The Wudaokou Haidian Area of Beijing

Home to Beijing Study Abroad Opportunities and Student Life

Oct 25, 2009 Bridget Coila

Beijing study abroad students flock to Wudaokou, where Beijing's major universities and private language schools flourish. A vibrant student life makes the Wu exciting.

Wudaokou, located in Beijing's Haidian district and commonly called "The Wu," is where students from all around the world come to study Chinese in Beijing. Being so student-oriented makes Wudaokou a hotbed of student nightlife, study-conducive coffeehouses and cheap shopping for study abroad students on a budget.

School Options for Beijing Study Abroad Participants

Wudaokou is the setting for some of the most prestigious universities in China, including Peking University (Beida), Tsinghua University and Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU.) Many study abroad participants attend Beijing universities through international programs such as CIEE.

For students who find the cost or entrance requirements of Beijing universities too high, smaller language schools abound in the Wu where individuals can learn Chinese in Beijing.

Di Qiu Cun, located close to the Wudaokuo subway station, may be best kept secret in the WDK school scene. Mostly attended by Korean students, but also frequented by expat spouses of Microsoft workers, English teachers learning Chinese on a budget and students who switched from other places after their study abroad scholarship ran out, Di Qiu Cun is an inexpensive option to pricey universities.

Study Spots and Coffee Shops in Wudaokou

Western students studying in Beijing practically live off of coffee, and Wudaokou provides plenty of places for students to get their caffeine fix while relaxing and practicing their Mandarin.

Starbucks, at the corner of Chengfu Lu and Zhongguancun Dong Lu, is familiar to westerners and delivers the same consistent drinks and atmosphere as it does everywhere else in the world. International chains Tout Le Jour and Paris Baguette both have pastries to munch on along with a cup of coffee and are convenient and well-lighted.

For more local options, look to the building called Hua Qing Jia Yuan, across from the subway station, where cafes and coffee houses abound. Some favorites of the international study abroad crowd include Sculpting in Time, The Bridge, Cava Café and Lush.

Dining and Restaurants in Wudaokou, Beijing

Dining in Wudaokou ranges from an impress-your-date moderately expensive to dirt-cheap student budget options. On the higher end, Ganges Indian Restaurant down Chengfu Lu has the best Indian food in the Wu, while Spice Spirit on the sixth floor of U Center mall provides mouth-numbing Sichuan dishes.

Beijing study abroad students on a budget look to Korean Barbecue joints hidden away behind the Wudaokou movie theater, T6 Hotpot shared with a large group on the third floor of the east side of Hua Qing Jia Yuan, and the Zhou restaurant above Tout Le Jour where tasty Chinese porridge dishes go for less than ten kuai.

Of course, there's also always street food to be found in the area, especially alongside the subway station and the sidewalk in front of Hua Qing Jia Yuan. One secret students learn about quickly is to check out the area in front of Pyro and Propaganda after 11 pm, where chuar vendors sell meat on a stick for one kuai a kebab.

Student Nightlife in Haidian District

Study abroad life in Beijing isn't all work. There's plenty of fun to be had at Wudaokou bars and clubs, many with English-speaking staff and events geared toward students. Lush's Sunday open mike nights and Wednesday Pubquiz draw crowds, as does the Thursday evening Beer Pong tournament at Pyro Pizza. D22's rock shows and Propaganda's dance floor draw in students who want to rock out or shake it on the dance floor, respectively. BlaBla Bar on BLCU campus has a quieter atmosphere, nice for starting or ending a night out.

Shopping on a Student Budget in Wudaokou

The most obvious shopping center in the Wu is U Center mall, but plenty of other options are hidden not too far away. Two Wudaokou markets are found on Xue Yuan Lu. Often referred to as the old market and new market, both are accessible by bus or taxi and have cheap clothes, accessories, and other items. Bargaining at these markets is essential, since prices aren't listed. Occasionally, a small market sets up in the parking lot behind the subway and street vendors take over the sidewalk nightly with a wide array of goods for sale.

The copyright of the article The Wudaokou Haidian Area of Beijing in S Asia/China Travel is owned by Bridget Coila. Permission to republish The Wudaokou Haidian Area of Beijing in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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