grumeti peking

BEIJING, HONG KONG, october 2012 *download PDF*

Ni hao Beijing

October 2012, the new direct flight from Zürich to Beijing is just perfect. Not too many people in the plane and time to relax and read. We have this picture in our heads, 10000 bicycles in the streets of Beijing and I hear the song as well. That was a wrong picture and we had to revise this as well as some other prejudice thinking.
The first impression at the airport at 5 o'clock in the morning, huge place! We trot along with the other passengers to the custom control and wonder where we will need to go afterwards. The first surprise, just after the passport check a young lady is waiting for us, she is from our Hotel. She is smiling and will guide us to the main-hall, our luggage and the booked car pick up. This is luxury pure.
A short train ride of 10min and we are in the arrival hall with the luggage belts. 2 minutes later we are on the way to the car and our guiding lady, smiles and is gone. Now we are in the hands of the driver, who comments that it is too early for traffic jams and we should arrive at the Hotel in approx. 30 min. Beijing is still asleep at least that is how it looks like during our transfer. The Fairmont Hotel is only a few years old and we move in to our room at the 22nd floor, to sleep a bit, what else at 5.30am ?

Thanks to the espresso-machine in our room we are awake and ready to explore. Beijing here we come!
The planned visit is to the Forbidden City by Taxi and here comes the Taxi lesson. The Hotel provides each guest with a little map and business card to show to Taxi drivers, as they don't speak English. But... some of them can't read and are not from Beijing, they came from the countryside to find a job in the city. It is a challenge for both.
The young people did learn English and if you have a question ask a young person, they are very helpful.
But back to our Taxi adventure, Beijing has about 30'000 Taxis and 18 mill. inhabitants plus the tourists. Taxis are a rare species especially in the rush-hour and at the tourist attractions.
For us, the bellboy did get a Taxi and instructed the driver where we like to go. The 6 lane streets in the middle of the city are impressive as the traffic converts them to 8-10 lanes. All well mixed, Bentley, Mercedes, scooters, bikes, wheelbarrows and pedestrians. Chaos for us but somehow it works.

The Forbidden City, not forbidden for hawkers, dealers and guides all want to sell something to the numerous tourists. People as far as the eye can see. Before we plunge in, we have to queue for the tickets but if you don't want to wait, dealers offering tickets to you for immediate access but to a premium price. We are patient.

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