Beijing - in my diary…

It was a short trip to Beijing. I had intended to stay on a little more days, but something better got me moving from the place even before I could realize that I missed many good things in China. As short as it may have been, it was definitely a worthy trip. I didn’t make the most of the trip would be a very apt statement. Though I was in Beijing through the Golden Week (National Day holidays in China), I couldn’t make the most. Blame it on the lack of passport which had gone for the Alien Residence permit. I had spent most of the days within Beijing. I still couldn’t get the better of Beijing!

It would be absolutely true to say that I did enjoy my stay in Beijing thoroughly. I had reservations about the city, when I was asked to travel. But most of them were proved wrong after a couple of days into my stay in Beijing (although I still reserve some of them). The city is otherwise vibrant with energy or so did I feel. Most of it was so different from my imagination, that I had to drop my jaws down every now and then in wonder. All we visitors lack is the lack of the local tongue – Mandarin. Even without the language, you can definitely feel the warmth and friendliness of the locals. And of course, you become the center of attraction wherever you go especially if you are from India. I really felt alienated from the rest of the world, whenever I walked alone in the streets of Beijing!

The City of Beijing is completely filled with history and ancient monuments, worth visiting. India and China, in that sense do share the same equalities. However, the presentation of history, I personally feel, is portrayed better in China. They have made sure that every available piece of their ancient history and architecture is available for the current and future generations to cherish. This is a return income in another way for the government as well. And there has been heavy contributions made by the Chinese Government from that front.

Another important aspect that I was amazed at after landing in the city of Beijing is the Infrastructure. The roads, highways, the buildings – every single aspect of infrastructure is stupendous. Am certain I had never expected such an excellent network maintained within the city of Beijing. It is not just because the city is the capital of China, even some of the remote places of China like Fuzhou is excellently maintained in infrastructure, I have been told. The Olympics 2008 did definitely bring an excellent turn around of events in the history of Beijing – Infrastructure improvements being the key of all. Though the pollution in the city is a completely different aspect, you cannot stop wondering how such a big city could still maintain an excellent infrastructure. Of course, the citizens play a very key role in this as well.

There are many more aspects of Beijing that I had missed out – food, culture, history, architecture and many more. I did have time enough to visit a few places that proved of penultimate knowledge improvement for me. And am absolutely sure, this is one such place you need to drop in your list of places to visit, at least once in a life time!