The Beijing school landscape
Beijing's flagship is The International School of Beijing (ISB), founded in 1980 and the heritage US-curriculum school for diplomatic, embassy and corporate families. Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) is the IB-flagship and one of the world's most respected IB schools. Dulwich College Beijing, Harrow International School Beijing, BSB Sanlitun (British School Beijing), and BSB Shunyi serve the British community. Daystar Academy is a unique bilingual EN/Mandarin IB school. Beijing Yew Chung International (YCIS) rounds out the IB tier.
As in Shanghai, Beijing's "international schools" admit only foreign-passport children. Many premium expat packages include education allowances of $40K-$50K per child to cover Beijing's higher-end fees.
Beijing vs Shanghai for family relocation?
Beijing is more diplomatic, Shanghai is more corporate. Both have similar foreign-passport rules. Our guide compares both head-to-head.
Most popular neighbourhoods for families
Shunyi (Beijing's expat suburbs) is the heart of Beijing expat family life with ISB, WAB, BSB Shunyi, Dulwich and Harrow nearby. Sanlitun and Chaoyang Park are central business district options near BSB Sanlitun. Wangjing hosts several Korean and Japanese-curriculum schools. Most expats choose Shunyi villas (Riviera, Capital Paradise, Quanfa) for school proximity. See our guide to living in Shunyi with international schools. Read our guide to living in Wangjing with international schools.
