Beijing: My 10,001st Reason to Say 'Nope!'
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Hey folks, if you're planning to visit Beijing, I want to share some of my "Beijing Survival Experiences" to hopefully help you get a better understanding!
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Getting around in Beijing feels like moving between provinces – incredibly vast!
- After landing at the airport, it takes ages just to exit and find your way around. The parking lot can be confusing, with little electronic signage, which may leave you desperately hunting for a driver!
- I once landed in Beijing at 11:30 PM. It took me over an hour to figure out how to get to the correct elevator floor (due to a lack of directions) and eventually, two drivers became lost in the parking lot. By the time I left, it was already 1 AM.
- My friend landed in Chengdu that same day but got home by 12:40 AM, what a contrast!
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出行时间要打足提前量 (Plan ahead for travel time): If you are traveling from the airport or going to another place in the city, expect the journey time to be much longer than anticipated. Allow extra time for finding transportation at the airport.
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People here tend to be fiery-tempered!
- It's common to hear food delivery guys arguing with restaurant owners, or people you've never met having heated disputes over trivial matters.
- Perhaps because living in Beijing places immense pressure on everyone, making them feel tense every minute, so they only take small opportunities to vent without impacting others.
保持平常心看待 (Take small conflicts in stride): If you witness a squabble, do not react strongly or take it personally, as it could be an outcome of the stress brought about by the bustling city life. Remember to stay level-headed.
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Beijng's wind tends to be extremely harsh and dusty!
- No matter how much effort you put into styling your hair before leaving home, the first gust of wind outside will ruin it immediately. Beijing’s strong wind offers no mercy for fashion!
发型准备要到位 (Ensure your hairstyle is ready for the wind): Do not expect your sophisticated hairstyle to last long under Beijing’s harsh winds. Wear a hat, or tie up your hair to better withstand the spring dust storm.
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Only during pleasant days when you can enjoy being outdoors.
- It becomes unbearably hot in summer and equally cold in winter. And just when you’ve been eagerly waiting for spring and autumn, they fade quickly; you might not even finish trying on all ten sets of beautiful outfits within the season.
选择季节出行 (Choose the seasons of travel wisely): Summer (June - August) and winter (December - February) can be extreme, so keep sun protection and warmth measures in mind. Spring and autumn (April-May, September-October), which are far more amiable, are quite short-lived, so plan travel arrangements promptly.
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Some public facilities and street views are somewhat obscure.
- For instance, Beijing South Station, a major railway station, lacks charging sockets. Also, there are no shared bicycles commonly seen in many other cities in China.
出行需随身携带移动电源 (Remember to carry a power bank): Travel is often done via subway, bus, or taxi.
- The famous alleys known as Siheyuan, although quaint, may contain hardware stores or apparel shops not expected by tourists, making local life the core attraction.
逛街胡同时需注意 (Tread carefully while shopping in alleys): Not all alleys serve as tourist attractions, some act as local residential areas. Renowned alleys like Nanluoguxiang can be commercialized, but others retain their native charm.
- Even places filled with crowds in the city center may have incredibly unprofessional and aloof storekeepers, driving customers away.
心态保持放轻松 (Maintain a calm mindset): Don't get overly frustrated when confronted with bad customer service, just move on to another store.
- For instance, Beijing South Station, a major railway station, lacks charging sockets. Also, there are no shared bicycles commonly seen in many other cities in China.
Why would one choose to stay in this city? Well, perhaps the reasons outnumber by a thousandfold…
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Let's be honest, it's about not having enough money to stay. If you have money and a good income, everywhere looks good. Without money or a stable income, you won't feel secure anywhere. Financial stability is the foundation for everything else.
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Yeah, and with the same amount of money, you could live better elsewhere too.
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I guess it's 'different strokes for different folks.' I just love Beijing's distinct four seasons; each one brings its own surprises. Spring with its blooming flowers, summer with iced sodas and watermelon, autumn with golden leaves, and winter mornings when you open the curtains to a white world. I love watching the seasons change and feeling the passage of time.
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I also love the changing seasons in Beijing! The light greens and pinks of spring, that sense of vitality and joy – it's something I never experienced in over 20 years living in the south.
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All big cities are pretty much the same.
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Really? Every time I go to Shanghai on a business trip, I find the city beautiful and the climate great.
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The traffic is too chaotic. Major intersections surprisingly don't even have separate left-turn signals. Even when pedestrians have a green light, cars can still turn left and they don't yield. As a tourist, I was genuinely shocked.
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I feel like people in Beijing have this sense of superiority, as if Beijing has to be the best place in the country and they can't stand anyone saying otherwise. I won't be swayed by that thinking. I'm already very unhappy here, and the only way to change things is to leave. I visited Hangzhou last month and was so happy; time seemed to slow down, like a day actually had 24 hours. The pace in Beijing is just too fast, there's no time to really experience life.
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You can tell from the comments there's a lot of negativity.
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So, are there any cities with good weather? I've also grown tired of Beijing's climate these past couple of years. Sigh
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Your username is hilarious.
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If it weren't for life's pressures and a strange twist of fate, who would willingly choose to stay long-term in a place like this, always feeling subordinate?
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Damn, that's so true! I've never seen discussions about the differences between locals and outsiders in any other city-related topic.
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So true.
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Just realized the OP studied in Chengdu. I'm from Chengdu, haha!
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You can tell just by looking at the comments... You're really brave for posting this.
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[Hehe] Actually, I try to be objective and say both good and bad things, but unfortunately, it's the criticisms that people tend to notice more.