I visited Beijing back in 2004, and while a few years have passed, my memories are as vivid as ever! I made a few Chinese friends very early on, who helped me do both the’tourist tour’ of Beijing, and the not so often visited areas.
Obviously, the first place I went to was the Great Wall. A few hours’ drive away from Beijing, this UNESCO World Heritage Site, built from the 5th century BC to the 17th century, is a sight to behold. Although vandalism has destroyed some sections of the Great Wall, it nonetheless retains its majesty. Badaling, near the North Pass, is the most popular tourist destination, followed by Mutyanyu. However, I visited a section called Mushi waan, which is relatively unspoiled. There are views to be admired, and for kids and teens, and indeed, older people as well, there’s an awesome slide(not the lifts) which comes at a nominal cost, and which you can use to make your descent from the wall after a good long trek up! You sit in a sort of sled-like thing and then the momentum just takes you down the slide, across the hills and the valleys. After the awe on seeing the wall made by human hands, this is a great, fun way to unwind!
Next, I checked out the Forbidden City, and it’s awesome architecture and lovely rock gardens are a sight to behold. Nevertheless, it can get a little repetitive, but you haven’t seen it all if you’ve been to Beijing and not to the Forbidden City. Tiananmen Square, right opposite the Forbidden City, reminds you of Chinese politica. And you see Mao’s portrait up there, and at the same time, can’t help but remember the time when those Chinese collegians were gunned down. The Summer Palace is yet another must-see, and the gardens are amazing. It’s a great place to go as a couple. make sure you take some nice long walks, and make a wish! The Ming Tombs is a good place for those interested in history.
For those commercially inclined, Hong Chau is a great bargain market. You get everything from DVD players to dresses to shoes. at rock bottom rates. It’s priceless, not knowing Mandarin(more popular in Northern China) and bargaining with the vendors, both using calculators to indicate their rates, and with them asking for dollars, and you yelling with a really bad accent, ’ Zweuty zweuty Do shou chien?’ (’What’s your lowest, final price?). Also check out the Silk Market, near the China World\n Hotel at Guomao, and Wang Fu Jing, the most commercial street in all of Beijing. If you really want silk at low rates, be prepared to drive out to a silk bazaar about 1 hour’s drive from Beijing. You get everything there at rates you can’t believe! Tiani market, **is the place to go for electronics(of course, if you’re not particular about the brand, of course!)Those into designerwear need never fear. Chinaworld at Guomao, and the mall, have all the major designer stores, from Ermenegildo Zegna to Armani to Louis Vuitton!
And if you want something a shade different, try driving by the Olympic Village and check out the local parks which are famous for their kung fu and shaolin instructors!
For animal lovers, the Beijing Zoo is a must, and yet, a strict no-no. They have a huge variety of animals here, and you get to see the panda. but the way the zoo is maintained is utterly disgraceful. Animal shelters are not particularly clean, and worse still is the way the public(some of them, not all) treat the animals. They fling stones, empty popcorn bags, etc. into the animal enclosures and there’s not one zoo official who tells them to cut out that behaviour. There seems to be no respect for animals, and they aren’t treated too well. It’s an utter horror for anyone who loves animals. That was my worst day in Beijing.
Oh well, on to cheerier stuff! San Li Tun is the most popular clubbing and pubbing street in Beijing. the Blue Bar is particularly cool. check it out, if that’s your scene! The Beijing University is a nice place, and the students are friendly and welcoming. There’s a large and lovely lake on campus, and an old tower, steeped in history. Near here, there’s a really good place to pick up the latest in digicams. any student will show you the way. and this is one place where I personally found a few Chinese girls and guys who spoke Hindi a lot better than I did!:)
The things I did NOT appreciate about Beijing - there’s just about NO veggie food unless you go to the Taj, egg fried rice might have been made using pigeon’s eggs, and supposedly’veggie’ salads will have little red things that you find out is meat! It’s a bad deal for a vegetarian. very bad deal. You effectively live on sandwiches, broccoli and plain rice! And yes, the language barrier, obviously. Hardly anyone speaks English, and it’s very difficult to communicate effectively.
What I liked best was the evening I went to a friend’s place. I had everything from rajma(she knew I was veggie, and cooked especially for me!) to jiu, the traditional Chinese rice wine.Powerful stuff, that was!
I’d probably spend some time living in the heart of Beijing if I go there again. While I was there last time, I stayed in an expat society, Capital Paradise, and I didn’t get too much authentic flavour. And I’d recommend this trip for anyone with a taste for adventure and a desire to interact, albeit with great difficulty, with our good old neighbors!