I believe I caught what has been described to me by other foreigners as "Beijing-itis". Luckily, I'm over it now, but it put me out for almost a week. Also, I moved to a different hotel, with cheaper rooms but no internet access, which is why I haven't updated the blog in over a week and a half. I've done a few things since the last update, including shooting an AK-47 (!) and checking out a few cool areas in Beijing. I don't have my pics on me now, but I'll be getting them up soon.
Also, I had an awesome time during Chinese New Year. It's a strange period of time in Beijing. Most of the people vanish, they go to their hometowns. The city shrinks from 14million to something like 4 million. But, the remaining 4million all become pyromaniacs, and fireworks here are a minutely occurence. For the couple of days leading up to the New Year and the couple following it, this city is like Armageddon! I've never seen such a display as I've seen on New Years Eve. The city puts on a show, but it pales in comparison to the fireworks let off by individual groups of people. I spent the night at a house party with mostly foreigners, and they had a rooftop patio. Literally, around 11pm on New Years Eve, which was Saturday the 17th, the city was blowing up everywhere, 360 degrees. It was awe-inspiring. If you took all the gunpowder in all the fireworks lit in the hour leading up to the New Year, you could probably take out the entire downtown. The air smelled of gunpowder almost constantly during those days. I have some videos which I'll try to post soon, when I get another chance.
Meanwhile, I have nothing to show atm. I have many pics to post and will do so asap.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Dongsi Shitiao
Every day I end up at some major intersection, and I'm blown away by the buildings and bustle of people and cars. Today, that intersection was Dongshi Sitiao (东四十条), which is pretty much equivalent to saying 40th ave [correction, it only appears to have the interpretation, further investigation has led me to learn it's more like the "Dongsi area, 10lane"]. On the SE corner was an art museum. I didn't go in, but I was amazed by the building. The time was around 5pm, and the traffic was quite heavy. The N-S road is Dongzhimen, and the E-W is Gongrentiyulu.
On my way home I pass a construction yard which is absolutely huge, there are 15 or so cranes all over it. I can't tell what's going up.
DongSiShiTiao subway station art.
FuHua mansion.
Random english rubbish.
DongZhiMen traffic, nuts!
Front of the Poly Art Museum.
The Poly Art Museum, vertical perspective from base.
On my way home I pass a construction yard which is absolutely huge, there are 15 or so cranes all over it. I can't tell what's going up.
DongSiShiTiao subway station art.
FuHua mansion.
Random english rubbish.
DongZhiMen traffic, nuts!
Front of the Poly Art Museum.
Brick walls appear to be mostly laid in a hasty fashion. This wall could use about 5 days worth of tuckpointing!
Art museum from across the street.
This is about 10min from my hotel. The yard has about 15 cranes overall, and I don't know what they're buildling.
This image is pure China. They have such a large workforce, every project has excess people who watch over certain areas, doors, gates, supply storage zones, etc.
Art museum from across the street.
This is about 10min from my hotel. The yard has about 15 cranes overall, and I don't know what they're buildling.
This image is pure China. They have such a large workforce, every project has excess people who watch over certain areas, doors, gates, supply storage zones, etc.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Dawanglu
I went to see check out an apartment today near Dawanglu station, one stop over from Guomao. The apartment was pretty dingy. I unfortunately didn't think to take pictures (temporary loss of brain function).
The weather today was pretty nice and sunny. I went to a Wal-Mart! It had a whole supermarket on one side, very good prices too. The place smelled like pure plastic though. I took a pan from in front of the Soho buildings, a very upscale living complex at Dawanglu.
I post pics of buildings because I love buildings. I know they may not seem very interesting to some, and I know they're not very creative or artistic, and I'm only using my little digi. But I really want to nail across the point that this city is freaking huge.
So much construction. All new buildings seem to me to have a 40story starting height.
All the major roads are divided like our highways, express and collectors, and the collectors is broken into cars and bikes. This is Chang'anjie, the Yonge st. of Beijing.
The weather today was pretty nice and sunny. I went to a Wal-Mart! It had a whole supermarket on one side, very good prices too. The place smelled like pure plastic though. I took a pan from in front of the Soho buildings, a very upscale living complex at Dawanglu.
I post pics of buildings because I love buildings. I know they may not seem very interesting to some, and I know they're not very creative or artistic, and I'm only using my little digi. But I really want to nail across the point that this city is freaking huge.
Panorama facing N from in front of the Soho living complex. (google map link)
In the back of this building is where the Wal-Mart is. I really have no excuse for not taking pictures inside the Wal-Mart.
So much construction. All new buildings seem to me to have a 40story starting height.
All the major roads are divided like our highways, express and collectors, and the collectors is broken into cars and bikes. This is Chang'anjie, the Yonge st. of Beijing.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Guomao
I went to Guomao subway station to meet a Canadian friend yesterday, Bruno. Guomao is the Beijing International Trade Centre, and has two buildings (it seems that the twin-towers concept is a common theme). In the base of it is a shopping complex, with such expensive stores it makes Yorkville seem like a street-market.
This panorama shot was taken facing S from the trade centre.
This panorama shot was taken facing S from the trade centre.
GUOMAO PICTURES
Pan shot from in front of GuoMao, facing South.
Samsung.
Even hundred-million dollar banks don't bother to spellcheck their signs.
Buildings here are kinda big.
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