KEI students live at the International Student Residence on campus. Rooms are double occupancy and shared with other international students studying at UIBE. Each room has a bathroom, TV and telephone. Utilities (electricity, internet, telephone, etc.) are not included in the KEI program fee. Students should budget approximately $150 USD to cover utilities.

Housing on campus is in high demand. KEI cannot make changes or offer single rooms until at least two months into the program.

UIBE has a comprehensive dining hall that serves standard Chinese food. An electronic Meal Card can be obtained at the Catering Office on campus. Meals in the dining hall are relatively inexpensive - RMB 10-20 ($1.50 - $3) per day.

The campus also has a cafe for snacks and drinks, and two restaurants - one offering Middle Eastern/Mediterranean cuisine and the other offering western-style cuisine. While prices at these establishments are slightly higher than at the cafeteria, they are still relatively inexpensive.

A wide variety of restaurants are available near the university and throughout Beijing. An average meal at a Chinese restaurant is approximately RMB 20-40 ($3-$6) per meal.

There is a supermarket and several grocery stores near the campus. A dozen eggs is approximately RMB 4, a kilo of rice is RMB 3, and a kilo of vegetables is around RMB 1.5.

Beijing is a fun and exciting city with many entertainment and recreational opportunities. Students will find everything from historic sites, museums, theaters, night clubs, cafes, and much much more.

The Department of International Education holds lectures on Chinese calligraphy, opera and drama, martial arts, and other topics each semester. It also organizes trips to historical sites around Beijing (normally one trip each month). The School will put up notices about the organized tours regularly.

There are various sports facilities on campus including a swimming pool, a standard sports field and football ground, dozens of basketball, volleyball, tennis and badminton courts, etc. Table tennis, pool-tables and a gym are located in Huibin House. Students can use any of the sports facilities after presenting the student ID.

The International Student Union (ISU) represents all the international students at UIBE and is a branch of the university's Student Union. ISU organizes international students to participate in activities held by the University as well as sponsors activities of its own.

The subway, or "Underground Dragon," is the best way of traveling quickly within Beijing. While it's clean and easy to use, the system is modest and trains are starting to show their age.

The bus and trolley system in Beijing is very robust, with more than 130 routes. There is a bus stop outside the UIBE main gate.

Taxis are plentiful and relatively inexpensive. The standard taxi is approximately $1.50 initial fee, plus $1 for every 10 km.

Bicycles are VERY popular in Beijing, as well as in the rest of China. There are numerous bike-rental outfits in the streets around hotels and tourist spots.

KEI will provide you with a prepaid mobile phone handset shortly after you arrive in Beijing. The On-Site Coordinator will explain how to place calls. The phone will have a small amount of credit to get you started. Additional minutes can be purchased at numerous convenient stores.

Internet service is available on campus for RMB 120-150 per month. A pay-per-use internet bar is located in the lobby of the Department for International Education building (Huibin House).

The Chinese government censors the Internet, so not all websites can be accessed in China. In addition, emails are sometimes deleted before arriving to your mailbox or to the recipient. The censoring software used by the Chinese government is not very precise. Although it is designed to block/remove content that is considered to be "inappropriate" (pornography, certain political viewpoints, etc.), it often blocks much more. Students should follow up on important emails if there is no reply.

Dr. Xinxin Fang is the KEI On-Site Director in Beijing. Xinxin has worked with KEI for many years and is a wonderful resource for students studying in Beijing. Xinxin works closely with the International Office at UIBE to arrange the airport welcome, orientation and excursions. She will also mediate any problems or conflicts you might have during your program. Xinxin is available at any hour by mobile phone (emergencies).

If you have any questions, be sure to ask your On-Site Director!