Tag: Beijing

Edozie Udeze, just back from Beijing, the capital city of the People’s Republic of China, writes on the allure and beauty that make the city one of the most visited cities in the world

The walls of the ancient palace of the Ming dynasties that was established as China’s greatest and most grandiose tourist attraction was built between 1368 and 1644. This wonderful historical setting built on the hills of Jingshan, places China as one of the most sought-after tourism destination centres in the world. Yet the capital Beijing was deliberately built as a model city to suit the ever insatiable technological aptitude of an average Chinese whose love for what is exceptional is ever unparalleled.

In reality, Beijing is a city steeped in historical sites. These sites vary in age and period. The most striking is the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City has the palace grounds that were home to ancient emperors of the Ming. It was founded in the period 1368 to 1644 when great emperors and rulers occupied it. The Ming and Qing dynasties showcased their glorious splendour more from 1644 to 1911. Today the place serves as the epitome and the climax of Chinese culture, tradition and history.

It is only when you climb the top of the hill in Jingshan Park that you will surely enjoy the beauty of the place in its complete epitome. The Jingshan mountain was even constructed artificially when the Ming dynasties erected the Forbidden city. As at today it has remained the most celebrated tourist and historical destination in the whole of China, attracting over one million visitors from all over the world every year.

Apart from the traditional beliefs and norms of the Chinese people with which they have been able to develop and perfect their society, and made life very pleasant for their citizens, it is a society well-guided by the communist system for maximum results. This observation is what first strikes you as your plane enters into their airspace and then the announcement comes on: “We are now in the Chinese airspace. As a first time visitor, you ought to be intimated with the normal norms of this society,” the announcer bellows in thickly accented Chinese English.

“If you have a contraband material on you or an explosive… If you do not have your yellow fever vaccine certificate as stipulated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and so on, and you are caught, the government of People’s Republic of China has every right to quarantine you.”

With this information and stern warning welcoming you into Beijing, China, you are quickly advised to be on your guard. China is truly a police state. Yet, it is a police state where things work; where everybody, both citizens and foreigners, are conformists. There is no doubt that their leaders set out on time to build a nation predicated essentially and primarily on etiquette and respect for one another. It is a place where people do not shout, abuse, assault or accost one another on the street.

Although there are police officers in virtually all nooks and crannies of Beijing, they do not carry arms. They mostly stand at attention in different public buildings, and street corners taking turns to guard the places. Even as they do so, they do not refuse to attend to people. They only do so with plenty of caution, gentility and respect. While at attention, a Chinese policeman will answer questions without moving his body. Only his lips would move as he stares sternly into your eyes, sizing you up to know the sort of person you are. Their eyes and bodies are built like iron steel, imbued with discipline and forbearance.

On Wednesday 12th when snow began to fall in Beijing, these police men were still seen standing outside in the same positions. It had been earlier forecast that the snowfall would hit Beijing early on that Wednesday. As early as 6a.m their local time (11pm Nigerian time), the snowfall had begun. Most of the people who did not heed the warning were caught in the middle of it on their way to work. It was truly a strong cold snap.

In fact, it was a noisy commotion outside my hotel room that stirred me into life that morning. Looking through the window, I saw a group of people rushing a couple into the next building. The little crowd then created an emergency leeway for people who were caught by the snowfall and who could not cope with the heavy snows and gales.

The warning signalled that Beijing temperature would hit its lowest. At -5C temperature, people were advised to stay away from the snow. As it was falling, it slowed down rush hour, affected traffic on all the highways as emergency workers took to the streets to sweep away the flakes to create thorough fare for commuters and vehicles.

As they swept away the snow, those on essential service sectors hurried to their offices and stations well-equipped and kitted to ensure that nothing was disrupted. Later in the day, it was learnt that the snow had delayed about 22 flights at Beijing Capital International Airport within the six hours it lasted. Later on too, about three flights were cancelled outright due to harsh weather. Yet a report released by China Daily stated that in the midst of the chilly coldness of the weather, more than 450 workers and 40 snowplows set to work to help clear the tarmac for more than 32 flights in the same day at the Beijing airport.

