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

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.

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.

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.

Short Guide To Travel Packages In China

China is a huge country, home to the largest population in the world, hundreds of historic and beautiful sights, and of course, the Beijing Olympics in 2008. It can be quite an overwhelming task to try to explore the country by yourself – and that is why a wealth of travel packages to China have sprung up in the last decades. The relatively low cost of living in the country makes these packages quite affordable to Westerners, allowing them to travel in luxury for the same budget as average accommodation in the West. Here we explore the best of the luxury travel packages in China.

Xian is the home to the famous Terracotta Warriors, and was also the first capital city of China. If you are taking a luxury rest in China, Xian is a city not to miss. There are literally hundreds of travel packages to Xian, and luxury packages in China to this city might include the Terracotta Warriors and the Horses Museum, the Provincial Museum, and the Great Mosque. While most of the country is Buddhist, there is also some beautiful Islamic architecture to be appreciated by people of all faiths. Luxury travel packages in China will ensure that you eat at the finest restaurants in the city, often ferrying you back and forth from attractions to restaurants with gorgeous native cuisine.

If you want to know what China used to look like before the advent of Western building technology and the population explosion in the latter few centuries, then Guilin will be the luxury tour in China for you. Bicycle trips around Guilin often feature in tours, and the scenery is breathtaking. In many luxury packages in China to Guilin, you can visit the homes of local people and see how Chinese live in the countryside – a wonderful traditional education. The Sheraton Hotel in Guilin is one of the best five star accommodation facilities around, and a great base from which to explore the countryside. Many regional facilities are three stars and under, so if you are looking for a luxury rest in China, make sure you book in advance and check the luxury option with your tour operator.

If Shanghai is your city of choice, ensure that you stay at Shangri-La Pudong. In a city known as the Paris of the Orient, Shangri-La is one of the best among the best accommodation facilities in China; contemporary designs feature traditional motifs, and there is an extensive health and leisure complex. Using Shangri-La as a base, your luxury travel package in China should include sights like the Bund and Nanjing Road, two of Shanghai’s busiest streets and China’s cultural hubs. Zhujiajiao is close by to Shanghai, and your luxury travel package to China might include this famous water city, where Qing and Ming dynasty architecture, some of the most studied and beautiful on the planet, abounds. The gorgeous Qing and Ming buildings sit alongside ancient stone bridges and streets, as well as some locals who preserve the older ways of life.

Lhasa, Tibet’s capital, is a city not to be missed when arranging any luxury tour in China. See one of the world’s most dedicated Buddhist cities, through such sights as Potala Palace, Sera Monastery and Norbulingka Park. The Tibet Traditional Medicine Hospital is a sight not to be missed, opening your eyes to what traditional medicinal knowledge really can do.

There is a wealth of Chinese luxury resorts and hotels, and a good travel package will make use of the world-class facilities in China. We have surely whetted your appetite, at least!

Agriculture Investment in a Hungry World

ETF exchange traded funds are you doorway to agriculture investing in a world crying out for more food.

As the world population grows, so will the demand for food. That easy too understand, especially when you learn that the World’s population will increase from 6.6 billion now, to a United Nations estimated 9 billion by 2050. That will be like adding three Chinas!

Another vital fact is that the population is becoming significantly younger and those younger people will be eating more food than those in aging populations. Even now the consumption of meat is growing ten times faster in the developing world than it is in what we consider the developed countries.

At the same time as there is an increasing demand for food we are seeing the amount of land available to produce that food shrinking. Why? Urbanization. People are moving from the country to the cities. They are leaving the farms.

There’s more bad news. Changing weather is leading to desertification in many countries. The U.N. has released estimates that every year 12 million hectares of land turn to desert and become agriculturally unproductive.

As an example of the seriousness of the problem, Beijing’s nearest desert is only 70 km northwest of Tian’anmen Square, and this desert is on the move. It threatens to engulf China’s capital city within a few years if it can’t be stopped.

Floods, earthquakes and drought all contribute to the loss of food production.

So what does this all mean to investors? Opportunity and lots of it. It’s time to start looking world wide for companies involved with land, fertilizers, seeds, transportation, farm equipment, irrigation and veterinarian pharmaceuticals.

