Internships in Beijing: Ni Hao !

Visas for Interning in Beijing:

Although the F Visa is the best for interning in China, the Tourist Visa (or L Visa) could be an alternative for 1 month or less internship (which is the maximum length of stay for the L Visa). The maximum length of stay varies from 30 days to 6 months.

During summer at Houhai Lake, you can rent pedal boats for cheap, day and night

When applying for a visa, you will be asked to choose between a single, double or multiple entry visa. Single entry doesn't allow the traveler to go out the country and come back, double entry allows two entries in the country, and the multiple entry visa allows unlimited travels. The price increases according to the number of entries.

To enter China, the visa procedure must be done before departing, no visas are delivered at the airport or the border. To get a visa, it is possible to either ask a traveling agency to take care of the procedures, or to go directly to the Chinese embassy. Be aware that when applying for a Chinese Visa, you might not get the visa you're asking for.

Overstaying in China without a valid visa is prohibited by Chinese law, and could lead to an expensive penalty, and even a stay in jail.

In order to get a F Visa, the following documents are required:

• Original Passport - 6 months validity for the single entry visa; 12 months validity for the double entry visa. The passport must have at least two blank pages remaining.
• Visa Application form
• Passport size color photo - 33mm x 48 mm
• Invitation Letter from an authorized organization in China (your employer)
• While not always necessary, it is advisable to be ready to provide an airline ticket and a proof of housing in China

Normally, companies that frequently take interns are aware of visa procedures; Request a full list of visa requirements from the company you will be interning for, or your university. You can also find more information on China visas at VISA HQ.

As a foreigner traveling in China, it is mandatory to register at the local police station within the first 24 hours. It is also strongly recommended to always carry your registration proof, and your address of stay written in Chinese.

Cost of Living in Beijing:

China's currency is the Renminbi Yuan (RMB) which means People's currency. In northern China, and especially in Beijing, it is also known as kuai. According to numbeo.com, the cost of living in Beijing is about half of the cost of living in an average American city. It is a fact that the average cost of living is lower than in the US and UK, but only if you live as a local. Start living as most expats, and you'll see your monthly budget rise drastically! The amount you decide to put on groceries and restaurants, or on entertainment and short trips is up to you. If you live on a shoestring or share a small apartment, limit your expenses, and get around by bike, you can get by with 6000 RMB per month. To live more comfortably in a studio or in a big shared apartment, and to not have to watch your expenses, consider spending between 9,000 to 14,000 RMB per month.

During winter, the Houhai lake is frozen, and you can rent skates!

Examples of costs in Beijing:

• Bus ticket: 1 RMB
• Subway ticket: 2 RMB
• Can of soda: 3 RMB
• Taxi: 10 RMB (for the first 3 km. 2 RMB for every additional km)
• Local draft beer (0,5L): 15 RMB
• Dinner at a Chinese restaurant: 20 RMB
• Fast food meal: 16 - 20 RMB
• One-way Airport Express ticket: 25 RMB
• New bicycle: 300 - 500 RMB

Work Culture in Beijing:

In Beijing, like in most metropolitan cities in China, employers are used to hiring foreigners, therefore they are also familiar with the work culture of other countries. It wouldn't be surprising if your company allows you to work according to the standards of your country, even though Chinese citizens usually work from 8 to 5, Monday through Friday, plus extra hours regularly.

Interns celebrating the Chinese New Year

It is also common to eat outside, just feel the pulse when your job will start. Bringing your own lunch or not is up to you, but know that generally employees of the same company have a pretty close relationship and frequently go to a restaurant together or to take out food during lunch time.

In business fields, English is most commonly used, although Mandarin is the official language in Beijing. You will be required to be at least fluent in English and/or Mandarin in order to work in Beijing.

To be successful, have cultural sensitivity, a sense of humor, patience, and a strong work ethic!

Networking: If you use an internship placement program, besides providing support and giving useful advice, you will also have the opportunity to meet other young professionals interning or working in Beijing. Furthermore, there are dedicated websites, focused on professional and social networking, and events promotion.

Check out these links to find out more about professional and social events happening in Beijing:

• The Beijinger
• Time Out Beijing
• City Weekend Beijing

Work and Labor Laws in Beijing:

According to Chinese laws and regulations, it is illegal for interns with an F business Visa to get paid. Be aware that to be legally eligible to get paid for working in China, one needs a Z employment Visa, which is much more difficult to get, and the applicant must meet rigorous prerequisites.

Things to Remember:

• You will notice soon enough that taking a taxi is a very common thing in Beijing. However, there are legal and illegal taxis in Beijing. Usually the << fake taxis >> are recognizable by their black color and the red light on their dashboard. Take the legal taxis to be sure to pay the real and fair price.
• If you take medication, be sure to bring enough for the duration of your stay as a visit to the doctor can quickly become very expensive.
• During the summer, expect very high and hot temperatures (sometimes too hot!) and chilly to freezing cold days in the winter, partly because of winds coming from Siberia. There are also frequent sandstorms in the spring.

Try out the Chinese tripod!
• Upon arrival to your new address in Beijing, take a walk around in order to locate important spots nearby including the grocery store, pharmacy, bank, bus stops, and the police station.
• Don't forget to get registered at the police station when you arrive in Beijing!
• Always carry your address with you, written in Chinese.
• Get yourself a Beijing (or China) travel guide before arriving in Beijing. This way you will already know some things about the city, and will be able to plan out what you want to visit in the first few weeks.
• In China, when talking to someone, remember that the surname comes before the first name. For instance, a woman named Zhao Anmei, should be called Mrs. Zhao.
• Always verify the money you get back from shops and taxi drivers - there's a lot of counterfeit money in China, and malicious people could try to pass it to you. To identify << fake money >>, a lot of different tests can be done, but the easiest one is to touch the lower left corner of the front side of any bank bill to feel the braille dots. If there aren't any raised dots, then the bill is fake.
• Stay informed of what's happening in China by reading English publications such as China Daily and The World of Chinese.
• Stay far away from any political or religious conversations with locals.
• Among other northern China specialties, the Peking duck (Beijing kaoya), hot pot (huoguo), assorted street-kebabs (Chuan), dumplings (Jiaozi) and stuffed steamed buns (Baozi) are a must to try!

Interns on a horse ride during a trip outside Beijing
• Get yourself a cellphone and a SIM card as soon as you arrived in Beijing. You can go to stores like China Mobile or China Unicom. You can buy a cheap phone with a card for 200-300 RMB.
• Keep smiling and be friendly, even if they look at you strangely sometimes. They are probably just curious to see a foreigner! When you know some words, try to practice with people on the bus or in the subway. Most likely, they will be happy to see you trying to speak Mandarin!

Why Intern in Beijing?

As the capital of the most populous country in the world, Beijing is one of the most exciting political, educational, and cultural centers in the world. Employers are definitely impressed by an internship abroad - especially by one you completed in the fastest growing economy of today.