International Nesties
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
**Gilli***
What can you tell me about Beijing winters? Did it snow when you lived here? How much? Just curious.... I think last year's winter here was pretty snow-filled and cold, but I've heard it doesn't usually snow so much. My friend moved here last October, and it snowed the very next day on November 1st! I looked up average temps in winter here and it doesn't seem to be too different temp-wise from NYC/CT area. Just wondering what it was like when you were here. I've never really lived in a place with an actual winter! I'm afraid the husband and I are woefully ill prepared, clothing wise.
Re: **Gilli***
It is bloody cold! There isn't usually a lot of snow, because Beijing is still on the edge of the desert climate, and last year was a major exception. The killer is the wind chill.
The wind really picks up, and since Beijing seems to be designed to promote wind tunnels, it gets soooo cold in some places. One tip: If you look outside in the winter, and the sky is clear (as in there's noticeably less pollution than usual), dress warmer. It's probably windy outside, and the wind blew the pollution away for a while.
I don't know how much of it was the shock of moving from Texas (I grew up in Indiana), but when we moved to Oslo, we felt like the winters were noticeably warmer, just because of the lack of wind. Comparing to Indiana, there's a lot less snow, and I think the temperatures are actually higher, but in the suburban midwest, you're usually just outside when you're hurrying to your car, so you didn't have to dress as warm as you do when you're out in the weather.
Back to the snow, I think we had a couple snows that were enough to make snowballs. Let me see if I can find any photos... Not much. Just a couple of really low quality old cell phone photos. Our first snow (besides flurries) was in January. Our first big snow was in February (but it only lasted a week).
However, I found some photos from a winery trip that was characteristically cold. I think the outerwear is fairly representative. You'll definitely need a warm coat, and a hat and scarf. Mittens or warm gloves are also good. Honestly, I would recommend buying the real thing, because in comparisons since leaving Beijing, I've found that my Xiushui bargains aren't nearly as warm. Some of those lightweight insulating materials really make a difference, and the knock-offs don't use the same stuff. Right now I'm still wearing some of the fall accessories (a cute angora bucket hat and leather gloves) I bought in the markets, and they're fine around 5?C, but when it drops below freezing, I start to break out my Norwegian and US cold-weather wear.
And my general "dressing for Beijing winters" suggestions:
- Buy thick socks. Keeping your feet warm with thicker socks makes a big difference.
- Wear thermals. Obviously there's a range and some of them can be very thick and wooly, but even if you just buy thin, silky long underwear from the markets, it will help. Especially if you wear jeans. Having an extra layer between the cold denim and your skin really makes a difference. And unless you wear a full-length coat, you won't have any extra protection against the wind on your lower half. (I think that's why so many Chinese people wear those full-length down parkas that make them look like a walking sleeping bag!)
... Oh, and welcome to the world of the incredibly-stinky taxi. In the winter, the drivers don't roll the windows down as often, so some of the taxis become a nice little bubble of garlic breath, BO, and cigarette smoke. Yum.
I already know what you mean about the taxis! They tend to stink in general, I totally know what you mean... so I can just imagine what it will be like when the windows are always up.
OK that was helpful, I was thinking thermals would be good.
I never buy from the markets. I know. People love shopping there... I don't. I hate bargaining! and I feel like the stuff is such crap and falls apart so easily. Obviously there is decent stuff to be bought, especially if you are still using some things from there.... but I'm the kind of person to tend to buy from the department stores (though I haven't yet, I am eyeing a coat at one for 50% off), or even order online from home.
Thanks for the tips! since I've heard it's soo cold, I am thinking the wind must be a factor like you said. We have a guy here from Denmark and he says it's colder here in the winter! I've never been to Denmark, but it sounds like it'd be a cold place in winter.
...so happy I already have a coat (a cute, non-sleeping bag resembling one) that goes to right above my knees.
My market stuff is very hit or miss, but I've found that things made from genuine materials tend to hold up. And if they won't give it to you for a ridiculously low price, it's probably slightly better stuff.
Today I had my leather gloves, angora hat, and leather backpack, all of which were made with real materials. The backpack is showing some major wear lately, but I've been using it nearly every day for 4 years now! Not bad for a Silk Street knock-off! And I bought the gloves right after we moved, so they're on their 5th year now! ?80 well spent!
And I happen to be wearing a cardigan sweater today that I bought at Yaxiu! It's one of my favorites, and I fell in love when I saw it. I actually kept going back every time I got my nails done, raising my bottom line. I can confirm that they absolutely would not sell it for less than ?70, so I guess that's part of why it has lasted. (That and I adore it, so I baby it when it goes through the wash!)
I'm often amused by counting how many Beijing market purchases I wear in a day! But for every item I still have, I've probably gotten rid of two! I guess in the end it works out a bit more even cost-wise, but I'd like to think I still came out ahead! Haha! And I loved shopping and haggling! I was a pro!
...*cuddling my cozy cardigan* Man, I love this sweater!!!
It alone may have been worth all the project management headaches of working there!