Expat-Friendly WeChat Groups for Beijingers

Mark Karanja theBeijinger

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If you’re like me, you probably have a love-hate relationship with WeChat groups. It is a shock to anyone moving to China to realize just how pervasive and unavoidable they are. There are groups for work, ranging from the various departments to the entire company, and groups that pop up for certain projects. There are groups for friends, special interests, sports, organizing events, buying and selling, tracking local news, for different language groups, for flash sales… and the list goes on.

But I would be lying if I said WeChat groups weren’t also a lifeline. Just within the last few months, certain groups saw us through the worst of the COVID-19 crisis, providing up-to-date statistics, announcements from the government or even just quick status updates from group members to let everyone know what the situation was like in their corners of the city, and how they were coping.

To put it simply, now more than ever, WeChat groups are essential. With fears of a second wave of COVID-19 infections, busy expats are worried about having to learn to navigate a complicated landscape once again. Most likely, that navigation will heavily rely on your group network and what information it can provide for you. If you don’t know where to start, here are some groups you might need or might just be interested in joining.

Groups for breaking news and safety

Safe and Sane Beijing

Started and curated by True Run Media’s (the parent company of the Beijinger) own Founder & CEO, Mike Wester, Safe and Sane Beijing quickly became the go-to group for most Beijing expats as they tried to find accurate information about the pandemic. It has since grown from one to numerous groups, still providing relevant information, from the closing of restaurants to the latest information about new infection cases and safety precautions being implemented by the government. As far as groups go, this is an essential one for 2020.

Request to join via WeChat ID: mwinchina (indicate that you would like to join the Safe & Sane group)

Beijing Parenting and Beyond
To survive as a parent in Beijing, you need to continually be kept in the loop of all that’s happening and how it might affect your child. The last couple of months have been a reminder of that, with schools and the Ministry of Education releasing a torrent of information in short periods. This is a great group to keep you up to speed on the latest in the world of schools and parenting in Beijing. You can compare notes with other Beijing parents and exchange tips on how best to get through this period.

Request to join via WeChat ID: becstarnz (indicate that you would like to join the Beijing Parenting group)

International Newcomers' Network (INN)
When you talk of OG networking, no group could be more OG than the International Newcomers' Network (INN) given that they were started back in 1994! Don't let the group name mislead you to think that this is only for newbies because the moderators of the group are old China hands (ie, have been in China for over 10 years). The group organizes offline meet-ups in the form of coffee mornings, beer night outs and even trips to specialty markets in town (and sometimes at the outskirst of Beijing). INN will also be offering online Zoom meetings this fall. They have two active groups - one that caters to people who live in Shunyi and another for the rest of the city.

Request to join citywide group via WeChat ID: INNBeijing1994
Request to join Shunyi group via WeChat ID: mariareneecruz (Maria also runs Spanish-speaking groups so feel free to add her if interested with that)

BJ Exchange
A spinoff to the OG of online Beijing expat networking back in early 2000s when Yahoo! Groups were the thing (remember Beijing Cafe and Beijing Exchange?), the BJ Exchange WeChat group was started in 2013 by our very own Brand Representative Tobal Loyola (popularly known as Toby in the community) when he realized that more people are using it to communicate and exchange information faster. Comprised of seasoned expats and newbies to the city, this tight group discusses everything lifestyle-related in Beijing. Open to everyone including locals (as long as the medium of communication is English), the group is one of the oldest around and members genuinely help each other (no hongbaos required).

Request to join via WeChat ID: Toby-BJ (indicate that you would like to join the BJ Exchange group)

Beijing Expat Network
Started by a Beijing mom and dental professional, Beijing Expat Network has seen tremendous growth as a large number of new and seasoned expats have joined. During the peak of the COVID-19 crisis, it served as an essential source of information, where members shared and forwarded news updates from other platforms. It is also a great source of essential contacts, from the best place to get your nails done to info about who makes the best pizza around the city. It’s a fun and diverse bunch mix of foreigners and locals alike, and well worth having on your list.

Request to join via WeChat ID: jnjmama (indicate that you would like to join the Beijing Expat Network group)

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Groups for moving, selling, buying, and living

Moving Sale and Buy 北京

There is absolutely no reason why you should panic if you’re planning a hasty retreat from Beijing. This group allows to ‘offload’ all those things you no longer need. And if you’re a deal hunter like me and sick of Taobao, it might be a great place to score some excellent deals. Personally, I recently got a practically new exercise bike for next to nothing.

