"Beijing China" a Beijing Travel Page by brideauj

China's capitol, Beijing is one of the largest cities in the world. Roughly the 12th largest city by population in the world (depending on who you ask and when). I found Beijing a peculiar place. I was dropped into the middle of the Manderin speaking metropolis by myself with only my prejudices. I was awed with every new vision. Beijing airport is like landing in a military ghost town. The rounded buildings sterile and some bearing the red star near thier apex. The terminal set the first juxtaposition of contrasts. The terminal is as modern as one would expect for any country. It sitts shining among the colorless comunist block hangars and dusty runway with grass growing from between the cracks. The whole of the city seems this way, but deeper. It is ancient. Ancient like no westerner knows. It is an old man of the years with his beard grown to touch the ground. But in his hands are cell phones and PDAs. He rides his bicycle among the skyscrapers negotiation the mule drawn steel carts on thier way to the foundarys. A miraculusly ancient culture with a serious infection of the moden world.