Ni-hao, China! Many people think I'm Chinese. But I am 100% pure Japanese. In fact, I've never been to China. With some good and bad pre-conceptions about this country, I began my 2-week trip in Beijing. Honestly, I was surprised how wide and clean the streets are. NY's one block is nothing compared to the one in Beijing. And guess what keeps these big streets so clean; the cleaning people who literary pick up trash with a large pinset, driving a tricycle from corner to corner. Hats off!
As the city is getting ready to welcome people from overseas for the Olympic and becoming more and more modernized, many old buildings are getting turned down. Most of the old Beijing scenes is now covered by construction walls. Like many other cities, it's a sad development. Even the local people don't necessarily appreciate this modernization. I wish the city tried to keep the exteriors old and renovate interiors. In a long-run, this modernization may keep the travelors away.
Did I get to go to Great Wall? No. It's my plan for the next visit, if ever.
Ni-hao, China! Many people think I'm Chinese. But I am 100% pure Japanese. In fact, I've never been to China. With some good and bad pre-conceptions about this country, I began my 2-week trip in Beijing. Honestly, I was surprised how wide and clean the streets are. NY's one block is nothing compared to the one in Beijing. And guess what keeps these big streets so clean; the cleaning people who literary pick up trash with a large pinset, driving a tricycle from corner to corner. Hats off! 
As the city is getting ready to welcome people from overseas for the Olympic and becoming more and more modernized, many old buildings are getting turned down. Most of the old Beijing scenes is now covered by construction walls. Like many other cities, it's a sad development. Even the local people don't necessarily appreciate this modernization. I wish the city tried to keep the exteriors old and renovate interiors. In a long-run, this modernization may keep the travelors away.
Did I get to go to Great Wall? No. It's my plan for the next visit, if ever.
