Monday, October 22, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
Beijing impressions
Hello,
Today is the last day in Beijing and I have very much enjoyed it.
Visiting the Great Wall has been the highlight, as has also been just seeing the immensity of this city. As the other cities I have seen, Beijing is thriving beyond belief. The energy and optimism of the people is very noticeable.
Traffic is horrendous during the peak hours- cars everywhere, wide new roads congested. The main streets are wide boulevards that crisscross the city, and there are now 5 beltways circling the city.
Unlike Shanghai, Beijing is more of a political and cultural center.Much of the architecture from the Imperial dynasties is in place and well maintained. There is much local tourism from the interior provinces- mostly retirees who are enjoying seeing the cultural sights for the first time.
Commerce is thriving, everything from the luxury stores in the hotel area, the small local neighborhoods, and the street vendors peddling knock offs and touristy souveniers to the tourists.
Caution- there is now a market in counterfit 100 yuan bills. Street vendors first switch your good yuan for a fake and then let you purchase with the fake so that they make double the money.
The national bird is now the crane- the construction kind- scattered throughout the city. In Beijing there is a big push to complete it all in time for the Olympics. We drove past the olympic village and the main stadium is in the shape of a birds nest and very impressive.
I really have not felt the pollution as the days have been breezy and the skies clear. Normally I am very allegic and I have felt fine here.
Our tourguides are 3 29-year olds who exhibit the new breed of Chinese. They are optimistic, hard working, loyal to their families and country, very patriotic, and for the most part do not have much to complain about. They d feel that their parents' youth and potential was destroyed by the past regime, and ar happy with this new socialist capitalism that permits them to own property and enter businesses.
These are just some observations.
Tomorrow we leave for Xiam
Today is the last day in Beijing and I have very much enjoyed it.
Visiting the Great Wall has been the highlight, as has also been just seeing the immensity of this city. As the other cities I have seen, Beijing is thriving beyond belief. The energy and optimism of the people is very noticeable.
Traffic is horrendous during the peak hours- cars everywhere, wide new roads congested. The main streets are wide boulevards that crisscross the city, and there are now 5 beltways circling the city.
Unlike Shanghai, Beijing is more of a political and cultural center.Much of the architecture from the Imperial dynasties is in place and well maintained. There is much local tourism from the interior provinces- mostly retirees who are enjoying seeing the cultural sights for the first time.
Commerce is thriving, everything from the luxury stores in the hotel area, the small local neighborhoods, and the street vendors peddling knock offs and touristy souveniers to the tourists.
Caution- there is now a market in counterfit 100 yuan bills. Street vendors first switch your good yuan for a fake and then let you purchase with the fake so that they make double the money.
The national bird is now the crane- the construction kind- scattered throughout the city. In Beijing there is a big push to complete it all in time for the Olympics. We drove past the olympic village and the main stadium is in the shape of a birds nest and very impressive.
I really have not felt the pollution as the days have been breezy and the skies clear. Normally I am very allegic and I have felt fine here.
Our tourguides are 3 29-year olds who exhibit the new breed of Chinese. They are optimistic, hard working, loyal to their families and country, very patriotic, and for the most part do not have much to complain about. They d feel that their parents' youth and potential was destroyed by the past regime, and ar happy with this new socialist capitalism that permits them to own property and enter businesses.
These are just some observations.
Tomorrow we leave for Xiam
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Chinese haggling
This is typical haggling conversation in Beijing streets. We've been having fun buying knock offs very very cheap.
Chinese Vendor: Gucci bag, Rolex…..20 dolar
Tourist: no thank you, ni hau
Chinese Vendor: nicie bag…luk
Tourist: no thank u
Chinese Vendor: chip ok 15 dolar
Tourist: no,no (now he touches the bag- feels like nice leather, looks great, thinks this would make a nice present… but no , ni hau
Chinese Vendor: ok 2 for 20 dolar
Tourist: no, (touches bag again, smells it, and thinks I could have 2 nice presents)
Chinese Vendor: opens the bag and shows you the inside, which contains a smaller bag (so you actually get 4 bags) that can be used alone…luki , only 15 dollar,
Tourist: no
Chinese Vendor: ok 2 for 10
Tourist: thinks out loud…that’s better…how about 1 for 4 dolar
Chinese Vendor: no
Tourist: no, and walks away
Chinese Vendor: ok 3 for 12
Tourist: ok
everyone is happy
Chinese Vendor: Gucci bag, Rolex…..20 dolar
Tourist: no thank you, ni hau
Chinese Vendor: nicie bag…luk
Tourist: no thank u
Chinese Vendor: chip ok 15 dolar
Tourist: no,no (now he touches the bag- feels like nice leather, looks great, thinks this would make a nice present… but no , ni hau
Chinese Vendor: ok 2 for 20 dolar
Tourist: no, (touches bag again, smells it, and thinks I could have 2 nice presents)
Chinese Vendor: opens the bag and shows you the inside, which contains a smaller bag (so you actually get 4 bags) that can be used alone…luki , only 15 dollar,
Tourist: no
Chinese Vendor: ok 2 for 10
Tourist: thinks out loud…that’s better…how about 1 for 4 dolar
Chinese Vendor: no
Tourist: no, and walks away
Chinese Vendor: ok 3 for 12
Tourist: ok
everyone is happy
Beijing
oday was first day in Beijing and we visited the Forbidden City Complex and had a rickshaw tour of an older part of town that is undergoing tremendous renovation. Beijing is also undergoing a lo of construction to get ready for the Olympics. It is a thriving city, with broad boulevards and a lo of cultural and historic sites. There are also many many new buildings with beautiful architecture, but they are not as tall as the buildings in Shanghai and maintain a more balanced dimension to the existing architecture.
I am staying at the same hotel as the National Congress meeting participants and security is very tight.
Tomorrow we visit the Great Wall and that should be exciting.
I have posted some more pictures and videos.
I am staying at the same hotel as the National Congress meeting participants and security is very tight.
Tomorrow we visit the Great Wall and that should be exciting.
I have posted some more pictures and videos.
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