A
lthough I travelled to China alone, I
wasn’t likely to get lonely in the
largest country in Asia, as it boasts the
most populous in the world. Around
1.3 billion people are bustling noisily around the
country, and if you’re in the heart of Beijing you
may suspect they’ve all gathered in the same
area, with bicycles whizzing by, excitable beeping
and beautiful mandarin-style chatter filling the
air. Talk about a buzzing atmosphere!
When I set off in search of Eastern entertain-
ment, I was struck by the weather conditions: the
sun was beating down strongly on my overly-
large sunhat. (At least I was reassured that look-
ing like an idiot wearing it in a freezing cold
English airport because I refused to squash it in
my case was worth it). July and August are the
hottest months, with temperatures reaching as
high as 40°C. Be prepared for this on your China
travels, as monsoon winds are not uncommon
and humid summer winds are likely to occur. If
this kind of weather is not for you, September
and October is said to be the best time to visit.
Being an avid shopper, the first place I went
was the Chinese markets to witness the frantic
bargaining, which the Wall Street Journal aptly
titled “the unofficial Chinese sport”. The silk
market in South Chaoyang is the most popular
market and a sight not to be missed. This is not
necessarily due to the contents of the place,
although they do sell a jaw-dropping array of
jewellery, watches, clothes and shoes. Instead, I
was captivated by the amusing sales tactics. As
soon as you show an interest in an item, a calcu-
lator is whipped in front of you with a cry of,
“What’s your favourite price?” After you have
made your first and lowest offer, the salesperson
may try a cheeky tactic to cajole you into paying
more by wailing, “You’re gunna make me cry!”
whilst grinning happily. When a deal is struck,
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TRAVEL
they will eventually say, “Okay, money!” or,
“Okay, cash!” whilst giving a frowning sideward
glance; this is how you know you’ve won your
bargaining battle. Although you can get great
deals this way, watch out for duplicates on
named makes. The Panjiayuan, or ‘dirt market’,
in South Chaoyang isn’t as bad as it sounds! It is
the market to go to for antiques or collectibles,
but you need to get there early to avoid the
crowds as this only operates on Saturdays and
Sundays and gets very busy. If bargaining isn’t
your strong point and you like a little more luxu-
ry, the Oriental plaza mall in Dongcheng is the
place to shop. You won’t have to worry about
bartering with shop owners here, as in malls,
prices are fixed.
After shopping, it was time to soak up some
real culture and history. Chinese art has a rich
history influenced by religious figures, philoso-
phers, teachers, and political leaders. Apart from
the statues and pictures in dedication to these
influential people, the Chinese art of paper cut-
ting, calligraphy, theatre, traditional dancing and
Chinese opera is also very common within this
creative society. Chinese opera is Beijing’s oldest
art form, where singers entertain the crowds
with high pitched songs, elaborate costumes and
frantic acrobatics influenced by martial arts and
stylised dance. Phew! All in a day’s work, eh?!
You can watch one of these spectacular shows at
Huguang Guild Hall or Lao She teahouse.
The artistry of the buildings is also something
to behold. Rather than building sky-scraping
tower blocks as is common in Western architec-