Rather than trying to pick companies that will prosper, why not buy a basket of agricultural investments in the form of an ETF or ETN. For example:

PowerShares DB Agriculture Fund (DBA)

This fund consists of futures contracts in soy beans, corn, wheat, and sugar, with 25% being allocated towards each commodity.

We expect agriculture to be as recession proof as any investment available today . Even if we should see a global recession people must still eat and you can expect agricultural commodity prices to move higher.

Here are some of your other choices:

Dow Jones-AIG Agriculture Total Return ETN (JJA)

Dow Jones-AIG Grains Total Return ETN (JJG)

Dow Jones-AIG Livestock Total Return ETN (COW)

Market Vectors–Agribusiness ETF (MOO)

The following are all listed on the London Stock Exchange. You can buy them online through a discount broker like E-Trade:

ETFS Agriculture ETF (AIGA-LSE)

ETFS Coffee ETF (COFF-LSE)

ETFS Corn ETF (CORN-LSE)

ETFS Cotton ETF (COTN-LSE)

ETFS Grains ETF (AIGG-LSE)

ETFS Lean Hogs ETF (HOGS-LSE)

ETFS Live Cattle ETF (CATL-LSE)

ETFS Livestock ETF (AIGL-LSE)

ETFS Softs ETF (AIGS-LSE)

ETFS Soybean Oil ETF (SOYO-LSE)

ETFS Soybeans ETF (SOYB-LSE)

ETFS Sugar ETF (SUGA-LSE)

ETFS Wheat ETF (WEAT-LSE)

There are important things to understand about these commodity investments. First, some are structured as ETFs. They hold a basket of stocks like a mutual fund. You will notice that others are ETNs. An ETN is a debt instrument in which the issuer agrees to pay the return of a commodity index, minus fees and expenses.

The tax treatment of capital gains and income can also be different for ETFs and ETNs. Some of these vehicles give you exposure to commodities by investing in the futures market and throw off income from bond collateral, while others hold stocks.

Funds that use futures contracts receive “mark-to-market” treatment, meaning on a yearly basis any gains from the futures are taxed as 40% short-term, and 60% long-term gains.

If nothing else, these investments be your personal hedge against rising grocery prices.

What to know about traveling in China – Part 4

Travel in China is sometimes frustrating but the rewards are great! The first time I traveled to China was my first trip overseas. I hadn’t taken the precautions of removing my rings on the plane and one of my fingers swelled so bad that I couldn’t remove the ring. I wandered around the airport in Beijing, while waiting for my flight to Zhengzhou, looking for someone who could help. Alas, I found no one. I was surprised that many of the people didn’t speak English at all but found out later that some probably could but many just don’t feel comfortable enough.

The first, and most important, lesson that I learned on my trip was that my traveler’s checks were useless. Most banks did not want to cash them and the ones that did had strict regulations and were in the real large cities like Beijing. On subsequent trips I brought cash and my ATM card because ATMs were available in most cities.

I arrived in Zhengzhou, finger throbbing, after about twenty-three hours of being on the “road”. Some friends of mine were teaching English there so they picked me up at the airport and we went to find someone to cut my ring off. China doesn’t have jewelers like the United States so there was no help available from that standpoint. We ended up going to a hospital and a doctor cut the ring off with bandage scissors. Actually, he bent and twisted it until it broke. All in all, it was a very painful experience. He acted as though he didn’t speak English but after it was done we found out that he, indeed, did.

My friends had decided that we should go to Xian to see the Terra Cotta Warriors that night. So we went to eat some mutton stew-type of dish and then boarded the train. Zhengzhou is a major railway hub and you can get virtually anywhere from there on a train. We had a sleeper but it was not a first class sleeper, it was the sleeper cars that most of the Chinese take when they have a long trip. Each area has six bunks with three on each side and your ticket decides which bunk is yours. You may have people that you don’t know in your little room and the room has no door. The train ride was very interesting. One of the things that it is very important to know is to put on shoes before walking to the bathroom. I wore my socks instead of shoes and ended up with them very wet and nasty. They ended up in the trash! You see the toilet is a hole in the train floor and so people miss due to the jarring ride. Need I say more?

