Could you live in Beijing? 🤔 | PROS & CONS of living in Beijing

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Is Beijing a city that you could see yourself living in? I am sharing the pros of this city and the cons for all those who are considering moving to Beijing. I hope this can help guide you in your future expat life in China!
--ABOUT ME-- 😜
Hi! I'm Aleese Lightyear, a 34-year-old Black American living in Beijing, China.
- Born in Michigan, USA
- Lover of Cheese Itz & bike rides
- Been in China for 3 years
- Currently, working as a high school drama teacher at an international school
- Frequent hairstyle changer who's constantly lost and always hungry
*Follow me on INSTAGRAM: @aleeselightyear
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It's NOT Hawaii, but it's the closest I'll get while in China | Sanya, Hainan Island
• Exploring the best bea...
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0:00 Intro
3:45 Con #1
4:07 Con #2
6:03 Con #3
6:35 Con #4
8:13 Pro #1
8:49 Pro #2
9:18 Pro #3
9:59 Pro #4

Опубликовано:

31 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 112

@Flitalidapouet Год назад

Thanks for this honest and neutral review. It's hard to navigate between bloggers that destroy China, and bloggers that tells you it's only paradise. LOL HAPPY NEW YEAR LOVE. ♥

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

I'm happy to be one of the honest ones that shares the reality!

@biancaboshoff Год назад

@@AleeseLightyear you still moving Aleese?

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

@@biancaboshoff I'm posting a video about that TOMORROW!

@biancaboshoff Год назад

Whoop, I’ll be watching

@mariusmatei2946 7 месяцев назад

@@AleeseLightyear awesome video, and, if you haven't done it already, you've got very legit reasons to want to move to another city in China; I'm digressing a little bit here, but living in cities like Tokyo, Shanghai, or Beijing is definitely a privilege, but the pressures that come with that privilege, can be oppressive, sucking the joy out of living there. You, briefly, mentioned Tianjin; have you considered living there? Again, I'm digressing a little bit, but, personally, I'd rather choose to live in cities like Tianjin, Osaka, or Nagoya (than Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing), in part, because some of the reasons you are considering leaving Beijing. All the best to you!

@TeachCarib Год назад

Well-balanced and spot on observations about city-living in China. Thank you, Aleese.

@fxrvr Год назад

I’m always so excited when you upload ❤

@BO-fp6ul Год назад

Really needed this and cannot wait to meet you!

@fdoctor79 Год назад

To everything is a season! And you have served well during your time in Beijing! Looking forward to what the next chapter holds for you! God speed and continued success with your endeavors!

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

Thank you!!!! I too am looking forward and thankful for the experiences that I've had in Beijing.

@pamelawright4672 Месяц назад

I can’t believe you left Beijing and moved to Chengdu…..when I was teaching pre-k inHaidian…..I was making 40000 rmb…..and had amazing accommodation…. At least you’ll be close to the pandas🥰

@charliely1833 Год назад

Whatever you do girl, you will flourish and prosper and I wish you all the very best and cannot wait to follow you on your journey 🙌🏼🙌🏼

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

Thank you so much!!

@Cecilia- Год назад

So happy your channel came up on my FYP

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

Oh thank you for the love!😚

@JamesandKeli Год назад

Moving cities is definitely never easy, and neither is making decisions! When the time comes you’ll know in your gut. Enjoy the time you have in Beijing though!

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

This is why I need to start the decision making process 9 months in advanced cus I=I need to let it marinate and slow cook in my mind!

@peterfromla7505 Год назад

As always aleese Dope editing and nice story telling. Keep it up, Watching you from LA

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

Appreciate it!

@chopsticksandtrains Год назад

Hi Aleese - greetings from (an American) in northern China. New subscriber here. Enjoyed the video!

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

Yay!! Much love and thanks for watching me and my randomness!

