It grows on you

When I first arrived, I detested this place. The pollution, the traffic, the spitting, and the list goes on. On top of that an extremely small percentage of the population speak english. The constant construction work is a hazard and an eyesore. But after a while and once you learn a bit of the language, the place sort of grows on you. The people are generally friendly (once you speak a little chinese) and non confrontational. And all little things like road rage, and petty disputes between neighbours and stuff like we have everwhere else in the world and almost non existant here. A definite learning experience and a place where you can rediscover what it means to actually live in a society. I still hate the pollution, traffic, spitting but I've gotten to understand it and see beyond to see a civilisation that has survived thousands and thousands of years.

Great for: History/Culture, Budget Travel

Last Visit: March 2006

6 March 2006 | A Yahoo! User

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A Chinese's simple review of Beijing

If you live here for five years, you will not say anything bad of this great city! I promise you. Because I'm living here for more than fifteen years

5 June 2005 | xiehanding

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Worker's Paradise? Not

Beijing is a wonderful place for the cultural sites....Forbidden City, Great Wall, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven. The sense of history is palpable. Beijing is also sprawling, polluted metropolis where getting around can be tough. Stay in the Dongmen (city center) District for convenience. It is a third world city making the leap to first world...you'll see donkey carts in front of 60 storey complexes. It is also still a police state. The BBC was blacked out at the Kerry Center Shangri-la when they were about to run a piece on the unsettled Uigher minority. Frankly, I found the country oppressive. Booming, yet sad at the same time. Catch your guide (not a govt employee) in a private moment as I did and you will see. Most people are friendly, but some are wary of foreigners. Some are outright dishonest. I would buy nothing of value there, because some people will lie to your face and try to overcharge you mercilessly.The postings on the "practice English and art students" are all true. You will hear con jobs and sad tales designed to manipulate you. Don't buy it. It is part of the grab to get rich at all costs. Business is a zero sum game to them. Overall, it is a place one must see. Just remember all you see is not what it really is. Keep your wits and your objectivity and you'll be fine.

5 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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Beijing blah

i liked that I had people i knew with me i didnt like that i coul barely understand their language the food's ok...don't worry I'm just a picky person so you might like it but I did not i am rather happy where I am at..Thank You

5 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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Beijing-Chinese Heritage

Beijing will be great if you love the chinese history, it will bring you memories of the past especially during the qing and ming dynasty.... Its an educational place to be at with the guides briefing you while you tour like the ming tomb, forbidden palace and even the great wall of china. But, do be careful of tour to the "Tong Ren Tang" and Jade factories... they are really aggressive in direct sales :) A good place to shop at will at Wang Fu Jing and Silk Street with all chinese related products you want to find...Bargaining will be applicable at the roadside stalls..always give about 50% off their asking price for a start, it will be helpful LAst but not least... careful of beggers and pickpockets, I had a really bad encounter there, I was hit by a little girl of 10yr when she refused to let go of my hubby and myself in return for some $$...

5 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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i can't wait to go there

it's a quiet nice city that everyone should go there for travel

5 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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5 Wintry Days in Beijing--beware the haze but have fun!

Spent 5 days in Beijing seeing most of the typical touristy sites. The great wall at Badaling, the forbidden city, the summer palace, the temple of heaven, beihai park, tienamen square, a few shopping areas, and more. Be aware: at least the tour I went on was centered around two things: seeing the sites (great), and selling you stuff (bad, cause you know you can get it for at least half the price in the street). Huge advise: know the extreme basics of Mandarin and you will be able to haggle down prices almost anywhere, especially with the street vendors. I've gotten things down 90% from what they originally asked. Don't be afraid to be forceful with saying no or saying I don't need / want. (That's possibly the most important phrase you need: Boo Yaou La). While overall I'm very glad I went on a tour (I couldn't have seen all I did on my own, especially knowing almost no Mandarin) it did have a few downsides like what I mentioned before plus seeing everything at such a frantic place (would've like to spend some more time at certain places, and less time at others).

5 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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Going back to stay !

I loved Beijing. I spent 2 weeks there in 2004 and am going back now to spend more time and to start a course in Chinese language at a Beijing university. I have visited as a tourist staying at the Crowne Plaza. The service was excellent and I really enjoyed the food, the Beijing opera, and the monuments I have visited. The only thing I did not like, were the Chinese trying to sell me things, or trying to convince me to see their "art gallery", if a Chinese girl stops you on the street, starting a conversation with you, telling you that she studies art, just tell her point blank that you are not interested in the gallery. She will be shocked and ask you how you knew that she was going to ask you that. Have a good time in Beijing !

5 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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I'm never going bak

it smelled bad nothing good about it at all

5 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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A sure world class city to visit

I was on a business trip in Beijing and stayed there for 3 weeks, I fell in love with that city. People were very friendly everywhere I went, the food I had were delicious. Things were very inexpensive if you love shopping. It definitely a world class city. I'll take my whole family there again for a vacation.

5 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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