Skating Beijing

Photo © Bob Jones

Had a day mooching around the Central Business District in Beijing.

This area holds a fascination for me. Probably because it was the most shocking.

I had preconceived ideas of China, possibly tainted by my experience in Moscow a while back where everything was just a little down at heel, sad and socially constipated by years under communism. I think I assumed I would find much the same in China.

But to be honest, Beijing feels like one of the most capitalist, consumerist places I have ever been.

Big showcase buildings, all with shopping malls, high fashion shops, and people buying and buying big.

Oh you don’t have to go far to find less affluent areas. The CBD is surrounded by communities, all probably slightly nervous of their futures, wondering when their little patch of real estate will be redesignated for high rise, high value development.

And not fogetting little migrant encalves, whole families living in basements or garages, unable to afford inner city prices. Sound familiar?

But remember this is not the West.