Leaving is easier than getting set up, mainly because by now you’ll be fully aware of the pitfalls and difficulties involved in Chinese bureaucracy. Be sure to consider the following when planning to leave Beijing:

• Try to leave at the end of a lease, as getting out of rental contracts early is difficult and costly.
• Cancel utilities and subscriptions. Your landlord won’t return your deposit until this happens. As utilities and telephone and internet subscriptions are paid in person on a monthly basis (there are no direct debits) this is relatively easy. Gym and cable TV subscriptions are usually paid annually and are non-refundable.
• Ship belongings well in advance (this can take up to six weeks).
• Sell anything you don’t want to take with you (some countries – including the US – don’t support the same electrical output as China).
• Many countries do not allow pets to enter from China. Consider this before leaving or look into finding a new home for Rover in Beijing.