We were surprised to arrive in Beijing (known in this part of the world as Peking) is the mix of modernism with tradition. On the one hand, the Chinese of all ages and driving their bicycles on turning, the most spectacular luxury cars.
Also, skyscrapers have their feet the most impressive ancient structures that reflect the past life of the emperors. I note that the Chinese capital is the city with more monuments declared by UNESCO as World Heritage.
The people love to Mao Zedong (or at least is the feeling you get the tourist). His embalmed body is admired daily by thousands of Chinese in a megahall in downtown Beijing. Upon leaving the compound is ironic to see how, in the resting place of most communist leader, capitalism invades the streets: watches, shirts, hats, pictures, medals, bags and other souvenirs with Mao’s face are sold in a kind popular market. The dollar-yuan is extremely favorable for the tourist, which (if the fare depart from Caracas) Beijing is an amazing city economy.
Curious street? Cameras everywhere, the Chinese spit a lot (a matter of culture, not bad habits), food is spicy! (Best Mexican style), cleaning of streets, immensity of the works, the traffic is hellish (but taxis ultracheap), the metro connects the entire city and is absolutely safe.
Required to visit sites: Tiananmen Square, before everything. It is the world’s largest square, and red power center. It is the mausoleum of Mao, Congress and the Museum of Chinese History. This place has always been the scene of the biggest events in American history, from creation of the People’s Republic when Mao introduced communism as a system of government, until the student protests of the eighties which ended when the army crushed with tanks the rebels.
Safety pins are also the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, the zoo and its giant pandas, Wangfujing shopping street, the huge train station (where cars start to cities as far away as Moscow), popular markets, malls that even the Americans envy and, of course, the Great Wall (The most famous and is visited by tourists at Badaling, about an hour and a half in Beijing depending on traffic)
Beijing is huge, beautiful, colonial and modern at once welcoming and safe. With 16 million inhabitants is one of the most interesting cities in the world.
No related posts.