@lexiezhen1077 Год назад

As an international student studying in Australia since 15, I have experienced and learned a lot growing up which are totally different views from Chinese culture. Your experience of teaching in private schools reminds me of when I was little there are foreign teachers who are called 'wai jiao' teaching a whole class of young children English. At that time, none of us knew what he/she was talking about and all we did was chat and ignore the teachers. I feel really ashamed now that I think of what image and thoughts we as Chinese students must have brought to our innocent wai jiao. Feel like different cultures and different languages really make barriers for us to respect and appreciate.

@talkinnmedia4535 Год назад

I love watching your videos. Cool shades

@talkinnmedia4535 Год назад

Great video.

@talkinnmedia4535 Год назад

Keep up posted. Be blessed, my friend

@yuranwu8831 Год назад

I can relate to ur points cus I live in Beijing too. Also international restaurants are more easily accessible in Beijing than any second-tier city which is also the PROS for me😂😂

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

We are definitely spoiled for choice when it comes to restaurants and if I leave, that will probably be what I miss the MOST!

@speakingheaven Год назад

I love your curiosity and willingness to explore China 🇨🇳 GIRL, I say do it. But make a backup plan if you decide to change your mind. I know you will. Just don’t get stuck. ❤ ❤ ❤

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

Thanks a ton!! Deff a plan B is in the works!!

@thehighsandluos Год назад

I'd love to see you explore a new city! :)

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

Maybe one day! I'm anxious about having the stress of a new city, but the excitement of meeting new people and places would make me so happy!

@Aiya912 Год назад

Love your videos. It is real, objective and fun 😂 love the part of woman touching your hair with curious look . 😂😂

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

😊 thank you!! I try REALLY hard to just be objective because I don't want to deal with ppl's extreme ideas/views on China lol so thank you for that compliment!

@dividedrighful Год назад

I moved back to my hometown Xi'an after living in beijing for 15 years since I was 18. Damn do I feel free, I don't have to pay for 6000rmb a month for only my rent！

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

I hope to be enjoying that same low rent soon!! Beijing prices are insane

@asiandramablackwomen2572 Год назад

Wow Aleese! I’ve been vicariously living in China through you for several months now!!😂😂😂 I need to get-a-packin’ & start my international travels…for-real! BTW, I’ve met, via a virtual conference, a young lady about your age who returned to the US after living in Beijing for about 3 years. She admittedly has been experiencing “homesickness” for Beijing - China. Apparently the return to the States hasn’t yet turned out to be what she expected. Huuuummmm????

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

ohhh thank you love! 💗 💖 I Hope you can start traveling soon!! I wonder what this girl was "homesick" for. I know that reverse culture shock when you get back home can hit pretty hard, especially if you haven't been back in a while. I think as much as I miss home, I will get there and probably miss a lot of things about China....especially the prices, food and public transportation

@asiandramablackwomen2572 Год назад

@@AleeseLightyear I’ve definitely heard that returning to the U.S. after long stays abroad takes quite a bit of readjusting. I did have the opportunity to speak with the young lady who returned the US from Beijing & she shared that the Chinese cultural communication style & “non-judgmentalism” were things she came to appreciate. I’m sure the international experience can certainly be different based on personality types.

@stepahead5944 Год назад

Reverse culture shock is a real thing, for virtually anyone returning home after living abroad for a while.

@Bowen_J Год назад

You are funny,love ya

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

🥰🥰🥰

@simplyluke1584 Год назад

Beijing Bing Chilling!

@lilkitten545 Год назад

You should go to Chongqing or in another city, you looked really happy in your vlogs there. And yeah, I understand about rent and things going up, Toronto has gotten way too expensive but I'm not sure where else to go here

@tc2334 Год назад

I second this. I stan Beijing, but if I were to leave, I think Chongqing or Chengdu would be one of my choices if I were looking to avoid high prices of renting.

@solotraveller888 Год назад

I knew it that you’ve fallen in love with Chongqing the first time you went there.😊

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

Was it that obvious?!? Being there just makes me so happy cus it's so beautiful and the food is damn good

@johnnychannel7824 Год назад

Minimum effort is minimum dollar. It is good point I can learn from this video. Good luck and enjoy your life my friend. ❤🎉😂

@uwanttono4012 Год назад

This is the 躺平 (tang ping) school of thought so prevalent apparently among today's young. I did it too 20 years ago in China lol!!

