Introduction to Beijing, China

Introduction to Beijing, China

Beijing is the gigantic capitol city of China.  The original city wall is long gone, replaced by six ring roads, and the moat has become a river.  The high-rise buildings go on and on and on. 

unusual high-rise in Beijing

 Nowadays almost everyone lives in high-rises, too. 

residential high-rises in Beijing

 

Traffic is a crazy, yet surprisingly organized, mash of cars, tuk-tuks, and bicycles.

mixture of vehicles in traffic in Beijing

I found it surprising that the streets are clean and litter-free.  Locals say that happened when the Olympics came to town.  Individuals and teams of human street-sweepers as well as street-cleaner vehicles operate regularly.

street cleaners by the Great Wall in Beijing

I did not see one cat or dog.

The best weather is in May and June, with comfortable weather in April, when I visited.  Because the city is near the province of Inner Mongolia and the Gobi Desert, sand storms do occur.  We did experience a short one.  People want to be inside when that happens and to have a face mask.

More things to do in Beijing.

Best souvenirs of China.

More ideas for exploring Asia and the South Pacific.

images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers