East of Beijing, between the second and the third ring road are located three very dynamic zones in Beijing: Sanlitun, Dongzhimen and Gongti. We offer a large selection of apartments to rent in these areas.

This is among the places in Beijing where the largest number of foreigners are living. Originally, the foreigners were diplomats and embassy personnel, this is because at the beginning of the 1960s, the Chinese government decided to group together all the embassies in this location which is 3 Li, that is 1.5 km, from Dongzhimen. Hence the name Sanlitun "the place at 3 li".

Nowadays, some embassies have moved to other locations inside the Beijing Chaoyang district, like Liangmaqiao and Ritan. Still, many major embassies stayed in Sanlitun: Germany, Italy, Belgium, Sweden, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey, South Africa, Switezerland, Austraia, Norway, Marocco...

Together with China's economic rise, more foreigners came to China and they very often chose this place to look for their accomodation in Beijing. Many bars and restaurants with specialties from all over the world opened, making the place more and more attractive not only for expatriates but for the young rising Chinese middle class generation.

In 2008, to enhance Beijing's attractivity during the Olympic Games, the site has been chosen to establish the Sanlitun Village and the Nali Mall, a large commercial center which is a showcase of China's modernity and opening to the world. There you can find the largest Adidas shop in the world, but above all Chinese flagship stores of large international brands in China: Alexander McQueen, Christian Louboutin, Calvin Klein, Armani, Evisu, Diesel, Longchamp, Montblanc, Rolex, Versace, Apple store, Uniqlo and others.

The Sanlitun village has been conceived as a friendly and avant-garde place, designed by the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.



The China you'll see next to your apartment in Sanlitun is not traditional China, but another China which is just as authentic, the young and dynamic rising China of the new generation with creative people, designers, young entrepreneurs. This is one of the most sought-after places in Beijing to rent an apartment, close to economical centers while Bejing pleasant to live in.
Logically, some headquarters of large companies in China chose this place to establish their headquarters: Volkswagen, International Law Firms like Adamas and several others.

In the middle of this district is the Worker's stadium (Gongren Tiyuchang or Gongti), a place known all over China, built in 1959 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China and which, regularly renovated, is still active with sport competitions and concerts. Today, it is surrounded with bars and nightclubs in this area that gathers the most famous night venues in Beijing: The Mix, The Bar at Migas, The James Joyce Club, The Kokomo, the Lantern Club, Beer Mania, Paddy O'Sheas, The Tree and many others.

This is not the area in Beijing where the most international schools are settled (most of them are in Shunyi), but some major teaching organizations have buildings in Sanlitun, Dongzhimen and Gongti.

• The Beijing International French School has its main establishment Sanlitun Dongsijie, 13.
• The British School of Beijing has one of its sites in Sanlitun (as well as another site in Shunyi), 5 Sanlitun Road.
• The Ivy Academy offers bilingual English/Chinese programs in Beijing, one of its centers is settled 35, Dongzhimen Wai Dajie.

Besides these academic institutions, cultural centers have settled themselved around the Worker's Stadium: Alliance Francaise, Gongti Xilu, 18 and Instituo Cervantes (Spanish cultural center), Gongren Tiyuchang Nanlu, 1.

This area in Beijing is now designed to welcome foreigners, so that some health institutions are have established themselves there. To read some more comprehensive information about health in Beijing, have a look on the following information on our blog.

For dental issues, The Joinway Dental Clinic Joinway Dental Clinic is located in Dongzhimen Wai Dajie, n.48, with general dentistry and specialized dentistry departments.

An adress well know by expatriates in Beijing for health issues is the Hong Kong International Medical Clinic,close to Dongsishitiao subway station, Chaoyangmen Bei Dajie, 2. There is a review of this clinic on our blog.

South of this area, closer to Beijing Central Business District is the Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, located 8. Baijiazhuang Road .

North east of the area, an important address, the Beijing International SOS Clinic, with the Beijing International SOS Dental Orthodontics Clinic.

In the north of Dongzhimen, several residences have been created within the same real estate project "Moma". One of the advantages to rent an apartment in one of these residences is the easy access to Beijing Capital Airport via the Dongzhimen Subway station. The streets north of the residences cluster are lively with a lot of Chinese restaurants and shops.

The main characteristics of this "Moma" real estate projects are "avant-garde" designs, green spaces and the feeling of belonging to a community. The last born of the Moma projects, the "Grand Moma", shelters an independan cinema, a rare feature in Beijing, called the Broadway Cinematheque. On the practical side, there is a Kindergarten inside the residence.

The residences in the Moma Project are the following:


• the Grand Moma 当代摩码 which is the most recent one,
• the Moma - MOMA万国城 with a younger and trendy atmosphere, and, finally,
• the Pop Moma 万国城, suited for families with green spaces.
• the Megahall 当代万国城 is not part of the Moma real estate project, but, located south of this cluster, it offers correct apartments with a good value for money.

A group of compounds is located east of subway station Dongzhimen, along ongzhimen Wai Dajie. Adapted to expatriates living in Beijing, the location itself is not very lively, but is really convenient thanks to the subway station that leads directly to Beijing Capital Airport and commutes on the subway line 2.

Above all, this is a really convenient location close to nice landmarks to go out in Beijing: at the east is Sanlitun, at the west the historical Hutong alleys around Yonghegong Lama Temple. Going straight westwards, the Dongzhimen Nei Dajie is sometimes called "Ghost Street" 鬼街 and is a major attraction for the Beijing population, with hundreds of restaurants lined up with a festive atmosphere, traditional red lanterns at the windows, Chinese Hot pots and spicy dishes on the tables.

To do shopping, you can visit the Raffles City foreign brand retail shops, a conveniently located Jenny Lou's to buy foreign food. To sum it up, the apartment you'll rent in Beijing will be both inside the "Expatriate in China" area of the town and inside the authentic Beijing where Chinese people live.

In this area, two residences offer very large and spacious apartments:


• the Tayuan DRC 塔园外交公寓
• the Naga 上院 with very large high standard apartments.

The compound :


• Oriental Kenzo 东方银座 offers apartments to rent with more varied sizes, ranging from studio to 3 bedrooms apartment, with a good value for money and, as a bonus, a beautiful view on Beijing city.

A group of residences close to the diplomatic district north of Sanlitun, in the Yinyuan neighborhood along the scenic Liangmahe river.

These high standard compounds to rent a flat in Beijing are :


• Gemini Grove 嘉里星源汇 and
• Beijing SOHO Residences SOHO 北京公馆

North of the Worker's Stadium, in the West of Sanlitun is located a vast area with compounds suited for expatriates that can be called Xingfucun. This is one of the most sought-after places in Beijing for people looking to rent an apartment, whoever they are, Expatriates or Chinese nationals.

Here you have very lively streets, with a lot of shops selling all kind of things, restaurants ranging from the simplest to the most sophisticated cuisine.

The compounds have various standings, the most luxurious ones are :


• Tunsanli 永利国际,
• Shimao Gong San 世茂工三,
• East Avenue apartment 逸盛阁,
• Shoukai Bojun 首开铂郡 and
• Seasons Park 海晟名苑.





With more affordable rents, but still a high standard, you can rent an apartment in Beijing in:


• International Wonderland 首开幸福广场,
• Glory Garden 锦绣园 ,
• Sun City 阳光都市.


You can as well rent an apartment in compounds with affordable rentals, but some of the apartments might need to be renovated (not all of them, these are compounds with great opportunities):


• Lian Bao Garden 联宝花园,
• Just Make 杰座大厦.


You can eventually rent an apartment in one of the three compounds of the Xing Fu Cun real estate project:


• Xing Fu Yi Cun 幸福一村,
• Xing Fu Er Cun 幸福二村,
• Xing Fu San Cun 幸福三村.

Another location in-between the "Corporate and Business" Beijing and a more local quiet Beijing is Dongsishitiao. A nice place to live in, 20 minutes walk to Sanlitun but even closer to the historical Hutong alleys.

Two compounds with a good standing to rent an apartment:


• East Gate Plaza 东环广场,
• Regent Land 瑞士公寓.

Close to Worker's Stadium and its numerous nightclubs, a calm and residential place with really nice compounds, some of them with views on the Dongyue temple.

These compounds are:


• Beijing Hermit 御东花园,
• Julong Garden 聚龙花园,
• N. 3 Gongti Apartment 工体3号,
• Guangcai International Mansion 光彩国际公寓.

Last but not least in this small review of the Sanlitun, Gongti and Dongzhimen areas, you can rent an apartment in the heart of Sanlitun. This is the fashionable place to live in, a window to the world in Beijing, friendly and at reach of everything. The compounds in this area are among the most sought-after:


• SOHO Sanlitun SOHO三里屯,
• Centrium Residence 瑞安君汇,
• Taiyue Heights 泰悦豪庭,
• Chateau Edinburgh 富力爱丁堡,
• Kangbao Garden 康堡花园,
• DRC Sanlitun 三里屯外交公寓.