Advantages: To Have Been There
Disadvantages: No Wild Birds

.... I somehow couldn't imagine our retired population in the UK making use of walking machines, benches and even a cobbled path that people were walking around and around barefooted. Another significant impact was how polite and non-aggressive the huge city of Beijing felt. Usually in any big city there can be a feeling of threat and menace but we didn't experience this sensation at all in China. We felt completely safe. Another huge impact was that after the scruffy, dirty and worn out atmosphere of London Heathrow and the obvious discontentment of the people who have to work there, and then Beijing International Airport was indeed a sharp contrast. Spotlessly clean with polite smiling staff and a very modern, streamlined appearance putting Heathrow to shame at the first impression that it must surely give to our visiting tourists... Read review

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Advantages: China is going to give the world an amazing show
Disadvantages: are the chinese people going to suffer?

...in Gifu 2005). It has been reported that the current Chinese athletes competing on the world stage are not necessarily the best in the country, more likely the best of one of the larger provinces; bearing in mind many are being successful, I honestly hope this is just a rumour. It is not just the major sports, or traditional Asian sports (table tennis) that China is suddenly becoming competitive in, sprint hurdling, snooker, canoe, biathlon and all sorts of other ones that I'm sure I don't know about. Beijing Entering the city from the airport is a sight itself, coming through the 6 lane motor-way toll point, a wooden temple like structure decorated ornately with dragons and serpents in red and gold. The city of Beijing is massive, a vast sprawling city of all types of housing but I was surprised to see quite so many 70's style tower... Read review

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Advantages: Lots to see
Disadvantages: pollution, noise on the streets, busy

...When i first flew in, i did not get what i expected. I was imagining traditional china, with old buildings everywhere. This vision, was a fools vision. You come through the gates at the airport, and are met by crowds of people trying to get to the front to meet their people. Then when you get outside you are met by pollution in the air. There is a sort of haze in the area which you cannot escape. Bearing in mind we went in Feburary, it was very cold, and we wrapped ourselves in coats and other items of clothing. We were met by a coach which took our bags to the hotel for us, whilst we (tired from an overnight flight) were taken off to Tianneman Square. It takes about an hour from the airport to get to Beijing and on this journey you can see, it start to appear through the haze. The roads scared me at first, there were so many of them... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent quality food, great taste, top service, easy to get to, real value.
Disadvantages: None

...The Peking Duck on Smithdown Road was an eating experience not to be missed. It's been recently taken over and is a real family business with the lovely, helpful sons providing service. The food is fresh, hot, tasty and very well priced. The cleanliness and general feeling of quality is unquestionable. We went initially to the Sunday afternoon buffet and was very impressed with the range of starters in particular. We then returned for a meal and ordered a set menu. The chicken and sweetcorn soup was one of the best I've ever tasted. The spare ribs were sticky and rich, the duck gorgeous and we asked for more pancakes with no extra charge. The lemon chicken had a real lemon taste and the beef in blackbean sauce so tender and tasty. We could fault nothing and recommend it fully to everyone. There is free parking in a car park over the road... Read review

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Advantages: Lots to see and do, the great wall, Forbidden City
Disadvantages: Pollution, not the best weather in March, people spitting everywhere

...on newsgroups and different internet forums. And his book is very detailed when it comes to many aspects of Beijing. The Lonely Planet guide is quite boring but I guess that is because I’m used to the Eyewitness guides. And we did of course get some information from the internet. The trip begins We wanted to fly SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) this time but they didn’t have the option of flying to Beijing and back from Hong Kong so we ended up on KLM. As I have said before, I think that KLM has gone down in quality in the last few years. When we boarded the plane it was pretty full and one lady didn’t know where to place her hand baggage and she asked one of the air stewardesses if she could help her out. And the KLM stewardess just said ”No”. Not much service to be found there. But hey, KLM do have a great home airport at least. Schiphol has become... Read review

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Advantages: Raffles! Friendly staff, immaculate rooms
Disadvantages: Expensive bowling alley

...Wow, what an amazing hotel - and a true bargain at that. It is actually now owned by Raffles with one part of the hotel being Raffles and the other Beijing Hotel. We visited Beijing in January this year staying for six nights in the Raffles section of the hotel. You know that you are arriving somewhere nice when your taxi door is opened as soon as you get there and friendly men smile at you and welcome you to the hotel. They grabbed our cases and brought them inside for us. The reception is clean and warm (a must as it was minus five outside!!!). The staff welcomed us to the hotel and could not have been more friendly and helpful. An added bonus was that we had booked through Expedia (therefore only paying £60 per night) and been told that we were not getting breakfast included. The reception staff said that as it was low season... Read review

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Advantages: Just my opinion
Disadvantages: None unless you are the oppressor

...... Read review

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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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Advantages: interesting, famous and exciting
Disadvantages: lots of poverty, toilets, dirty.

...My visit was a surprise. I went over to see my expat Uncle and Aunt in Hong Kong/Macau. We flew from Macau airport up to Beijing. Several flights had come in at once so we had to wait at Customs for about 40 minutes. The Hotel: We stayed at The Grand Hotel which is a super hotel.It is a classy 5 star hotel in the centre of Beijing near to Tiananmen Sqaure. We were taken by a chaffeur driven Mercedes to the hotel from the airport. *The lobby* Small but elegant, dark furnishings and English-speaking staff on reception. We arranged our tour to the Great Wall and Ming Tombs from here. *Room* My room was heavenly. A large 4-poster bed with fresh sheets everyday. The balcony overlooked the Forbidden City. The room was large with 2 tables and a wardrobe. The bathroom was filled with lovely shampoo and body lotion etc, decked out... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap place once you've got there
Disadvantages: the problems one experiances are basically due to the language barrier

...Beijing isn't all that I was made to believe it to be it has a touch of the oriental old style with areas such as the Summer palace and the Forbidden city, which are a must see for those who intend on taking back photos of the ancient dynasties. However those who have visited know of how metropolitan the city is it's streets are crammed full of people busy with city life, much the same as London or any other major city. There are towering offices that seem to travel miles into the sky, roads that weave in and out and to be honest leaves the best of us wondering where we are. The city is terrific there are more things to do here thatn in most cities around the world and whats more it's cheap. Areas for shopping are basically well established market places, these include the silk alley, San li Tun (otherwise known as the bar street... Read review

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