On trains in China, you

Visiting the 2008 Olympic games, China

Michael Bristow who is a BBC Correspondent in Beijing China wrote an article in the BBC News Website: “Is China Ready for the Olympics”? After reading such slander including the so called air pollution”, the time has arrived to clear the air. The reason for such slander in the Western Media is that they pander to ignorance as well as the desire to maintain their predominance in the media world. The Western Media cannot accept the fact that China [as well as other nations such as India] are becoming powers in their own right. The Western Media has also invented these slanders in an attempt to sow hatred amongst the world.

I have just recently returned from a visit to the People’s Republic of China and had the honour and pleasure of visiting the cities of Beijing and Tsingtao. The People’s Republic of China and CRI [China Radio International] English Service were very kind and generous. Beijing, Tsingtao, as well as CRI and the People’s Republic of China exceeded my expectations. In fact, both cities have come a long way baby [citing the phrase used by Canadian Comedian Mike Myers in some of his films].

Beijing is a thriving cosmopolitan city in which the air was clean. Beijing is like any other city with advertisements such as Colombian Actress Sofia Vergara encouraging the people to use Pantene Shampoo. China has also approved of laws that encourage air and food cleanliness. I suffered from allergies and was afraid what would have happened. The result was that during my stay in Beijing [even though I took precautions], I did not feel any allergies. The Western Press cannot condemn the air in Beijing [which is a cosmopolitan city] and not condemn some of the pollution in Western Cities where I have felt the allergies. I had the honour of visiting the Great Wall of China and climbed up to the top of the mountain of that great historical monument. The air was clean and fresh.

The food in restaurants in hotels such as the China People’s Palace in Beijing and the Sophia International Hotel in Tsingtao were of a healthy quality. I even tried the Peking Duck for the first time in its purest form and it was excellent. The cooks and waiters served the food and beverages with gloves and the coffee was served in cups that are reserved for wine in the Western World.

I would like to give the Western Press a piece of advice based on what Jesus Christ said: “He or She who is without sin cast the first stone”.

Lessons in life

Last week, I made my long-awaited visit to Beijing, China. I’ve traveled pretty extensively in my day, and I have to say that Beijing is one of the most unique cities I’ve ever visited. The city is home to 18 million people, and it spreads out across six rings that emanate from its center. One thing that really surprised me about Beijing was the sheer size of everything. The main streets around Tiananmen Square and downtown were exceptionally wide. The buildings – government buildings, hotels, office buildings, and such – were enormous. Heck, even the restaurants are big. Private dining rooms and massive open seating areas flowed from floor to floor in some restaurants. (Apparently, it takes quite a bit of space to feed 18 million of your closest friends at lunchtime.)

Another notable characteristic of Beijing is its juxtaposition of the ancient and the modern world. Historical sites such as the Temple of Heaven (which opened for business in 1420 A.D.) stand proudly next to some of the most modern skyscrapers in the world. If you’re interested in the old world, stop by the Forbidden City or the emperor’s Summer Palace. If you want to see modern Beijing, head over to the CBD. (Otherwise known as the Central Business District.)

While there’s certainly lots to love about Beijing, the city is unfortunately playing host to a rather unwanted guest: smog. Most days of the year, a thick haze hangs over the city. China is burning an eye-popping amount of coal to power its unprecedented expansion, and there are more than a million cars on the roads of Beijing. All of those individual emissions add up to a big smog problem. When I went to check the weather on my first day of my visit, the report came back “Smoke and 15 degrees Celsius”. I had to rub my eyes. Did that say “Smoke”? (That wasn’t the last time I’d rub my eyes in Beijing.)

So here we have a beautiful and fascinating city on the ground and a thick blanket of haze just above the city. You can’t see the tops of most of the tall buildings, but if you could keep rising up and up, you’d find what you’d expect to find. Blue skies, a shining sun, and tremendous warmth and light. There is city and there is sun, but thanks to the smog, never the twain shall meet.

As I rode through the artificially darkened city streets, I pondered on how the smoky situation in Beijing reminds me of the life situation many of us face.

To help explain this, please join me in a quick visualization exercise. In this exercise,

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