Back from Beijing
March 21st, 2008 by David Stone. 2 Comments »
Wow, what a city! I didn’t really know what to expect from Beijing, the closest I came to China previously was living in Hong Kong, about 2000 km south of Beijing, and that was about 12 years ago! I’ve come away with two main views; it’s massive, it’s over-crowded.
The word massive just doesn’t do the size justice. Greater London is 1,577.3 km² vs Beijing’s Municipality 16,801.25 km², it’s just massive! Take the Forbidden City for example, it’s literally a city in a city! Or the Great Wall of China, it really is great, it’s vast, it’s never-ending!
And the over-crowdedness made me feel uneasy at times. I got the impression that jobs were been created as something to do in many instances, just keeping the population active when often there was no real need for said job. This seemed to breed an attitude of apathy to the surrounding world on many topic; self awareness, politics, social. It was as if an acceptance of mediocrity was present (a concept I personally struggle with), however when the alternative is the wrath of the CPC… but then, while in China I heard stories of entrepreneurs in Beijing and Shanghai who obviously don’t accept that mediocrity, and the current Tibetan protests happening is a very bold move, obviously not accepting the CPC, reminding me of lyrics from Jimmy Cliff’s The Harder they Come:
"But I’d rather be a free man in my grave, than living as a puppet or a slave"
That brings me onto the topic of censorship, for that reason alone I couldn’t work in China, ignoring any freedom of speech beliefs, I literally couldn’t work, sites we take for granted such as Wikipedia, blocked. Blocked by the Great Firewall of China.
I had planned to get together with some of Beijing’s web folk, however jet lag kindly canceled that for me. I also managed to sleep through Beijing Bloggers Dinner which was a shame. Next time. I did however make it to the CBGB’s of Beijing, D22, and also found the most amazing monk-run restaurant, Pure Lotus. Go to it, ’nuff said.
All in all though, I had a great time. Beijing has killed my somewhat poetic view of China established from the various China history books I collect, however walking through the Imperial Gardens while listening to Be Good Tanya’s did have a romantics, poetic ring - it certainly put a spring in my step and a smile on my face. I’m already looking forward to my next trip there, whenever it may be. Photos, as I’m sure you expected are on Flickr.