What to visit in Beijing, China – Part 4

I have visited China in June and July of 2008 and decided to give an overview of visiting Beijing.

PRELUDE

In the 1950’s, Cuban Artist Luis Carbonell recorded “La Habana de Hoy” [Present Day La Habana] for the recording label Kubaney. Inspired by the recording and what I have seen in Beijing, the time has come to write about Beijing. Another reason is to correct the misconceptions of Beijing and China that have been invented by a press in the Western World [examples such as CNN, CBS, and the like] bent on eliminating alternative view points so that they can regain the monopoly once enjoyed. I had already written a reply to the comments made by a BBC Journalist in Beijing that in my opinion defamed the people of China and the Olympics.

BEIJING: THE CITY

Beijing is a city that is thriving and growing without limits. Beijing is a city in which the Peking duck coexists with Pizza Hut, KFC, Wendy’s, Burger King, Taco Bell and other take away restaurants. There are foods for different tastes and the restaurants are subject to the same laws governing cleanliness when preparing, serving, and cooking food. The cooks and waiters have to wear gloves and hats during their work and the food is inspected to make sure that there are no contaminants. Chinese food in China is less spicy than the version in America. Even though I had rice, coffee, and Coca Cola; the vegetables and noodles [as well as the mushrooms, Peking duck, and the meat] was excellent. The coffee in China [as well as the tea] is great and are served in wine cups. It is a pity that I could not implement that custom in America but it may not be ruled out.

Beijing has a whole lot of traffic with Oldsmobile’s, Buicks, Chevrolets, Toyota, and Hyundai’s competing with Cars such as King Long. There are even automobiles that run on electricity. The Service Stations with petrol such as Sinochem are present and have used Motor Oil such as Exxon and Mobil for cars. The traffic in Beijing is the same as in New York City and Miami with the Police maintaining order. The traffic lights have signals which are timed to allow drivers to be informed how long they can wait for the change in signals or to continue. Beijing as well as other cities in the People’s Republic of China have strict laws governing air, traffic, and street pollution and enforce them to the letter which is a great thing.

The Multinational Recording Companies such as Sony, Universal, and EMI are present alongside the local Recording Companies

The people who built the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is a fortification, situated along the northern and northwestern frontier of China proper. The first and largest portion of the wall was erected by Emperor Shi Hwang Ti, as a symbol of the unity of the Chinest empire, as well as a defense against barbarian hordes. The first segment of the wall began about 228 B.C., after the emperor succeeded in bringing together the people and the parts of China, under his control. The wall was completed about 204 B.C. Shi Hwang Ti erected nearly 1,200 miles of the wall. The reign of Shi Hwang Ti (meaning “first universal emperor”), during the Ts’n Dynasty, marked the end of feudal and divided China. He played a unifying role in the east, just as Alexander the Great might have played in the west, but he lived longer; the unity he accomplished was well-founded. It was he who organized the building of the Great Wall of China against the Huns. The fortification finally reached a length of about 1,400 miles, following the course of rivers, instead of bridging them, while conforming to the contours of the mountains and the valleys in its path. Surrounding the wall, which is 18 to 30 feet wide, is a passageway, about 10 feet wide. It runs between crenallated parapets. Hundreds of miles of the Great Wall of China remain intact at the present time.

Shi Hwang Ti might have defended China from the Huns, but, at the same time, he ordered the burning of all books, except those on pharmacy, medicine, divination, agriculture and arboriculture. For such a deed, his name had been held in reproach by later Chinese scholars.

There was a rebellion after his death, during the Han dynasty (202 B.C.-220 B.C.) By this time, the Tartar hordes were driven as far back as Turkestan, while Mongolia was added to the empire. An overland route was inaugurated. Trade, chiefly in Chinese silk, flourished. There were cultural advances during the Han Dynasty, together with territorial expansion. Reproduction of books by printing, recovery of the classics, the first dictionary and the first encyclopedic history of China, brought China closer to countries outside its border.

Buddhism was also introduced from India at about that time, marking the first, strong influence of another culture on that of China.

The Tang Dynasty succeeded the fall of the Han Dynasty. Then the era of the Sung Dynasty (960-1250) opened with a fresh burst of literary splendor, together with the formation of libraries, printing and bookmaking.

The Great Wall of China continues to be a great tourist attraction. It is also one of the great historical landmarks of an ancient civilization, as well as a symbol of Chinese ingenuity at a time when enemies were intent on advancing across its borders.

