Beijing Day 2: A Nanjinger's Raw Take for You Wanderers
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Alright, no problem! I'll help you refine this post about your travel experience and complaints so it's more suitable for foreign readers while still retaining your candid, lighthearted style.
Now, let me share some issues I encountered during my domestic travels:
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Some "special" habits in Chinese tourism that may not appeal to foreigners:
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As a matter of fact, spitting on the ground is common here. You're strolling along when an elderly gentleman “coughs ~ spit!” (that is the sound of clearing one’s throat before spitting), and a huge wad of phlegm might land at your feet. The elderly gentleman I met actually kept this up as he walked past me.
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Important reminder! Travel tip time:
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Could we be a little self-conscious when traveling? Many foreigners come to admire China from afar, and its scenery truly is gorgeous, but this kind of behavior really diminishes the country's image.
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Would you spit on the ground in your own home? Probably not, right? Then why do it in other places?
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How to avoid embarrassment/maintain hygiene: Just use a paper tissue. This is perfect for disposing of it properly; rest assured, there are bins everywhere!
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However, these older folks seem to be the only ones engaging in this habit. I saw very few young people participating; most were from the ages of 40 to 70. It seems the youth have better etiquette!
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A pleasant surprise at the Summer Palace:
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The Summer Palace is an ultra-famous imperial garden in Beijing, where emperors used to spend their summers.
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Those water birds by the Summer Palace dock were really cute – very friendly, too!
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A few musings about the ancient trees:
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There are quite a few old trees within the Summer Palace grounds, with many having particularly artistic roots, testaments to the strength of time.
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So far, I've only toured the Summer Palace and Old Summer Palace. Due to the Old Summer Palace being destroyed by fire and a significant loss to Chinese history, this location now houses over 300 ancient trees – not nearly as common or lush as I thought they’d be.
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I’m looking forward to seeing the “tree king” at the Temple of Heaven (where emperors used to worship heaven) instead!
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Overall thoughts on the Summer Palace:
- To be honest, I didn’t feel anything out of the ordinary about the Summer Palace itself; just want to stroll through its lanes a bit, trying to appreciate its historical ambiance.
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People who smoke while walking and spit on the ground are the worst. And wouldn't you know it, it's often the same people doing both.
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Smoking is just so inconsiderate, especially when people do it while walking or in parks.
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The spitting problem in Beijing is really severe. As a local, I find it incredibly distressing – it's just so dirty and disgusting! It feels like an unsolvable problem. I wonder how other cities handle it.
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It's the same in other cities.
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Thank you for your suggestions regarding Beijing's image! The issue you've raised is something many of us find abhorrent. Hopefully, your call to attention will prompt the government to take concrete steps to address it.
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Beijing is actually a great city. I hope visitors from other places can help uphold the honor of their capital by reining in some of their bad habits.
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I saw a 3000-year-old ancient tree in Shanxi. Wow, that was a real eye-opener!
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What on earth?! You're kidding!
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Seriously, you can't even guard against it. Someone will just walk past you, hawk up a 'hetui' (sound of spitting), and launch a big glob of phlegm. It ruins your whole day!
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And that just shatters the beautiful image people have of Paris.
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These people are just letting loose while traveling. They probably follow the rules at home, but once they're in another city, it's like, 'Whatever, I'm just a tourist here for a few days, I don't have to behave.'
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People like that just can't control themselves; they're the same everywhere. The only difference when they're away from home is that more people witness their behavior. I just don't get why some people seem to have phlegm year-round and have to spit it out. Where does it even come from? Can't it be treated?
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If you like ancient trees, you should visit Jietai Temple. They have some that are a thousand years old.
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Missed my chance. I used to see posts about it all the time.
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Here's a pic.
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The Summer Palace is huge. First-time visitors usually only scratch the surface.
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That's so true. If I were a local, I'd definitely get an annual pass. I'd take my time exploring all the major attractions whenever I had free time – there are so many places worth savoring.