As was predicted earlier, the snowfall continued on Thursday, the 13th. By this time, the intensity had increased to drop the weather by up to 0C in large parts of the country. As we boarded the plane on that Thursday to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on our way back to Lagos, the snow began. Owing to its intensity we sat in the plane for four hours waiting for it to abate or subside.

Interestingly, snowplows also set to work but as they did so, the snow continued in its intensity. Time and time again, the pilot announced that we would take off, but the weather was not too encouraging. However, by the time we got to Ethiopia, despite the fact that we gained two hours both in time and altitude; we missed our connecting flight to Lagos.

The lesson in it is that China is built on a disciplined platform, based on the indigenous norms of the people. Immorality of any sort is prohibited in the streets of China. For instance, couples do not hold hands, hug or kiss in the streets. People naturally are advised to display their amorous affection in the confines of their rooms. For this and more reasons, people stick to the principle of pure and clean etiquette based on seriousness and morally – sound attitude to the norms of the society.

In China, tourists markets are built purposely to cater for visitors. There, the attendants are specially trained in English and other foreign languages to attend to people. Government seems to see this as the best way to attract and hold shoppers, and tourists, majority of whom are indeed Africans and Europeans who visit the country in millions, year in, year out.

Chinese tourists market attendants are not only aggressive, they are cunning, smart and totally business-minded. One of the markets called Sanlitun is built on almost an entire estate of ten floors. Each floor houses different goods ranging from electronics to dresses, shoes, jewelleries, crafts and leather bags. Their wrist watches come in various forms and types and are quite cheap. Every marketer in any of these sectors is properly tutored to appeal to your senses in order to patronise him or her.

Beijing is a city of 13 million people in a country of 1.3billion with over ten major mega cities. Built massively to absorb a larger population of people, the city attracts an average of one million visitors every year. According to China Daily, the country hopes to have up to 7,000 shopping malls of international standards by the year 2015. For this purpose, tourists markets still form the focal point of the government. This is so because China has perfected its security and economic system that one can hardly take out of the system.

Last year alone 15 million square metres of floor space for at least 1,500 malls were under construction in the country. Some of the major malls in China are considered some of the best in the world. In short, some are constructed on 50,000 to 100,000 – plus square metres of both down and floor spaces. The central business district of Guomao built around the main concentration of foreign embassies is to hold nationals of these countries spellbound with attractive things that will make them go shopping all the time.

Chinese national currency called Yuan is the main attraction in the area of business transactions in the country. Like most well-developed economies of the world, their national currency holds the allure for them. They neither love British Pound Sterling or US Dollar. These currencies can only be allowed to be changed in some designated banks. In so doing, your international passport has to be documented and your imprints taken for record purposes. It is only the tourist markets that are permitted to trade in either dollars, pounds or euros.

There, one hundred dollars is changed for 618 yuan, making the money quite strong and purposeful. And because the Chinese economic index is so strong, a hundred dollars goes a long way in solving your shopping needs. So, as you change your money to Yuan, a typical Chinese who is business – conscious, would beckon on you with all sorts of gimmicks to spend it all in their economy. It is a tactic built in almost all of them and they truly thrive in it.

Although we did not see any Church or Mosque or even visited any in town, most of their public places were adorned with Santa Claus and other forms of Christmas decorations to usher in the season. To them, Christmas is real and is time to show love, to give out gifts and visit the less-privileged. A lady friend called Lulu said: “Yes, this is time for love. See the flowers there, those red ribbons,” she exclaimed, pointing to bunches of flowers in front of a building, “they all remind us of Christmas.”

“Oh,” she screamed, “it is time when Jesus was born. We are happy to be alive too to see this year’s snow. Snow brings luck, it brings life and it is good to see snow, at least once in your life time.”