Request to join via WeChat ID: chxwtwc

Wellhome Decluttering
A consequence of living is that you accumulate baggage. Be it in the form of old baby clothes and toys, clothes that used to fit pre-baby or paraphernalia you bought under the misguided notion of cultivating a new hobby, finding storage spaces for all this stuff can be challenging, and the resultant clutter could negatively impact your quality of life. Enter Astra Holmes, Beijing mom and decluttering expert who helps Beijing families put their lives in order – quite literally – with weekly challenges and lessons aimed at tackling the mess in your house, one manageable project at a time.

Request to join via WeChat ID: becstarnz (indicate that you would like to join the Wellhome Decluttering group)

WellWomen
Welcome to an entire Wechat universe specially reserved for women – sorry guys! The WellWomen platform has all you need from a second-hand group Beijing Clothing Auction Network, for those all-important clothes swaps to WellParent, a group for parents to share relevant info about parenting in Beijing and to offer each other support and advice. WellStyle, WellFitness (complete with 21-day challenges), and WellPlanet for sustainable living are just a few more of the groups available in the expansive WellWomen universe.

Request to join via WeChat ID: becstarnz (indicate that you would like to join the WellWomen group)

Apartments For Rent Beijing
This is a particularly important group for those without sufficient Chinese or patience to deal with housing agents in Beijing. Members always give great leads for available apartments or flats available to be taken over for short or long-term leases, and all without the pesky middle-men. That isn’t to say there are no housing agents in the group. But the group’s community rules ensure you don’t have to worry about constant spamming from agents.

Request to join via WeChat ID: lin_jakub

Voucher Grabbers
A fan of discount vouchers from waimai to Luckin coffee to Didi and everything in between? Then you're in luck as the sole purpose of this group is for everyone to share whatever vouchers they have. No chit chat or anything unrelated to sharing of discount vouchers in the group. Simple rules that everyone strictly follows.

Request to join via WeChat ID: Toby-BJ (indicate that you would like to join the vouchers group)

Food, health and everything in between

Doctors and Dentists in Beijing
This group is made to share contacts of doctors and dentists mainly in Beijing - or China - in case someone knows. If you had a good experience with someone, you are encouraged to share it. If not, you are still encouraged to share it but to also explain why (while at the same time being factual with it since you will be dealing with someone’s reputation). Lots of doctors and representatives of hospitals and medical centers are also present (with their institution names clearly labeled for transparency) so you are free to communicate to them directly in the group.

Request to join via WeChat ID: Toby-BJ (indicate that you would like to join the doctors & dentists group)

Beauty and healthy Beijing

Ever been disappointed by your manicurist, or had your hairstylist cancel on you at the very last minute? Ever wonder where to find the best masseuses or even acupuncturists? Or even to find out what hospitals are offering special offers on certain services? This is the group you've been looking for.

Request to join via WeChat ID: jnjmama (indicate that you would like to join the beauty & healthy Beijing group)

Family events only beijingkids
Curated by our very own team of editors and contributors of our sister publication beijingkids, this group only includes events appropriate for excellent family fun. Each week, they round up the best activities to attend throughout the city. If you find yourself usually stumped for ideas, then this is one you want to have in your back pocket.

Request to join via WeChat ID: mwinchina (indicate that you would like to join the family events group)

京 Expat Activities and Classes
As part of the greater GloberWeb.com family, this group offers an extensive list of activities for families and individuals who are trying to make their weekends or evenings count. Once things open up yet again, it will be an invaluable resource for us Beijingers to try and recapture our lost summer.

Request to join via WeChat ID: TanyaBG

Mental Health | CandleX
With all that’s been happening lately in our lives, it is important to give our minds the tune-up they deserve. It has been a period of enormous emotional upheaval, and it still shows no signs of letting up. Mental Health | CandleX supports its members through the emotionally and psychologically straining times we are currently living in.

Request to join via WeChat ID: lbinfield

Culture + Music + Arts @ 北京
The purpose of this group is to share everyone's love for cultural events and get together with people who share the same passion - whether it be in culture, music or the arts.

Request to join via WeChat ID: Lavie_J

Beijing Jobs
Looking for a potential greener pasture? This group is strictly for posting Beijing-based jobs that are open to any race, nationality, gender, religion, sexual orientation or disability, ie., equal opportunities for all. Exceptions are made if the job opening specifically and reasonably requires it (such as a role in a shooting production to meet character description).

Request to join via WeChat ID: Toby-BJ (indicate that you would like to join the jobs group)