Local traditions and culture in Beijing

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BEIJING
To avoid the bad polution that you will find in China especially in Beijing wear a particle mask. Do what the locals do and wear a face mask. I carried some after my trip through Vietnam..The first time I admit was a real wake up call as to the huge amounts of polution here in Asia. I realised that it wasn't fog that was about but extreme polution. I especially had a difficult time with the chronic bad air in Beijing and used the facemasks a lot..The locals seem to also use these masks everywhere.
This is particularly difficult for persons travelling that suffer from breathing related problems..ie: Asthma , Bronchial problems as these particle polutants can trigger an asthma attack anytime. Anyone travelling to China with an asthsmatic or bronchial problem and needing to ues inhalers...Make sure that you carry more than normal..I personally had to cut my visit shorter than what I wanted due to a chest infection. Most markets and supermarkets sell these masks ..They are a very popular item and easy to find even street traders sell them/..Always handy to carry some..
Carry extra inhalers (if you are a user)and eye drops when travelling here

My best tip is to smile, make an effort to learn some Chinese with the locals' help, and let others laugh at you. Most people there are intrigued by Westerners anyway, but a sense of humor will take you a long way.

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The pictures show 2 things that Chinese people use to exercise their bodies and minds and then one thing that I saw one person do but I'm not sure if more people do it as well.

Pictures 1-3: while walking to find a place to eat, I found these women dancing. I have no idea what the dance is called but they were so good and the music was so festive that I couldn't help but take their picture. This was at the parking lot of one of the malls on Xinjiekou Nandajie.

Picture 4: this man was trying to keep a dreidel turning with 2 strings. Whenever the dreidel was spinning, it was making a weird (to me) sound. The picture was taken at Temple of Heaven park.

Picture 5: this woman was pedaling a child size tricycle of the sort. She was to change direction as another woman walking behind her would clap, and with each clap she would turn left or right. She was sitting on the tricycle in the opposite way a child would and I think she was working on her balance, hearing and coordination. The picture was also taken at Temple of Heaven park.

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Nuff Said! as everyone knows, we had lost luggage so we are forced to buy stuff and I bought these chinese boxer shorts at a chinese 7-11 convenience store for 15 RMB a pair and what can I say, they are quite comfortable to wear and really light. Again just get it and buy but look at the sizes first as they have very small sizes here.

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Again very useful and very cheap! it only costs 10 RMB at 24 hour convenience stores around Beijing (we bought ours at 7-11) and again due to the language barrier, just point it and pay it at counter. Like what I've said, having our baggages lost by the airline is such a hassle that you are forced to buy these stuff again hehehe. Good thing We had our baggages found and delivered pronto to our hotel after midnight.

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very cheap at 10 RMB a 150 ml pack and is available at chinese convenience stores outside (just point it since they hardly understand english), useful to buy if you forgot to pack a toothpaste in your luggage or if your airline lost you luggage on your first night (like what happened to us hehehe) that is why we are forced to buy this and other stuff. (our bags arrived just after midnight at the hotel).

Make sure to try a "jian bing", which is a Chinese ommelette. You see them being made through the city, especially in alleys. The tell tale sign is a circular stove (like a smooth hot plate). The jian bing is made by first covering the stove with batter (like pancake mix), then an egg or two is added, then hot sauce, duck sauce, and a fried fritter, some onion leaves, and then it's wrapped up and put into a think plastic bag for consumption. And it costs RMB2.5. Not very healthy, but sooo delicious. I live in Shanghai and my mouth is watering just thinking of jian bing. Beijing has the best ones in the whole country, except for maybe Tianjin.

mmmm, Jian Bing...

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Beijing Acrobat is one entertainment that must not be missed by the young and old on a visit to Beijing.
In Beijing one can see breath-holding acrobatics, some of which can be so demanding in the timing and balancing skill as to verge on the impossible