@laowaiinshanghai7708 Год назад

Cool video! Have your thoughts changed at all since the loosening up of COVID restrictions?

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

ummmm nope....hahah I think I can't ignore or get over what's happened in the last 3 years here.

@ArusHarutyunyan 5 месяцев назад

May I know, which platform did you use to rent an apartment?

@pengguo4954 Год назад

life in USA is even worse in past two years, rent went up 60%, inflation hit hard.

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

And the salaries just aren't enough, it's so terrible

@miazhang5132 Год назад

@@AleeseLightyear Yes!! I'm an international student at USA. When I first came here in 2018 I can buy a week's grocery with 30 dollars, but now it's like only enough for several cabbages 🥲.

@Antbeast23 Месяц назад

Depends your Job and where you live tbh. Living abroad more cheaper though. I did a lot of studied abroad and internships and I enjoyed it outside the USA

@ThisisCHINA-qp4zf 11 месяцев назад

as a local person who has lived in Beijing for over 25 years. I think what you said is very accurate description of the city. Nowadays I don't think Beijing has improved so much in these years. The pace of the city is faster than before which makes this city very competitive and not comfortable to live in.

@AleeseLightyear 11 месяцев назад

Thanks for sharing your opinion! Good to know that I've painted an accurate pciture of Beijing!

@mariusmatei2946 7 месяцев назад

Ha, I just wrote a reply on that (a little bit further up, in this comments' section), as the main reason that I wouldn't like to live in cities like Tokyo, Shanghai, or Beijing.

@spicykimchi1 Год назад

I've taught in Shanghai and Shenzhen, and I'll be returning to China soon. However, after watching this video, I'm not hell-bent on Beijing now. I'm at the point where I might not even bother with my upcoming interviews. First, I was under the impression that the air quality in Beijing has improved significantly. Second, my interviews will be for two schools in the Haidian District area. After doing a bit of research - and watching your video - it might not be worth it. Beijing is obnoxiously expensive. Back here in the U.S., there's still a labor shortage. I work overnights at freakin' Walmart and make $17.50 an hour. That's $2,800 a month / 20,000 RMB, and my sh!tty hometown in the Midwest is uber-cheap. Thanks for the info. I appreciate it!

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

Well I'm glad I could help you make a decision. When you were teaching in Shanghai and Shenzhen, didn't you find those cities to be expensive too? They are on par with Beijing prices. What other cities are you considering?

@spicykimchi1 Год назад

@@AleeseLightyear Actually, you have a point. The fancy-shmancy areas of Shanghai will be just as - if not more - expensive as the Beijing areas. Shenzhen's a little cheaper than Beijing, but Shenzhen is not a good choice. The salaries have always been ho-hum because illegal teachers would work there and do border runs. Public school jobs there only pay about 16-18K. In my opinionated opinion, it's not a first-tier city. The only good thing about Shenzhen is that it's next to Hong Kong.

@Czy2008 Год назад

Hi! Im going to china on monday and i was wondering how you got socials like insta to work abroad! Thanks :))

@Horcsogg Год назад

How much are you making now in BJ? If I may ask.

@maledingduo2397 Год назад

Chongqing is super hot in the summer, I am not sure you can stand that. For me, I strongly recommend Chengdu🎉

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

YOU ARE RIGHT!! I don't think I could stand it either! I've only been in the fall and Spring time and that was damn near too much for me to handle

@justinwhaley1288 7 месяцев назад

The biggest Con is the struggle on Mandarin

@qasi1030 Год назад

Welcome to Chongqing 🎉

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

hahahah maybe!

