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Beijing Warnings or Dangers

Beijing travel tips posted by real travelers and Beijing locals.
Local Time 6:21 pm Saturday, July 26, 2008
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Pollution: No really, that's not fog...
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  • Pollution mars the Forbidden City - Beijing
    Pollution mars the Forbidden
    City
    by amambaw
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    The pollution in Beijing is considerable. Our entire trip, the city seemed to be fogged in with some kind of haze. We got a bit of relief out at the Ming Tombs and Great Wall, but even there, we noticed it.

    If you have respiratory problems, be aware of this! Sitting in traffic is the worst, I got high from the fumes!

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    Safety: BEIJING - PICK POCKETS
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  • Beware of entering restaurants - gangs of thieves crowd you - usually with one in front, one on the side and two in the rear. The one in the front enters before you with the others crowding you from behind. The one in front then appears to change his mind and turns to get out creating a jam at the door. The crush results in your purse/wallet/backpack being picked with everything taken. My sister lost 4800 yuan this way in May 2007.


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    Change Money: Fake Chinese Yuan/RMB
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  • Be careful when shopping at the markets. If possible, pay with the exact amount of money needed or use small bills to pay because the vendors may give you fake yuan/RMB for the change. I was warned by the local about this issue. As foreigners, we cannot easily differentiate the fake from the real RMB. When you exchange the currency at the money changers or the banks, ask for some small bills.

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    Traffic: TRAFFIC & POLLUTION!
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  • Traffic is already a big problem with the growing number of vehicules and a real danger to one's life...

    ... do pay a lot of attention when crossing the streets - there are lot of cars and innovative drivers there...

    I would recommend to visit Beijing in winter time as the pollution is really bad when the air hot!!

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    Toilets: Ladies, Be Prepared
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  • One of the nastier toilets... - Beijing
    One of the nastier
    toilets...
    by emoja
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    Be prepared for the squatting toilets. They're not too bad, just don't bend down too far and try to avoid splashing on your shoes (it sounds grosser than it is).

    Carry your own tissue just in case there is none. A travel bottle of hand sanitizer might come in handy too.

    Your hotel will have a regular Western toilet, no fears there.

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    Toilets: Toilets
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  • Example of toilet at the Great Wall, Mutianyu - Beijing
    Example of toilet at the Great
    Wall, Mutianyu
    by clairegeordio
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    Toilets aren't as clean as Western toilets, however, from what I had read before leaving I was expecting worse. They are also 'holes in the ground' with no toilet roll or soap, so I would advise you to bring your own. We brought some anti-bacterial handwash with us that didn't require water.

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    Have you heard? Please look at...
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  • Have you heard? Please look at this pic - I took it from Tian'an Men. If I move to the left a little bit, then you can see the flag, the monument and the building at the farthest where it is the place to put Mao Zedong's body. People told me never take pic when these three are in the same line. They said you will never succeed to take it and will get bad luck!! Really??!! A friend of mine didn't believe it and had a try, and well, later he got trouble to develop the film and he lost all pics in that film. However, I still wonder if this is true, but never dare to try.

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    Traffic: Crazy Traffic
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  • In overall, Beijing is a very safe city. The only real danger we spotted was traffic. No, luckily we didn't see or get into accidents, but it looks like the only rule is that there are no rules.

    In the intersections, the pedestrians move inches near bikers, rickshaws and cars. Apparently, the Chinese developed some kind of kungfu dexterity, because they seem to be very calm about it.

    Examine closely the attached picture. It's taken on the bridge near the Hongqiao market. The cars don't form a straight line. Here and there you see people and bikes.

    However, there are visible efforts to keep the situation under control. Since the traffic lights are mostly used as decoration, there are policemen on the liveliest spots. They are obeyed.

    Whenever possible, use bridges or underground crossings.

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    Change Money: The Usual Stuff
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  • The usual stuff here. First, managing the money: can be exchanged at banks either at the airport or in the city. But don't rely on your credit cards too much (you probably won't find as many ATM machines as you do back home), it's better to take traveller's cheque. Second, always take some tissues with you because some public toilets do not provide toilet papers (sucks, i know).

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    Pollution: Wear a mask
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  • The air is very dusty. You can taste it and feel it in your eyes and hands. To feel is to believe. You can see some people wearing masks here because of the smog and dust. This picture is from one of the lake/park in the northeast. That's not fog or some romantic mist, that's dust and other sulfuric particles in the air!!

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