1. Visiting the Forbidden City and being reminded of the scenes that take place there from the movie The Last Emperor
2. Recent progress, modernization is very visible
3. There is a lot to learn here about China’s past, particularly its political history
4. The indication signs with funny English translation mistakes
5. The fascinating contrast between futuristic development and backwardness
6. Relaxing in one of the wall-protected public parks
7.The Beijing duck is really good, definitely better than the versions I have eaten elsewhere in the world
8. The well-kept, clean Summer Palace
9. The Temple of Heaven and its park, with locals dancing and working out on weekends
10. Jingshan Park and the grannies dancing there on Sundays
11. The 789 Art Zone (an alternative art complex) is amazing
12. Hutongs (old neighborhoods with narrow streets and a more traditional way of life)
13. I bought silk pajamas for my daughter in Silk Street
14. Many well-dressed, clean-cut Beijing locals – very different style from that of the countryside Chinese visiting the capital
15. Many motorcyclists have amusing outfits
1.We had several bad food experiences – mostly in restaurants we chose spontaneously
2.Locals are neither friendly nor helpful with foreign visitors – we reckoned that may partly be due to the language barrier
3. Not as cheap as we expected
4. Most people providing services to tourists do their best to rip them off
5. Locals spitting in the street – impossible to get used to
6. The security check and endless queuing at the Gate of Heavenly Peace
7.They seem very attached to the ugliest shades of grey – walls, roofs, etc.
8. Polluted air, smog, traffic jams
9. When we were leaving and I had to exchange my remaining local money, the exchange rate at Beijing International Airport was outrageous
10.It is sad to see the historic old town gradually being destroyed and shrinking
11.They are particularly fond of – what we consider - kitsch
12. Terrible crowd in the metro at peak times – it’s a kind of jostle or die situation
13. We often felt like the locals were staring at us with some kind of contempt
14. Many of the markets we visited were quite boring