@user-zo1ik2oi5n Год назад

很高兴看到大家喜欢和欣赏我的国家，我也很想去看看世界，但是却不知道怎样学好一门语言，有没有美国的网友可以和我交个朋友，我可以教你们中文，你们教我英语，可以吗谢谢啦

@SinginTheDream Год назад

What's the current Covid-19 situation in Beijing? I'm hoping to move there for 2 months starting June and am wondering if anyone has some current experience or advice to share ❤

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

I can never take a comment like this serious, if you're telling me that you plan on moving here but then in the same sentence you're asking bout the covid situation. If you're honestly planning on "moving" here, then you should already know that Covid is no longer an issue in China.

@SinginTheDream Год назад

@@AleeseLightyear Given that I live in a country where everything about China has been blocked out, I do have to reach out on platforms like these and sometimes receive unkind comments like yours. Thanks though for taking the time to leave a response.

@uwanttono4012 Год назад

Thanks for this very informative update especially post Covid-19 when the West has moved on but China is still in a time warp!. I know the city has become more expensive since I left in 2019, but am curious to get your take on the impact of the Evergrande collapse on tier 1 property and rental prices. I SELDOM hung out with laowai while I lived in BJ, so apart from housing I never thought it was an expensive city. I just hope China re-opens soon so that I can return post haste!!

@MsGiantsrock Год назад

the West may have "moved on" from COVID but COVID certainly hasn't. we've lost more than 1 million people due to covid in the US which is the sacrifice the West was willing to make to attempt some sort of "normalcy." china hasn't had a covid death in MONTHS. and like aleese said, they barely have any covid cases AT ALL in beijing, which is unheard of for any american city. covid is everywhere in the US, with new variants developing rapidly. i would much rather be somewhere where they took the pandemic seriously to ensure it's complete or near eradication, and significantly less people had to die due to an irresponsible and negligent govt

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

The death toll of Covid in the US has been horrible, no doubt about that. But I think the way that China has handled covid can only work in China. Just how this country is set up in terms of controlling people's ability to travel is just something that the US simply can't do. I do think that a lot of China's polices have been overkill, in terms of lockdowns and constant online schooling, but in the grand scheme of things, my opinion doesn't matter and it's hard for me to say that one system is better than the other.

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

A time warp indeed, which makes it feel like it will never change. Just traveling to nearby cities is a struggle to wrap your brain around all the changing Covid regulations, and I live here! So I just don't understand how they could simplify the process to allow tourists to come back and easily travel. But what do I know....?

@mariusmatei2946 7 месяцев назад

@@AleeseLightyearwell, that's the thing/what makes China so effective at doing things: set priorities, and policies are actually being followed through (to accomplish the desired goal/result); when you've got a significant proportion of the population preferring to deny there's even a health crisis out there, it's, virtually, impossible to follow through with any designated priority, or policy (and the result of that is a manageable predicament, very quickly, turning into a tragedy)!

@lynndakay Год назад

We shall miss you ! When I went to Kunming! I didn’t want to go back to Beijing 😂😂😂😂! When I went to Dalian I said Beijing is too busy for us 😂😂😂! About expensive part! You are right 😒😒😒😒! Money runs thru your hands so fast!

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

Every-time I travel now, I'm just considering if I could live there. It's the Beijing prices and pace of life that has got me wanting to try something different. Will you stay in BJ long term?

@kendrick5994 Год назад

Chongqing is foggy, because it is surrounded by mountains

@don-ricodasilva5205 11 месяцев назад

Funny, find the cost of living in Beijing has become better... Over the last 6 yrs, prices haven't changed much.

@pandabearoceanpark Год назад

I did stare at at a few foreigners when I was a kid in China. The first time I saw a blonde girl: How can her hair be blonde? It's not natural! My kindergarten was a "foreign facing" kindergarten in the old days, meaning foreigners were allowed to visit. We had foreigners from all different countries visited us in a group setting. One day a black visitor from Tanzania picked me up in his arms. First I was in shock, and then I touched his hair and skin. Hmm...interesting! But ever since then, I consider myself worldly! When other kids ran after foreigners on the streets, I thought to myself with a smirk: "these kids have never seen a foreigner before, how backward they are!" My point is: it's a process as people expand their perspectives....On the other hand, yes, I am sorry that they did it by invading your personal space (albeit hair is less strict a personal space in China). You may have to deal with this more in non first-tier cities.

