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