Ah, Beihai. The hidden gem of China even many Chinese natives don’t know about.
If you’re a beach baby (and let’s face it, who isn’t it), Beihai is the place for you 
Gorgeous beaches, relaxed pace of living, super cheap cost of living, and most importantly, an immersive environment to get fluent, fast in Mandarin.
Beihai is home to our 2nd biggest school and it’s becoming more popular by the month.
Here is a guide to the hidden gem on the south coat of China, you never knew you needed 
APPS
You’ll probably be aware things work a little differently in China. Your favourite apps like Instagram, X, Whatsapp, and Youtube etc cannot be accessed without a VPN.
– VPNs || These are ESSENTIAL. Download it before arriving to China (you’ll have a nightmare trying to do this in China). The best VPN seems to change all the time. We’ll keep this read updated but right now Let’s VPN and Shadowrocket appear to be the best. Historically Astrill is the best performing but recently it’s had issues, and it’s more expensive so stick with the aforementioned two.
– WeChat || China’s answer to Whatsapp, but it does so much more. Rather than repeat it here, check out this article.
– Alipay || You can pay for things on WeChat but it’s good to have a backup. Alipay will help you not only pay for things, but order taxis, book trains etc.
– 饿了么 / Meituan || Ordering takeaway food in China is more convenient than you could ever imagine. If you want to order food or drinks delivered to your home in a flash, download this and get our team to help you in China.
– Pleco || The foreigners live saver. Pleco is a Chinese dictionary in your pocket. Can’t think of that all important word to complete your sentence? Pleco has your back.
– Google/Baidu Translate || Bear in mind with Google Translate you’ll need a VPN for it to work, but either of these apps are super useful as mentioned with Pleco.
For a list of blocked websites and apps in China, check this out
WEATHER
If you want a detailed look at the weather in China across the country, month-by-month, this is the guide for you.
Beihai has a subtropical monsoon climate. You’ll enjoy hot, humid summers and mild, cooler winters.
Temperatures typically range from 10°C (50°F) in winter to 35°C (95°F) in summer, with the rainy season occurring from June to September.
If you want some sun, Beihai gives you a great chance of getting your Vitamin D fix most of the year.
NOTE || Beihai, and the south of China in general, experience high humidity throughout the year.
SAFETY
– Locals are super friendly, so if you’re lost, confused or just want to practice a little bit of 中文, they’ll be happy to help!
– Beihai is super safe, you’ll even see people leaving their laptops/phones/wallets unattended in cafes while they go for a bathroom break! Whilst it’s always best to exercise caution, crime and scams aren’t generally things you need to worry about.
TOP TIPS
– Whilst cash isn’t widely used, you can still find places that use it. Come to China with some cash in hand for emergencies.
– Whilst seafood is a staple in Beihai, there is plenty of opportunity to enjoy cuisine from the north of China also. Many northerners, sick of the cold winters, moved down south permanantly, and brought their cuisine with them! This is a great place to enjoy delicacies from all of China.
– Don’t eat meat? This phrase is essential - 我不吃肉 (wǒ bù chī ròu)
– Don’t eat seafood? This phrase is just as essential - 我不吃海鲜 (wǒ bù chī hǎixiān)
– For cheap, quick, and convenient coffee, Luckin’ Coffee is about as popular as it gets. Manner Coffee is another place we love.
– If you want to ask for something and don’t know what it’s called, your friend is 这个 (meaning this one). Don’t be scared to use it!
– You can link your foreign bank card to your WeChat and Alipay allowing you to buy things in China with your foreign card. You can follow our guides to learn how to do this. Do this before coming to China if you can.
MORE USEFUL RESOURCES
– Discover the Beaches of Beihai with our handy guide.
– See what Beihai has to offer with our comprehensive look at the city.
– Chris from Ireland studied at LTL Beihai. Check out what a day in the life of an LTL student in Beihai looks like.