Beijing: That 'Posh-Yet-Provincial' Vibe – WTF?
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Now, seriously, when you wander around in Beijing, you'll find:
- The buildings here are really well designed and quite attractive on their own! You might even be surprised to think you're in Hong Kong's Central District, as the grandeur is reminiscent of those vibrant HK office complexes.
- But, there's a catch! When you start to look at these buildings together with their surroundings... my god, it just doesn't jive! It feels like wearing an entire set of branded suits, but leaving your matching shoes with only cheap, plastic flip-flops, which make the whole outfit seem disjointed.
Just what's going on here though?!
A little heads-up for first-time visitors to Beijing or anyone not quite familiar with the city:
- Visual Clashing Alert: In Beijing, you might find extremely modern skyscrapers right next to centuries-old alley-like, narrow streets known as "Hutongs," or ordinary residents' buildings. This juxtaposition of old and new, with contrasting architectural styles, is quite common here.
- Why is it like this? Well, the quick growth of Beijing is the main reason. Many new buildings arise within old districts, "slipping into the gaps," or in the process of urban expansion, the newer planning has yet to fuse well enough with the old structures.
- How to appreciate this? Don't be too hung up on whether everything matches perfectly in terms of harmony. Try to enjoy individual buildings' unique designs while also feeling that buzz and vitality that sometimes comes from the clash of architectural styles. Some people really enjoy that "conflict beauty," finding it exhilarating!
So, if you find yourself going, "Wow!" for one building, then saying "Uh...," looking at its surroundings, don't be lost in the confusion—a little disconnect could just be one of Beijing's special traits!
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Dude, seriously, you've been posting all this random stuff and your account isn't really taking off. Maybe try a different approach? Weren't your initial cycling posts pretty good? You should stick with that!
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Hahahahahaha, savage! The author probably wanted to stir up controversy to get their account going, and you just called them out so bluntly...
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- The city's scale is too large—wide roads, a sparse network, and low density—making it visually difficult to achieve a sense of varied and continuous layering. 2. Street-level commerce is scarce and monotonous. If you compare it to the streetscapes of Tokyo, New York, or Shanghai, the skyline above 30 meters might not be vastly different from Beijing's. However, below 30 meters, the difference is significant. The variety and design quality of their street-level businesses are far superior, and these businesses attract large crowds, becoming an integral part of the street scene. This creates a vibrant urban atmosphere even if the buildings aren't particularly tall.
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Yes, the difference in commercial vibrancy is really noticeable, and the distances between places are just too far.
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It's always been a bit unrefined.
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Your IP address checks out.
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You can say we're unrefined, that's fine. But don't call us 'delicate' or 'exquisite' – I can't stand those words. We aim for 'grandeur,' not 'delicacy.'
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Beijing truly has a sense of grandeur that other, more 'delicate' cities can't match.