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Having just left the completely westernised Hong Kong after a fun week there with all its glitz, glamour and exciting nightlife I headed over to Beijing, China’s capital for a quick stopover (8 days in fact) on my way across to the USA. And I must say, it’s a big ‘thumbs’ up for Beijing, on all counts.
Oh and whilst I think of it, if you ever go to HK you’ve simply got to go and party at an area in town called “LKF”, it’s got to be some of the best night life in the world. I managed three nights there in a row and had a ball, but damn it’s expensive so save up your pennies.
Now Beijing is a very interesting city that’s gone through some major changes over the last few years and opened itself up to the western world. Although it was my first trip to China it appears that the 2008 Olympics last year really catapulted this city right it into the 21st century, good and proper! This place is well and truly on track to become a dominant international force in the future.. so watch this space.
To my surprise English
speaking Chinese were still hard to come by and don’t even both trying to write down where you want to go to a taxi driver, as they only have one written language and its there own! In saying all this, you’ll always find good English speaking locals at most hostels, hotels and tourist hotspots, but once you stray away from these places, you’re on your own.
In fact, I had a couple of very funny incidents in the place I was staying ( I managed to pick the only place in town that didn’t speak English!!) with five (yes five!!) young Chinese people trying to work out what I wanted or needed.. Simply things like, what time do you lock the front door at night, or do you do laundry turned into 10 minute long, six person games of charades. The good thing though is they are all very friendly people and they were laughing as hard as me all the way through it.
The other thing you notice that is amazing around Beijing is the contrast between the old and the new. On one hand you have these old ancient palaces and temples like the massive forbidden
city right in the middle of town and then two blocks away you have the brand new sparkling opera building that looks like a sci-fi egg ( well half of one anyway) floating on water, its crazy.
One of my favourite things about Beijing is the modern architecture and designs that you’ll find when you look up at all the skyscrapers as you’re walking around. They really seem to spare no expensive in the designs, curves and shapes. Our commercial buildings back home tend to be boring square pre-fab blocks or plain glass structures’. There buildings are far from boring and always interesting. It’s almost like they have a rule that says you can’t build the same type twice. Have a look one day, you’ll see what I mean.
I’ve decided to do a second blog for the Great Wall and Forbidden City as I had so many good photos so stay tuned for that one next. Other than that I also saw Tiananmen Square, that ‘egg’ building (sorry I don’t know its official name), the birds nest and the water cube whislt I was in town. All are amazing and well worth the visit. I highly recommend
seeing all the Olympic ones at night time as they light them all up. As you can see in some of the pictures they look amazing.
More to follow….
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