Travel experiences: Shenzhen, China

When I arrived in Shenzhen I was a westerner with blond long hair dressed in business attire and ready to open new office’s for my company based out of Los Angeles, California. I am a Native New Yorker, born and raised I must say! When I arrived in Hong Kong I was escorted to a bus that would take me across the border into mainland China, where Shenzhen is located. It is at the south eastern tip of China, and back then in order to get to Shenzhen you had to go through customs twice. It has been almost a decade since then, and now I know I can fly into Shanghai then down into Shenzhen and only endure custom’s one time. I must say Shenzhen was a surprise for me, it is very modern with beautiful sky scrapers. You must see the #1 Building it is beautiful, and Windows of the World is located just south of midtown Shenzhen. At Windows you can see replica’s of the seven wonders of the world, its quite an interesting day. I learned all about the Chinese culture and its people spending my time in Shenzhen. It is such a lovely city, you can eat at a sidewalk push cart (something I am hesitant to do in New York), or at an exclusive 5 star restaurant, located near the train station. Shenzhen has mass transit, but I preferred to walk my way around. The city is so alive, with a median age of 26, I felt old at 30. Shenzhen has some of the best shopping also, there is a huge mall up past the Shangri La hotel by the train station. The mall is like a bizarre and you can haggle your way to a decent price if you want to try your hand at that. If you’re away from home to long you can jump into the Shangri La hotel where there is a westernized burger joint. Believe it or not, the burgers are big, juicy, and the drinks are great. I can only attest to the warmth I felt while staying there, this city is also a quick plane ride away to cities like Shanghai, Suzhou, and Beijing. I would recommend anyone to go visit China, you will love it, don’t forget to stop at my home away from home, Shenzhen.

9999.5 Rooms In This Palace

Spanning over 178 acres of land, the Forbidden City, or the Zijin Cheng is a major tourist attraction in Beijing. Also known as the Imperial Palace, the building dates back around 500 years, though it was recently reopened for public after repairs in 1949. Surrounded by 7.9 meter high city walls, the Forbidden City was protected by a six meter deep and 52 meter wide moat as well. That though, did not stop this monumental building from being sacked multiple times and be razed to the ground completely by the Manchus.

Although the original building had pillars in the important halls of the valuable Phoebe zhennan wood, the reconstruction by the Qing Dynasty replaced the pillars with pinewood ones and, unlike the original pillars, these are not whole logs used lavishly. The interesting aspect of the Palace’s construction was the transportation of the stone used in the construction of the terraces. According to historians, the builders dug wells along the roads from the queries to the construction sites and poured water on the road to get the thin ice in the winters so they could slide the heavy stones to their destination.

The 9999.5 rooms the palace boasts, is just half a room short of what is believed to be the number of rooms in heaven itself. The half room has a staircase in it that keeps the building from matching the heavens. The building is still intimidating with its huge courtyards and imposing gates. The ceremonial halls include the three halls of Harmony, and the inner courtyard holds the Palace of Heavenly Purity. The symbolic wall art, the evocative messages, all add to the beauty and value of the site. While the government tries to keep commercialism down, souvenir shops are still never too far and you can have photographs of this monumental structure as well.

Throughout its long history, and even as recently as 1949 when China declared itself a People’s Republic, the Imperial Palace was persistently damaged by lootings, conquests and even the Cultural Revolution. The Palace today does not hold all its treasures within the Imperial Museum, however, for what it depicts and whatever it still has, its cultural and historical importance is undeniable. Every year millions of tourists throng its courtyards to visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

For those visiting the Forbidden City in Beijing, Redwall Hotel Beijing is a great place to relax after a day of sightseeing. The hotel is not only close to some major tourist spots in the city, it is close enough to shopping centers as well for those interested in the modern China. With 200 modern rooms and those geared at depicting China’s cultural heritage, the Redwall Hotel Beijing holds the country’s culture at its heart and serves Western as well as Chinese delicacies in the restaurant and the Glanviue Coffee Bar

Majorca Yacht Regatta Prepares For Olympics

This year’s 39th Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia-MAPFRE regatta will be held from March 15th to the 21st this year just prior to the 2008 Olympics. All eyes of the sailing world are on this regatta heading up to the competitions of this Olympic year. For many, this event will determine who sails for their Olympic team at the coastal city of Qingdao, China; the first time this city has hosted an international sailing regatta.

Competitors in Majorca will participate in eleven classes of sailing established by Olympic standards, plus the Dragon class; consisting of the ninety best sailors invited to participate. Olympic medalists from the 2004 Olympics in Athens, as well as the established champions from last year’s World and European competitions are expected to be in attendance.

The Princess Sofia Trophy is one of six Olympic-class events recognized by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) in their World Cup Series for sailing. The race was officially established in 2006 at the International Sailing Federation conference held in Helsinki, Finland.

Each year 1,300 to 1,700 sailors, including 1,000 vessels, participate in the 12 classes. As many as 52 nations have participated in the past and the exponential increase over the past few years could indicate even more international participation this year and in the future. The Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia-MAPFRE enjoys the highest international participation of any Olympic class event in Spain. It is the last chance for Spaniards to see their sailing team perform prior to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The Olympic sailing events at Qingdao are scheduled for September 6-17, 2008.

Palma de Mallorca, the capital of the island, is the central locale for this prominent sailing event.

Weather conditions for last year’s regatta proved challenging at times with periods of rain and changeable, insufficient winds, resulting in false starts. This prevented some races scheduled for certain dates. However, the characteristically exceptional weather conditions typical of the Bay of Palma returned for the imperative final races.

Majorca is part of the Balearic archipelago located off the eastern coast of Spain near Valencia. Since the middle of the last century it’s been a popular tourist destination for many, particularly Germans and Brits who can access cheap flights to Majorca. The mild climate and islander state of mind still brings many visitors to Majorca, and more especially the Bay of Palma. Majorca, and sister islands Menorca and Ibiza, attract thousands of visitors each year and have become synonymous with holidays in Spain.

MAPFRE, the leading finance and insurance company in Spain based out of Madrid, will sponsor this event for the third year in a row. The event has a website for participants to sign up online and acquire important information on accommodations and vessel transport. This will be the first time that registering participants will be able to pay their fees online with a credit card, a novelty of the new site.

Actual racing begins with Olympic classes on Sunday, March 16th, with the Dragon class beginning on Monday, March 17th, 2008. The Medal Race, to be held on the final day of the regatta, March 21st, is unable to be discarded and counts for double in terms of scoring. The top ten classified sailors by this date participate in the Medal Race.

Nutritional Properties of Goji Berries

Many of the legendary health-giving properties of goji berries are today being confirmed in modern scientific studies, and this has led to the possibility of even more far-reaching benefits.

Both species of Goji are deciduous woody perennial plants, growing 1-3 m high. L. chinense is grown in the south of China and tends to be somewhat shorter.

In addition to being cultivated in China, Goji berries also grow on extensive vines in the sheltered valleys of the Himalayas in Tibet, and in Mongolia. The round, red Goji berries are very tender and must be shaken from the vine rather than picked in order to avoid spoiling.

The Goji fruits are preserved by slowly drying them in the shade. Goji has been eaten locally in the Himalayan and Tibetan regions for centuries and is celebrated in festivals. The Goji fruit is nicknamed the “happy berry” because of the sense of well being it is said to induce.

Goji berries and lycium bark play important roles in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), where they are believed to enhance immune system function, help eyesight, protect the liver, boost sperm production, and improve circulation and longevity, among other effects. In TCM terms, Goji berries are sweet in taste and neutral in nature; they act on the liver, lung, and kidney channels and enrich yin. Goji berries can be eaten raw, brewed into a tea, or prepared as a tincture.

The berries have the following properties: Yin tonic, improves vision, boost sperm production, benefits complexion, nourishes Liver and Kidney, replenishes vital essence (semen), powerful antioxidant, antimutagenic, and improves circulation, anti cancer properties.

One of the most well-known traditional properties of Goji berry fruit is its ability to improve vision. This has been documented for over fifteen centuries. Modern scientific studies have finally supplied some substantiation to this property. It turns out Goji fruit not only contains high amounts of b -carotene 8 mg/100g but this b -carotene is in a highly biologically active form which is readily utilized by the body.

Another well-known and long-documented traditional property of Goji fruit is its ability to “benefit complexion and maintain one’s beauty”; Goji is also considered to have anti-aging properties. To drug-oriented American scientists, this certainly sounds ridiculous. But various studies have shown Goji fruit to have numerous beneficial effects, including, antioxidant, immuno-potentiating, antimutagenic, hypoglycaemic, hypolipemic, hypotensive, etc., all of which contribute to the slowing down of the aging process or help us live longer.

The beautifying property of Goji fruit may have some scientific basis after all which may justify its use in skin-care cosmetics, as recent laboratory studies not only demonstrated its antioxidant effect but also its ability to increase dermal hydroxyproline level in mice, indicating increased collagen synthesis. All these effects are good for the skin.

