above rental prices are approximate and average. In addition, the real estate market is very dynamic, and prices may simply become outdated. Current prices can be found on special websites - we will give you a small list, although you can independently find on the Internet other sites offering accommodation booking in China:

  • https://www.airbnb.ru/s is a large international website for housing rentals around the world, including in China. Has a Russian version.
  • https://www.booking.com is another similar international site.
  • two English-language sites for renting real estate in Shanghai:
  • two sites for rental properties in the same city in Chinese:

How to rent out your own home in China

If you have property in China and would like to rent it out, contact local agencies and international sites. They will do most of the work for you. You will only need to fulfill the pre-agreed conditions. Please note that renting out real estate is making a profit, and therefore it is a business.

Subletting of real estate

If your rental agreement allows you to rent it out in whole or in part to other people or organizations (sublease), you can do so. Just make sure you conduct this business correctly - Chinese law enforcement agencies closely monitor compliance with the country's legislation.

My apartment is in China. How much does it cost: Video

Newtravels offers a choice of 427 apartments to rent and book in Beijing with good ratings and reviews. Such customized accommodations will always be the primary alternative to hotel bookings. As a rule, apartments are chosen by travelers who prefer comfort and familiar living conditions when traveling.

The main advantages are obvious:

  1. Significantly larger living area in an apartment than in a hotel room;
  2. Availability of a kitchen with a gas or electric stove and refrigerator;
  3. The presence of all necessary equipment for cooking (microwave, toasters, coffee machines);
  4. There is often a washing machine and iron.

Beijing apartments are very popular among couples with small children, for whom a regular home environment is more preferable. This page displays the most attractive and sought-after apartments in the city. These are booking hits - budget studio apartments or apartments with two separate bedrooms. The latter option is also preferred by young people traveling in a group of several people.

Apartments in category 427 Total hotels in the city 4258 Apartments with the lowest price Shi Li Bao Family Apartment (960 ₽) Apartments with the highest price Quadrangle Courtyard at Siheyuan - 7BR Apartment(89460 ₽) Average price 5768 ₽ Average rating 8

Hello dear readers website
When you are far from home, you always want to find something at least remotely reminiscent of it. A place where you will return with pleasure, or at least without disgust.
Finding housing is not an easy task, especially in a foreign country. Beijing is a huge metropolis with great opportunities. Prices for purchasing and renting housing are rising every day. In this post we will discuss what exist ways to rent an apartment/room in Beijing.
First, let's see what does its cost depend on??
1) Area of ​​residence. The further the apartment is from the center, the less prestigious the area, the cheaper the rental price. Traditionally expensive are the CBD business center (Guomao), Sanlitun, the Russian embassy area of ​​Dongzhimen, Yabaolu, etc. - these are the places where Russians and other foreigners often settle.
2) Condition of the apartment. Repairs, presence/absence of central heating, furniture, design - all this affects the cost of housing. For example, in the Sanlitun and CBD areas there are apartments that are in no way inferior to the best European ones: in modern compounds, equipped with the best appliances and perfectly decorated. Often in such houses there is a gym on the ground floor; the cost of visiting it is included in the rent. Such housing will cost approximately 8,000 yuan per month.
3) Transport. If there is a metro station or bus stops near the apartment, then undoubtedly the rental price will be higher.
How to look for an apartment in Beijing? There are several options:
1)
There are many agencies in Beijing, such as 我爱我家 Wo ai wo jia, Homelink etc., which can be found at every step. As soon as you go there, several agents will run up to you. If you do not speak Chinese, you can contact them in English, as a rule, many of the realtors can speak it. State your basic requirements and the agent will present you with a variety of options. The advantage of this method is that you can view several apartments and make a choice. Disadvantage: you will have to pay 100% commission to the agency. Usually, housing rental scheme in Beijing is as follows: you pay three months’ rent + 100% agency commission + deposit equal to the cost of living for a month. In some cases, this is a monthly housing payment + 100% commission to the agency + deposit. You should be careful with the agency. There are times when at first they show you one apartment, and when you pay money and sign the contract, it turns out that the apartment is missing furniture, appliances, etc. Ask if the contract can also be drawn up in English. Or go with someone who speaks Chinese. By the way, it happens when the contract in English and Chinese do not match. Be careful! Before concluding a contract, it is very advisable to meet with the owner of the property - fandong (?? - fangdong).
2)
An excellent English-language site where various rental advertisements are often published. These advertisements are posted by visitors to this site. What do you need to do? Open the site, find the word Classifieds (ads) in the upper left corner - click on it.

Search for the word “Housing” and look at the categories below. For example, Apartments for rent– rent an apartment; Seeking Roommate– search for roommate (neighbor); Sublets, Temporary housing&homestays– temporary housing (for example, someone does not want to lose a good apartment, but due to leaving, they re-let it for a while). Select the desired category and look for housing depending on the area or price. Often, advertisements for apartments for rent are placed by agencies, so ask in advance if there is an agency fee.
We found it through this site - we went straight to the owner of the apartment. The main thing is to ask all questions in advance: whether it is an agent or an owner, is there an agency fee, how much is the monthly rent and how much should be paid at a time. You can communicate via email or by phone, depending on what was written in the ad.
3) Website polusharie.com
A wonderful Russian-language portal with a lot of useful information about life in China. Regardless of what city you live in, you can find suitable housing there. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Harbin, Sanya - this is only an incomplete list of places where our fellow countrymen live.
First, go to the Chinese forum, find the right place there: Beijing, Shanghai, North China, South China, etc. Each subforum will have a section dedicated to rental housing.
4) Website 58.com
If you know Chinese and can read Chinese, then go to this site. A wonderful resource where both agencies and homeowners post advertisements. In addition, through this site people are looking for roommates. 58.com is easy to use, you can select an ad based on the cost of the property, the area, and the person who posted it (agent/individual).
And finally, one of the most important questions: how much does it cost to rent a room/apartment in Beijing?? For now, winter 2013, things are as follows:
1. Rooms.
A room in an apartment with neighbors can be found for 2000 yuan (remote areas, for example the Batong metro line??) or closer to the center, but in an ordinary house with an old renovation. For 2500-3000 yuan you can find something suitable in more prestigious places (Wudaokou, Yabaolu). 3500 yuan - you can count on a nice room in a modern house, furnished with the latest technology, often with a private bathroom (Sanlitun, Guomao). In modern houses there are often several bathrooms in one apartment. However, by paying a little more, you can count on a separate apartment not in the center. Here everyone chooses according to their preferences. For some, it is important to live separately, even if not in the most luxurious place; for others, the main thing is location, European-quality renovation, expensive equipment, etc., so the choice stops at the room.
2. Apartments.
The most inexpensive apartment costs around 3000 yuan (not in the center). For example, east 6 branches. In the center, in old houses, you can find housing for 4,000 yuan. In the student area of ​​Wudaokou, a studio costs about 5,000 yuan. There is another option - renting housing in a traditional Chinese home - Siheyuan, which is located in the hutongs. Such houses are cheaper than apartments, but they do not have central heating and have electric batteries. Luxury apartments in the Sanlitun and Guomao areas cost 8,000-10,000 yuan. For 6,000 yuan you can find simpler housing, but also very decent.
In general, that's all I wanted to write for today. I like to repeat the phrase: he who seeks will always find. Don't despair, be patient, and you will definitely find a suitable option at an affordable price.
We wish you good luck in your search for housing!