"Beijing - Contrast, History, Economy... " a Beijing Travel Page by claudia1975

Beijing is a city of contrasts. Modern high rise buildings tower next to ancient one-story brick homes, department stores of incredible magnitude (oupassing everything I have seen in Europe by far) next to small book or antique stores, suit-wearing business men and women talking into their up to date video cell phone walking next to old guys wearing the blue Mao-time uniform and hat ... It is easy to spend several weeks in Beijing. Some good books, which helped me to understand Chinese culture and history and current development at least a little:
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- Wild Swans by Jung Chang
- Culture Shock China by Kevin Sinclair
- China (in German) by H. Seitz
- Ein Chinese mit dem Kontrabsss (German) by Han Sen
- Meine Chinesische Familie (German) by Petra Haering-Kuan
- Die Go Spielerin (German) by Shan Sa
- China von innen gesehen (German) by E. Wickert
- Die Chinesische Welt (German) by Jacques Gernet

Due to the Olympic Games coming to Beijing in 2008 the city is undergoing a lot of changes. The older red taxis will be replaced by new ones, Chinese-style public squatting-down-toilets will be replaced by sitting-on-toilets, many old houses (which add to the contrast and atmosphere and are part of history) will be torn down. Rents for the loacal population increase and other cities in rural China might suffer from the fact that the government pumps all the money into Beijing. However, this is only a small change within all the changes China has experienced within the last centruries.

Getting around in Beijing is easy. There is a god bus, subway and taxi system one can figure out even without speaking Chinese. It is difficult to get lost, due to the rectangular street pattern. The so called ring roads surround the downtown city area. The climate, heavy traffic and industry often cause a thick smog covering the city. Visibility is often limited to maybe one or two hundred meters. However, on a windy and sunny day you can experience Beijing with a blue sky . A good way to explore the city: take a Taxi to a place you know (e.g. Tian-an-men Square) and then wander for hours without knowing where you are going. When tired from walking, just take another taxi back to a place you know ...