Some medical researches prove that a sweet tonic decoction made from the Goji fruit has traditionally been used to lower blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels.

Goji acts mainly on the liver and kidneys. Goji fruit has traditionally been taken internally in the treatment of high blood pressure, diabetes, poor eyesight, vertigo, lumbago, impotence and menopausal complaints.

Goji fruit is harvested when fully ripe and is dried for later use. The Goji root bark is a bitter, cooling, antibacterial herb that controls coughs and lowers fevers, blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels. It is taken internally in the treatment of chronic fevers, internal haemorrhages, nosebleeds, tuberculosis, coughs, asthma etc. It is applied externally to treat genital itching. The bark is harvested in the winter and dried for later use. It has diuretic and purgative properties.

The plant has a long history of medicinal use, both as a general, energy restoring tonic and also to cure a wide range of ailments from skin rashes and eyesight problems to diabetes.

A tonic tea is made from the leaves. The fruit of many members of this genus is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals, especially in vitamins A, C and E, flavanoids and other bio-active compounds. Goji is also a good source of essential fatty acids, which is very unusual for a fruit.

Goji is being investigated as a food that is capable of reducing the incidence of cancer and also as a means of halting or reversing the growth of cancers.

Some of the benefits of goji berries are: inhibit tumor growth, prevent cancer, neutralize the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation, help normalize blood pressure, help balance blood sugar, combat autoimmune disease, act as an anti-inflammatory, balance immune function, lower cholesterol and blood lipids, increase calcium absorption.

The goji berries can be used in the cases of general weakness, lack of energy, aching back and joints, tinnitus, dizziness, diabetes, blurred vision, cough, wet dreams, sexual inadequacies. The internal benefits are the following – Toxic side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The external benefits are: – Burns, ulcers, bedsores, frostbite, furuncles.

Many sources note that the berry contains a full protein (as opposed to partial proteins as in bread).

Additionally, several other beneficial compounds are reported to have been discovered in the analysis by the Beijing Nutrition Research Institute:

Selenium and Germanium: These are well-known anti-cancer agents.

Beta Sitosterol: This anti-inflammatory agent has been found to lower cholesterol, and has been used to treat impotence and prostate enlargement.

Zeaxanthin and Lutine: Have been known to protect the eyes.

Betaine: Produces Choline in the liver, which helps detoxification processes there. It is also known to protect DNA, enhance memory, encourage muscle growth and protect against fatty liver disease.

Cyperone: Used in treatment of cervical cancer. It is known to benefit blood pressure, heart and menstruation problems.

Solavetivone: An anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agent.

Physalin: A compound known to boost the immune system. Also found effective in treating leukemia, cancer and hepatitis B.

One of the most known and highly used products out of goji berries is goji juice. The natural juice flavoring system gives a consistently delicious flavor, and works with the product to enhance its already remarkable benefits.

In the naturally produced juice there is never any added sugar, artificial sweeteners, colors, or flavors.

Vacationing In China

Are you considering a vacation to China? Rich in culture and deeply hospitable, the Chinese people welcome tourists and it’s rich history and colorful traditions are sure to keep travelers well entertained during their stay.

Visiting Shanghai

Shanghai is one of China’s largest cities and is rich with activities for the visiting foreigner. It would be similar to visiting New York City in the United States. Shanghai is home to The Garden of Contentment, a 500 acre garden full of beautiful Chinese horticulture at it’s finest. The garden is divided into six separate garden cells: The Grand Rockery, The Ten ThousandFlower Pavilion, The Lotus Pool, The Inner Garden, The Hall of Heralding Spring and The Hall of Jade Magnificence. Nanjing Lu Road is a shoppers paradise. It features art galleries, shops, and restaurants all overflowing with rich Chinese culture. Be sure to brush up your bargaining skills before heading out to Nanjing Lu. You can often get a bargain price by haggling with the shopkeeper for a price you can write home about. Highly recommended hotels in Shanghai are: Le Royal Miridian on Nanjing Dong Rd., with an average room price of $259,and the Crowne Plaza Hotel Fudan in the Yangpu District for about $94.

Visiting Beijing

Beijing is filled with Chinese history and great architecture. It features the Forbidden City, a 250 acre estate with more than 9,000 rooms. The palace complex was built in the early 15th century. With it’s historic castle and inspiring architecture it’s a wonder to behold.