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

Thanks for your thoughtful comment, I think that it's harmless and acceptable for young children to be surprised, confused, and curious. But it's a very different feeling when an adult exhibits the same behaviors. I understand and respect that it's a process to expand people's perspectives but I wish some people were more respectful and tactful when approaching ppl who look different than them.

@boluo8465 Год назад

It's not polite to touch a stranger's hair, but it's not discrimination. It is hoped that black people in China will not regard misconduct as racial discrimination

@Hamoodn 2 месяца назад

Nice video , I wish I could talk to u some how. I'm coming to Beijing in May 2024 due to my work and I'm scared to hell

@AleeseLightyear 2 месяца назад

Why are you scared?

@Hamoodn 2 месяца назад

@@AleeseLightyear All google services are banned, No whatsapp, Language issues. My whole routine is managed by Google and smart home. How will i move using chineese maps. And how will i communicate in Hospitals. scary

@AleeseLightyear 2 месяца назад

@@Hamoodn Get a VPN and Google will work. I'm very surprised you're unaware of VPN's and how they will unlock all western apps if you are moving to China so soon. Communication = translation app like Baidu or Deep L

@Hamoodn 2 месяца назад

@@AleeseLightyear i have already got 2 paid VPN and some free ones as a backup. But few peopke living there told me, its very unreliable. 😔

@allen5678 Год назад

just come to shanghai

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

Don't want to live in Shanghai! It's even more expensive than Beijing.

@kateokonkwo3288 Год назад

Welcome to Chongqing!

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

We will see......I don't know if i can handle that weather!!

@raorao3240 Год назад

Too expensive living in BJ crazy I wanna go chengdu or chongqing

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

Exactly this!!

@user-pt9lt7kd8u 22 дня назад

I can't see any attraction in Beijing. I don't identify ot with anything. I'm sure I'm wrong but I'm afraid I'd be bored.

@AleeseLightyear 21 день назад

That's fine, it's not for everyone

@user-pt9lt7kd8u 21 день назад

@@AleeseLightyearHi Aleese, thanks for reading my comment and also for posting your video. Beijing a gap for me. I don't have imagery for it like I do for London, NYC, Tokyo, or Rio say. As a country mouse cities have to work hard to attract me.

@Nobody-bv8pp Год назад

To those who doesnt know yet, she is the mom of karate kid y'all

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

I am?

@Nobody-bv8pp Год назад

@@AleeseLightyear can you say "pick up your jacket" in the next vlog please?

@AleeseLightyear Год назад

@@Nobody-bv8pp why?

@John-cu7dv Год назад

You said in one of your Beijing videos that you had 'no interest' in learning Chinese, i.e. as an adult, it's too hard etc. That just didn't come across well. How would you feel if an immigrant living in the US had 'no interest' in learning English? Would you be so chill about it? Or expect them to at least have SOME amount of interest in learning the language of the place they're living? I get that it's difficult, but it just sounds a bit crass and ignorant. Honestly was a surprise to hear.

@chukinaa 5 месяцев назад

To be completely honest there’s a lot of foreigners in the Uk who refuse to learn English or are not interested, but who cares we have a lot of immigrants who can have jobs like translators just because of people like this. I wouldn’t say it’s ignorant. Just a choice

@adish24reshiram79 Год назад

Maybe India would be a right place for u , world biggest democracy , low cost of living ,english speaking country most of all friendly to USA ! China definitely not for the Americans vice versa, anything could happen War is inevitable bec.of increasingly provocative behaviors of USA , u need a safe place to live , maybe India is the right place !

@usmanamjid7791 Год назад

I don't think anyone wants to go to the rape capital of the Earth

@smashsmash5866 Год назад

Democracy but without the freedom of China. In China we can go anywhere no matter what time. In india people are scared to go out because they will be the next rape victim.