I THINK I AM A BEIJINGER WANNABE

The locals say that unless one does all of the following, one should never claim one has been to Beijing. Climb the Great Wall. Devour a Peking Duck. And drink Er Guo Tou to one’s heart’s content (or until one’s liver gives out, whichever comes first).

Checked, checked and passed. I think I failed the test.

But despite not receiving a stamp of approval from the locals, I still heart Beijing.

Prior to the trip, friends and colleagues shared with me their experiences in Beijing, which, to be honest, got me a little worried.

One, winter in Beijing is cold, windy and harsh.

Fortunately, we were blessed with mostly sunny days and clear, blue skies. Temperature hovered around freezing point at night but it was still tolerable. Unless the wind blew, that is. They were not exaggerating when they said the infamous Siberian gale could sweep you off your feet effortlessly, and not in a good way.

Two, Beijing is huge.

And it sure is. ‘Small’ is not part of the Beijingers’ lexicon. Everything they build is gargantuan, as if to catch the naked eyes of aliens from outer space. Getting to the baggage claim from the immigration checkpoint in the newly built Terminal 3 requires a ten-minute ride on the sky train. Its unparalleled enormity is unfathomable.

Three, to an unsuspecting first-timer, Beijingers may appear rude and brash.

Perhaps so, but in their own charming ways. They probably do not even realize it. They could do with a little subway/metro etiquette, though, like not rushing into the cabin at the same time as when people are trying to get out. Folks back at home are no saints themselves, but the problem is far worse in Beijing. On more than a couple of occasions, I had to resort to a few choice expletives and brute force to emerge from the train in one piece. But I have to say that the service standards in general put to those at home to shame.

Four, Beijing is notorious for its air pollution.

Surprisingly, it was nowhere as bad as I had expected. Maybe the environmental policies implemented pre-Olympics actually worked.

Mild inconveniences aside, I can actually see myself staying and working in Beijing for a while. And hopefully, one day I will. Beijing has most, if not all, of the creature comforts that one takes for granted back at home, not to mention at a reduced cost. The sheer number of natural, historical and cultural wonders in the city alone is astounding and many more await to be discovered just a train ride or domestic flight away. What more can I ask for?

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Part of trip: from beijing to shanghai

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