Tiananmen Square is found in Beijing as well and hosts many colorful parades and massive rallies. It features historic monuments and great architecture. The Great Wall of China is a must see when traveling to China and the most popular place to begin your tour of the Wall is in Beijing. The Great Wall stretches for over 3700 miles and is an awesome site and provides for panoramic photograph opportunities. Near Beijing, cable cars lift passengers onto the Wall where you can begin an exploration hike along the ancient steps and view China from its heights. While booking lodging in Beijing, The Peninsula offers rooms at around $246 a night and The Holiday Inn Central Plaza Beijing charges around $103. Another popular option is the Shangri La Beijing on Zizhuyuan Road. A room will cost you about $200 a night.

Visiting Hong Kong

Hong Kong has its own Disneyland. While the park is smaller than other Disney parks, the staff’s friendliness more than makes up for the small real estate. This stop is a must for all Mouse fans and will make your trip memorable for the whole family.

Hotels in Hong Kong that come highly recommended by other tourists are: Langhan Place Hotel at $224 a night, The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong at $359, and the Harbour Plaza Hong Kong at around $209 a night.

Mexico Wooing One Billion Chinese Tourists

Efforts to promote Mexico’s tourism destinations are being heard half way around the globe. Mexico is ahead of many tourism destinations in courting the fast-growing Chinese market. For the second consecutive year in a row, the Mexico Tourism Board participated in what is now one of the most attended business-to-business outbound travel events in China, the 2007 China Outbound Travel and Tourism Market (COTTM), which took place at the China World Trade Center in Beijing on May 14 – 16.

As one of the 132 countries around the globe to be given the status of Approved Destination Status (ADS) by the Chinese government, Mexico, where tourism ranks as its second-highest source of foreign revenue, is especially eager to increase visitor influx and expenditure from this region. The 2007 COTTM, which attracted more than 200 exhibitors from 40 different countries across the world, was attended by Mexico Tourism Board’s CEO, Francisco Lopez Mena. As part of President Felipe Calderon’s agenda to stimulate the tourism industry in Mexico, Lopez Mena was an active participant in all promotional events that took place in Beijing.

“China’s emergence in the world market has significant implications for the global economy, and especially for the tourism industry,” said Mexico Tourism Board CEO, Francisco Lopez Mena. “We are quite ambitious about the Chinese market and are eyeing the potential it is representing already to our tourism economy,” added Lopez Mena.

According to the World Tourism Organization as many as 100 million Chinese will be traveling abroad annually by 2020, and the number of Chinese traveling internationally more than doubled in just four years. The International Forum on Chinese Outbound Tourism reports that the number of outbound departures rose from16.6 million in 2002 to 34.5 million in 2006. Although over 12,000 visitors traveled to Mexico from China in 2006, according to latest statistics from the Mexico Tourism Board, the annual growth rate is over 12% compared to 2005 figures. This best illustrates the potential upside for Mexico’s economy.

Sensing the outbound tourism potential in China and continuing the government’s agenda to strengthening relationships between the two countries, Mexico was able to change visa procedures for Hong Kong residents. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport holders visiting Mexico now enjoy visa-free access for up to 90-day visit. This means greater convenience for Hong Kong travelers and helps promote trade, business and tourism relations between the two countries.

Mexico is China’s second-largest trading partner in Latin America after Brazil, and tourism plays an active role in strengthening cultural and trade relationships. Continuing on the smooth development of Mexico-China relations, the Mexico Tourism Board considers China as a friendly and cooperative partner, and expects to make joint efforts with China to promote the development of both countries mutual relations in an all-around way.

About the Mexico Tourism Board

The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico’s tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico’s tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

About Chichen-Itza, the World Wonder

Swiss-based New7Wonders Foundation is revising the original seven ancient wonders of the world, and Mexico’s Chichen-Itza in Yucatan State is one of 21 finalists to become a new Seven World Wonder. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998, Chichen-Itza is considered to have been one of the greatest Mayan centers of the Yucatan peninsula, and today is one of the largest and most impressive archaeological sites in Mexico. To vote for Chichen-Itza as one of the new Seven World Wonders, visit the “new7wonder” website.

FOR PRESS ONLY: For additional ideas, help with a story or general travel and tourism information about Mexico, please contact the MTB’s North American Press Room directly at 1-800-929-4555.

