Kai Kang International, Beijing

Advantages: Frenzied energy of chaotic city, many worldclass tourist attractions, delicious food, incredibly safe & ridiculously cheap.
Disadvantages: Gruesome pollution, occasional racism targeting foreigners & lack of freedom for those who take an organised tour (not recommmended).

...What is Beijing’s appeal? After 5 visits I still do not know. The air is choked with poison, the rivers swim with sewage and yet the city burns with a terrific energy that both excites and intrigues. At first I intended to label Beijing as a love-hate city, but it is not. Impossible to love, yet difficult to hate, Beijing is rather a city that fascinates and overpowers, inspiring in the visitor a unique sense of repulsed wonder and disbelief. Beijing is the only place I have ever seen a dead body. Standing arms spread like Jesus on a motorway intersection, a man calmly tossed himself off the overpass and fell unseen about thirty feet to the tarmac below. Staring down in morbid horror I watched as a growing crowd chattered excitedly. After five minutes a police car cruised up and came to a halt a foot and a half from the body... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Great people, fabulous food
Disadvantages: Pollution levels high, extremes of temperature

..., and order by either pointing at dishes on other tables or use the food guide in the Lonely Planet. It will be worth it. Don't worry too much about levels of hygiene - they are no longer that bad and the worst that will happen to you is an upset stomach. If you really can't stand Chinese food, then there are many western restaurants, especially in the Sanlitun and Houhai areas. There is even a fish and chip shop run by three Chinese men with English wives. Don't tip - the service charge is included in the price. Hotels There are a number of four and five star hotels in Beijing, all at international levels and prices. If you need to book your own hotel, then the Kerry Centre Hotel, the China World, the Wangfu Hotel and the Shangrila Hotel are all excellent, although the last is rather too far away from most attractions. For those looking... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: clean, lots of space, convenient, easy, quick
Disadvantages: airport tax for some

...The Beijing airport is probably just as good as many new airports in developed countries. I have lived in Beijing for three and a half years and this new airport is a great improvement to the old one. This airport has a very big feel to it. The ceilings are very high making it feel less crowded than it may be and its extremely clean. The light colours are probably what make it look so clean. There are escalators for those who can't be bothered with stairs and there are conveyor belts on the straight walkways for those who are to lazy or tired to walk. It is a very convenient airport as there are lots of signs around to help direct you in the right direction. What is so great about it being so spacey is that on arrival or when departing you don't have to creep through narrow halls packed with people that you bump into or who bump... Read review

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