Truemors
Are you going to the Beijing 2008
Summer Olympics, or just visiting Beijing this year? This is China's big year to show their new stuff.
Because
I work for a large American corporation, I was picked up at the
airport by an arranged driver that my company has an agreement
with. The next day, the host manager rented a van, and a group of us went to
the Great Wall of China. In China it is common to hire a driver for a
few hours or for the day.
A word of advise when going to a popular spot on the Great Wall of China on the weekend, get
there by 9:00am or you will be in lines up to get on the wall, and in
lines once on the wall. Another suggestion, take the lift to the higher
point of the wall, to the most scenic location.
In the evening,
I went with friends to a few bars. Since one fellow spoke Mandarin, he
was up front instructing the driver. When the driver took off, my
friend opened the window. When he realized we are freezing in the
back seat, he explained, "Some of the drivers stay in their taxi for days,
sleeping in the car and not showering. I like to air the car when I
get in." This explains the odd smell when I was in a taxi earlier, and
why the driver opened his window for a while after he started driving.
Like
the cities in Southeast Asia, it is strongly recommended that you don't
let the driver start driving until you are very sure he knows where to
go. This is more true than in any other city I have been in. One thing
nice thing is that the driver will likely refuse to take you if they do not
know where to go. One time, I used a map which helped the driver get me to my
destination. Another time when I got out my map,
my Beijing experienced friend told me, "This will not help, they cannot read a map." I
countered with the point that the map was in Chinese, however the
problem was that the drivers are not educated enough to use a map, they
either know where to go, or they do not. This time it was the 5th driver that finally knew where to go, we got in
and got to our destination.
In Beijing, the drivers always used
the meter, so this was not a question nor a problem. Maybe I was lucky,
always watch that they turn the meter on.
There is much
construction in Beijing, be patient and be happy for the people of
Beijing, the construction will be good for everyone.
Is China
changing for the better? I believe so. Before I arrived, arrangements
had been made, and group of us from America, Hong Kong, and other China
cities were allows to teach at the Beijing University. For me this was
a great honor. While on campus, a student walked us around to show us
the grounds, it is was a wonderful experience. I wish you all well,
those traveling to China, and specially for those going their first
time.
Comments (0)