2009-05-06 : I just came back from Beijing China to go sight seeing and escape the hectic work life at Long Beach. Going to China, i wanted to compare how normal everyday Beijingers would commute to their work place, shop, and eat.Read more...
It took about 15 hours to fly to Beijing from San Franscisco airport. From SFO to Hong Kong, then to Beijing. The air accomedations were good considering i was flying economy class. The food from Cathay Air was excellent from fresh fruit to hot meals. Yum!
The first thing you will notice about Beijing is the huge internation airport. The second thing you will notice flying in is the air pollution. Being from Los Angeles, i felt our smog levels were bad, seeing Beijing - it's worse. Dense smog and desert dust were suspended in the air. Millons of smog generating disel and gas cars pack the streets and many of them are 5 to 7 years old volkswagon jettas. In China, the there are many diferrent makes of cars the dominate ones are: Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota, Buick, Chevy, BYD(Chinese brand), Volkswagon, Audi, and BMW-- The last too are for the elites of chinese socieites.
Traffic jams were very high and most people use public transportation. Buses (1 yaun), Subway(2 yaun), and mini buses(2 yaun), and taxis(15+yaun). I traveled primarily with the subway, walking, and taxis, both were highly effective transportation. Electric bicycles and mopeds are everywhere and costs roughly 2400RMB ($600US) to purchase. Bicycles are roughly 200 - 300 RMB($30-60US) to buy
If you plan to go to China, watch out for trucks, buses, cars, and bicycles before crossing the street. They do not stop. They do no yeild. Even if the lights are in your favor, cars dont stop. Everyone plays "frogger" when crossing the street. Cars, bikes, and pedestrians travel within inches of each other.
Cars cut left and right and just honk every where they go to warn other drivers and pedestrians of their presence. Very nerve racking and dangerous.
More later..... overall Beijing was horrible for traffic, but excellent to sight see.
 | Lonely Planet Beijing author: David Eimer asin: 382971596X |
