A Business Traveller's Guide to Beijing: Culture, Connectivity, and Commerce

Beijing is the capital of China and a city where business, culture, and innovation converge. Beijing offers Indian SMEs great opportunities to broaden their horizons. It is a place where one can seal lucrative deals while being immersed in heritage and high technology. In this article, we guide you on how to plan a business trip to Beijing, from logistics to cultural sensibilities and business etiquette, and how to reap the best from this dynamic city.

Getting There: Seamless Connectivity from Delhi

Traveling to Beijing from New Delhi is easier than it used to be, thanks to convenient supporting flights. We recently conducted a recce on flights and reserved plane tickets to Beijing on Air Astana, which operates daily flights with a connection in Almaty.

The stopover in Kazakhstan is not only smooth but also offers you the chance to avail yourself of the MySTOPOVER service, with hotel accommodation, transfer, and breakfast for as little as $19 for stopovers of more than 10 hours. It's a mini vacation bonus before diving into a complete business agenda.

Main points:

1. Visa requirements should be checked at the Chinese embassy since they are subject to change;

2. Make sure that your passport is valid for 6 months before your travel date;

3. To give yourself the best offers, reserve the tickets beforehand.

The airline also offers an Economy Sleeper on the Almaty–Beijing route, in which you purchase three economy seats for more room and privacy. Online check-in is possible 72 hours ahead of time, but in Beijing, check-in stops 60 minutes before the flight, so plan your time accordingly.

Beijing Logistics

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is a very busy airport on the planet; however, it is quite efficient. It takes no time at all to pass through customs and pick up the baggage, and there are many ways to travel within the city.

Getting into the city center by the use of the subway, perhaps, is the fastest and least expensive means. The train, Airport Express, brings you to the Dongzhimen district in 20-25 min. In case you want to take a taxi, you should be ready to encounter traffic when it is rush hour. It also has Didi (like Uber in the country) and the ease of booking a cab on an app with lots of basic English-speaking drivers.

After deciding upon your mode of transport, it's a good idea to download WeChat or Baidu Maps in advance to get around the city. Google Maps doesn't work here due to internet restrictions, but Baidu Maps has an English interface and handles navigation very well. We also recommend carrying a hotel business card with you, with the address written in Chinese — this way, interactions with drivers will be much easier.

Opportunities for Indian SMEs

Beijing is an industrial town with activities such as technology, manufacturing industry, and e-commerce. As an example, the Chinese Silicon Valley, or Zhongguancun district, has numerous startups and high-tech companies willing to become international partners. The Chinese business is actively looking to partner with businesses in India, mainly in the IT and textile industries.

In the case of SMEs, one should realize that flexibility is required in the Chinese market. In case you are launching a product, you could seek out domestic online websites such as JD.com or Tmall. The Chinese value partners who are not rigid or who are interested in becoming acquainted with their culture.

Cultural Nuances

The Chinese business protocol is respect- and detail-based. One such thing is the exchange of business cards ritualistically. This is because you should always accept a card with both hands, they should take a second or two to look at it to appreciate it, and should never keep a card in the pocket instantly.

The other important point is punctuality. You're always running late? Chinese lateness is the rudeness of being 5 minutes late. When you have a meeting to book, it's better to be 10 minutes early.

Remember also that directness, which is an Indian business norm, would in China appear rude. Avoid being very direct in your suggestions and rejections entirely.

Even though most of the businessmen in Beijing have learned to speak English, knowing a few words of Mandarin will give them an advantage. With a mere "nǐ hǎo" (hello) or "xièxiè" (thank you), you already come across well. Real-time translations can be done using the Pleco app, or a local interpreter should be hired when important meetings are meant.

Final Thoughts

Beijing is a place that provides opportunities to Indian small and medium-sized enterprises that look forward to expanding internationally. Nevertheless, make sure to plan your trip beforehand: mind the local culture, and show flexibility in negotiations. The proper approach is also where we are confident that your visit will be a fruitful one.