What can one say about Beijing? A city shrouded in history, pop-culture, and importance. All my life I have read about Beijing, and wanted to visit, now in July 2017 have finally achieved this!
Overall, I feel truely pleased and happy to be here. Both for the city and my ESL students who I have met, in particular Jeff, Kevin (and his parents), Lydia, Tom and Holly, and Silence (cool name).
Beijing, it is big, more than big, it seems huge and uniform over a large area. By this I mean travel a dozen stops on the subway, exit, and things look the same, tall buildings, shops and so forth. Big. It is also a little bland in design. The same style of buildings, condos, and the like all over the city. Not exciting architecture.
The key reason I travelled to Beijing was to experience the historical sights of the city. It was a wonderful feeling to see these sights, the forbidden city, the museums, the ancient artefacts. After seeing them on tv! Also appreciating their longevity. I did feel great being there. So much too see. Many of these sights I have read about my entire life, to finally see them was a revelation. Having said that…
40 degrees north, surprisingly hot in summer, mid-30s. Also, darkness, in summer it is still bright at 20.00. Pollution, not that bad during my stay, but a little haze. I saw several times the amusing sight of skyscrapers invisible due to haze, but there lights visible, an outline in the sky.
Overall, I feel truely pleased and happy to be here. Both for the city and my ESL students who I have met, in particular Jeff, Kevin (and his parents), Lydia, Tom and Holly, and Silence (cool name).
Beijing, it is big, more than big, it seems huge and uniform over a large area. By this I mean travel a dozen stops on the subway, exit, and things look the same, tall buildings, shops and so forth. Big. It is also a little bland in design. The same style of buildings, condos, and the like all over the city. Not exciting architecture.
The key reason I travelled to Beijing was to experience the historical sights of the city. It was a wonderful feeling to see these sights, the forbidden city, the museums, the ancient artefacts. After seeing them on tv! Also appreciating their longevity. I did feel great being there. So much too see. Many of these sights I have read about my entire life, to finally see them was a revelation. Having said that…
40 degrees north, surprisingly hot in summer, mid-30s. Also, darkness, in summer it is still bright at 20.00. Pollution, not that bad during my stay, but a little haze. I saw several times the amusing sight of skyscrapers invisible due to haze, but there lights visible, an outline in the sky.
The Bad
The entire ‘Forbidden City’ area is badly organised. If you join an expensive tour, not too bad, but I noticed the tour guides all spoke Chinese, even those few tours with foreign tourists. Also, the tour groups moved quickly, not enough time to appreciate what they were visiting. The guards (lots), and staff spoke bad English, no real clue. In essence, Beijing and China are poorly organised, and bureaucratic. Slow and slower. It is annoying.
I was surprised that most tourists were Chinese (or Asian). Hordes of students following their teacher and a guide, however, I was in Beijing at the start of the summer holidays, therefore crowds not unexpected.
The Good!
The entire ‘Forbidden City’ area is badly organised. If you join an expensive tour, not too bad, but I noticed the tour guides all spoke Chinese, even those few tours with foreign tourists. Also, the tour groups moved quickly, not enough time to appreciate what they were visiting. The guards (lots), and staff spoke bad English, no real clue. In essence, Beijing and China are poorly organised, and bureaucratic. Slow and slower. It is annoying.
I was surprised that most tourists were Chinese (or Asian). Hordes of students following their teacher and a guide, however, I was in Beijing at the start of the summer holidays, therefore crowds not unexpected.
The Good!
The Great Wall of China! Yes! Ever since I was a primary school student and read a book about China I have wanted to see the Great Wall, and I finally did.
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