# # #

Erick Laseca

Mexico Tourism Board

312-228-0517 ext14

erick.laseca@bm.com

Go Oriental – Travel To China

People touring all the important countries of the world; prioritize their travel to China. People’s Republic of China is the world’s most populated country, touching the 1.3 billion mark. With such a huge population and the large area, it is bound to be diverse and hence makes for a hot tourist destination..

Natural And Man-Made Wonders

China is a beautiful blend of natural beauty and man-made architecture. Nature here is bountiful with magnificent mountains of Guangxi Zhuang, deserts like Xinjiang and rivers as Yangtze. Man has erected splendid structures like ‘The Great Wall of China,’ beautiful bridges, structurally planned buildings and other monuments. This makes it one of the worlds most sought after tourist spot and the reason for people to travel to China.

Getting and Staying There

While planning to visit China, it would be wise, if you take a tour package for travel to China. However, be sure to do some research of your own, so that you can choose a suitable tour. While in China, you can go around by road, train or even by air. Accommodation is available to suit all budget and taste.

Places to Visit

Beijing, the capital of China is a must-see during your travel to China. Cities of Hangzhou and Suzhou are extremely beautiful. The most popular destinations in China are: The Great Wall of China, which is one of the seven wonders of the world; Tiananmen Square; the Forbidden City of China, the famous temples of Shibaozhai and Yangtze River, which is a very astounding natural marvel. Boat cruise on River Yangtze is breathtakingly beautiful as it takes you through various exquisite Chinese cities and places of historical importance.

People of China

People of China are very gentle, hardworking and thoughtful. Their main religion is Buddhism and Taoism. Most people speak Chinese and local people do not understand English very well. This can cause a little problem for the tourists. Other languages spoken here are Korean, Tibetan, and Mongolian etc.

China is rich in culture and has vast areas to explore. Your world-tour will never be complete, if you do not visit this oriental country.

Travel experiences: Beijing taxi cab conversations

A couple days ago, about 9 students went to the other end of the city to try some Southern Chinese cuisine. We went to a hot-pot restaurant, which is extremely similar to a fondue place in the states. You are given raw meat and vegetables as well as two types of broth, and you stick the meat in the broth in order to cook it. The difference is that in America that meal would have costed upwards of $200, but in this great country it was closer to $20 (for all nine people). It was a good experience eating Southern food. It just put in perspective how China is not a homogenous place. Just like in America, regions have their own customs, cultures, food, dialects and stereotypes. Southern Chinese feel that Northern Chinese are dirty and rugged, while Northerners feel like Southerners are way too stuck up. It seems like they took the differences between the Northerners and Southerners in America and switched them around.

The biggest learning experience came on the cab ride home however. When learning a language, it is very important that you are not scared to make mistakes. Yet sometimes are inhibitions get the best of us and prevent any discussion, which usually happens in cab rides. However this particular ride was different. For some reason, all of our inhibitions non-existant. Maybe it was because of the massive amount of 25 cent beers we drank at dinner. Maybe not. So I will try my best to remember the conversation with this Beijing cab driver. The American who asked the question would just be labeled AM.

AM: What is your favorite part of Beijing?

CAB: My home, where I can spend time with my family

AM: If you weren’t a cab driver, what would you want to be?

CAB: I have been a cab driver for so long that I can’t think of being anything else. I work 12 hour days and have gotten very good at driving in Beijing.

AM: Do you have any kids?

CAB: I have two kids. On is a 22 year old. He is in college studying computers. I have a 16 year old daughter who is in High School, she is planning on going to college as well.

AM: Did you ever think about going to college.

CAB: I am from a city way up north, and they only accept a certain amount of people from each province. I did not do well enough on the test to get into college. I am happy that my children have the opportunity to do that.

AM: What do you think of Japanese people? (This question was asked by the most intoxicated member of our group-but I am glad that Mike Scrimenti asked it).

CAB: I dont like them at all. They were very bad people in 1937. They haven’t even apologized.

AM: What about Koreans?

CAB: They are good people

So those were the important parts of our conversation. A couple things I want to point out. The life of this cab driver can be very representative of China. There is not a dying urge to get rich quick. There is however the goal to do better than your father did. This cab driver came from a rural farming area, and most likely was malnourished. He moved to Beijing when he was old enough to leave home. He is making about what an average Chinese person makes (around $1000 a year) but this is considered good because he is easily able to feed his family and send his kids to college. Another thing I would like to point out is his hatred for the Japanese. This is becoming more and more of an issue in China, and should be very important for Americans to watch out for. Any gesture we make to the Japanese is seen as a kick in the face to the Chinese.

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