Beijing Local Custom Tips by idy

The city empties out as the Spring Festival nears, with many of its residents going back to their hometowns to spend the Chinese New Year with their families. This could be the only time the Beijing roads are unclogged in the day and buses and the subway aren't packed like sardines. It is calm, serene and very likeable indeed.

During the Spring Festival, there are fairs that are held in the parks that are most likely where you will find the crowds. These are called Temple Fairs, simply because within the parks are temples at which the traditional prayer sessions are held in olden days. Some of these are traditionals are "reenacted" during the Spring Festival (usually in the morning) with people dressed in traditional gowns and lots of incense.

At these fairs, of course, you'll find the requisite food stalls selling the perennial mutton skewers to powdered flavoured soup concocted with water from a giant kettle and delicacies like smelly tofu. You'll also find the requisite game stalls with giant soft toys up for grabs as well as lots of souvenir stalls selling a wide range of items in the shape and/or likeness of the animal du jour (according to the Chinese zodiac).

Other than that, you may treated to a cultural performance or two, depending on when you arrive. You could catch a Chinese orchestra in action, or a magician, or a karaoke contest. Other novelties include taking part in traditional games like spinning tops, jumping rope, or watching movies the traditional way - on a stool, streetside, peering into a large box through a tiny window.

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Fireworks were banned in the city until 2006. According to various sources, the Beijingers went a little mad with the fireworks when the ban was lifted, with solid fireworks displays every night for a week or two.

However, in 2007, the craze seemed to have worn off a little, with only New Year's eve and the first couple of days of the Year of the Golden Pig sounding like a war zone. It's good fun to stroll the city and see what's being set off (mainly explosives followed by car alarms). Be careful, though, of misfires and defective explosives - apparently at least 40 people were hurt in fireworks-related accidents, with 1 fatality.

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Beijingers are pretty big on flying kites. On any given day, you may spot a kite or two in the sky. At first you may mistake them from large birds, but no, they are kites. If it's a sunny day with a nice wind, not galing, the number of kites will increase exponentially.

It's good fun and you can easily get your kite up as high as your string is long, as it's a sunny and gusty city. Be careful, though, not to get into any kite accidents with the locals - if you have the ill fortune to meet a nasty fellow, he'll demand that you pay him if his kite is damaged!

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