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Many foreigners tend to think of cosmopolitan Shanghai and its energetic people as the future of China. But anyone who has spent even a little bit of time in the Chinese capital will realise that dustily and at times dowdy Beijing is the place to make it or break it.
People from all over the country flock here, lured by its opportunities, the feel of cultural ferment, and the chance to reinvent themselves. Students, entrepreneurs, artists, chefs, designers and more all move around the city in a constant buzz.
While others may also think that Beijing, as the centre of the government, would be a somewhat suffocating place, Beijing, as the centre of the government, would be a somewhat suffocating place, Beijing’s native sons and daughters have a chutzpah that makes the city famous. There is an unusual freedom here that has made the city the creative centre of China, and which attracts artists from all over. Art galleries have blossomed in hotels, courtyard houses, old factories and an ancient watchtower. This is where the recording industry is located, and where serious musicians eventually end up. There are at least twice as many bands as any other city in China, and a slew of underground clubs and booming nightspots offering live music.
Meanwhile, even entrepreneurs find Beijing a mecca because they say the risks – and rewards – and greater here.
Beijing boats the best-educated citizenry anywhere in China, producing some 80% of the country’s PhDs; in fact, the city’s Haidian district is also known as China’s Silicon Valley. Finally, Beijing is also home to several million migrant workers, who are often referred to disparagingly as waidiren, or outsiders. This hardworking group is sometimes blamed for the problems confronting the city. However, economists say that Beijing would not be what it is today without this army of tireless labourers, construction workers, waiters and maids, who have kept the city buzzing along, taking on the kinds of jobs most others would prefer to avoid.
Many foreigners tend to think of cosmopolitan Shanghai and its energetic people as the future of China. But anyone who has spent even a little bit of time in the Chinese capital will realise that dustily and at times dowdy Beijing is the place to make it or break it.
People from all over the country flock here, lured by its opportunities, the feel of cultural ferment, and the chance to reinvent themselves. Students, entrepreneurs, artists, chefs, designers and more all move around the city in a constant buzz.
While others may also think that Beijing, as the centre of the government, would be a somewhat suffocating place, Beijing, as the centre of the government, would be a somewhat suffocating place, Beijing’s native sons and daughters have a chutzpah that makes the city famous. There is an unusual freedom here that has made the city the creative centre of China, and which attracts artists from all over. Art galleries have blossomed in hotels, courtyard houses, old factories and an ancient watchtower. This is where the recording industry is located, and where serious musicians eventually end up. There are at least twice as many bands as any other city in China, and a slew of underground clubs and booming nightspots offering live music.
Meanwhile, even entrepreneurs find Beijing a mecca because they say the risks – and rewards – and greater here.
Beijing boats the best-educated citizenry anywhere in China, producing some 80% of the country’s PhDs; in fact, the city’s Haidian district is also known as China’s Silicon Valley. Finally, Beijing is also home to several million migrant workers, who are often referred to disparagingly as waidiren, or outsiders. This hardworking group is sometimes blamed for the problems confronting the city. However, economists say that Beijing would not be what it is today without this army of tireless labourers, construction workers, waiters and maids, who have kept the city buzzing along, taking on the kinds of jobs most others would prefer to avoid.
Turning right into a crosswalk with a green walking symbol and getting incensed (honking, screaming) when I continue walking and they have to slam on their brakes. Seriously, I’ve had a few near-violent altercations with people when I refused to let them drive through a crowd of people crossing on a green walking light.
/profile/112-stark/?do=hovercard” data-mentionid=”112″ href=”<___base_url___>/profile/112-stark/” rel=””>>@Stark
This is the single biggest issue I have here that absolutely enrages me.
I have had many yelling arguments over this.
I completely fail to understand why when crossing the road on green they actually come straight at you
What on earth are you supposed to do ????
Dive and duck out of the way?
An idiot came at me last week while I was walking across a crossing in his AUDI straight at me. I just stopped and made him stop it is the look you get that also amazes me.
Last year in Qibao a middle aged guy was trying to cross the road at a crossing on green pushing his aged mother in a wheelchair.
He just couldn’t get across, no way was anyone going to stop and let him get over. I stood in the middle of the road in front of the oncoming cars and stopped them until he crossed over. He thanked me but this idiot woman in her BMW yelled and started make obscene gestures i just smiled and walked on.
I wish someone would explain this behaviour to me because for the life of me I just cannot grasp it.
One early morning at school start time in Pudong the grandparents were talking the kids to school crossing the road again on a crossing. Idiot drivers were weaving in and out of them again not going to stop. Again I stood in the road and stopped the traffic until they got over. Many thanks from the old guys and obscene gestures from the moronic drivers.
However, I wish someone would explain to me why oh why, bearing in mind the effort that is put into families having children here, they then load them up on eBikes without any protection whatsoever and play chicken with all the traffic.
Please Please Please, someone explain.
About 10 years ago I was working in Changsha on a big contract for something or other.
I had a young girl translator.
One evening I was driving the works minibus back from site to the office. She was in the passenger seat. She asked me about the pedals (clutch, brake, accelerator). I was surprised because she had been gloating about just passing her driving test.
Oh, she said, sure I got the licence, I went to bed with the examiner last week. ’bout sums it up for me!
Ha. I walked into my realtor’s office a few years ago and she was visibly fuming.
I asked her what was up and she said that she’d failed her driving test. In my mind I thought ‘wow, despite all the terrible drivers they DO fail people!’ But then she explained why she was pissed.
She said that the driving instructor had asked for a bribe in order for her to pass and she’d paid it – – but there were two instructors and the one she paid hadn’t shared it with the other and that one had failed her.
I thought that whole sequence just kind of summed up the country.
Few years ago, when I often was on trips, we got idea what my wife need to learn to drive the car and get the license.
At winter time, we found very silent place and drove every day for 1-2 hours along the beach (i sat in right seat). After half year, she passed the exam from first attempt, without any problems. Her girlfriend did not passed twice, because of lack experience (as i think). After buying some cigarettes, as i heard, she passed too.
I have a Chinese friend who suffered exactly the same fate 2 years ago in s Shanghai. On top of the fees for the test etc. there is a “tax” that is paid to the instructors as a bribe and the going rate at the time was 200 RMB.
Don’t pay it you fail, Pay it you pass irregardless of your driving ability.
The first time he refused to pay it and was failed, the second time he paid and passed.
This blatantly suns up how the country operates and the mentality of people.
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