Just two decades ago the people of China had barely enough to eat. Today China has the fastest growing economy in the world--something that has to be seen to be believed. On a recent trip to China--four days in Beijing and three days in Shanghai, which is about right for an overview--here's what I observed: *Traffic as bad as Tokyo's or LA's. *Clean streets and sidewalks with hardly a scrap of paper to be seen. *Huge, dramatic buildings going up everywhere. Most of the cranes in the world seem to be in Beijing or Shanghai. Famed architect John Portman has designed three brilliant hotels in Shanghai alone. *Excitement and pride. Beijing is getting ready for the Olympics in 2008 and Shanghai for the World Expo in 2010. *Entrepreneurship. Everybody is trying to get in on the action. Even bus drivers sell bottles of water--two for a dollar. *Openness toward Western ideas that is perhaps unparalleled in history. Example. The State owns the land but individuals can own condos and finance them with 5-10-15-and 20-year mortgages. As my guide put it, "We are learning from you." *Unbelievable bargains. I was particularly impressed with the silk scarves and rugs. *Hustlers. Most of the antiques and coins in the shops--except for the government approved (or run) shops--are fakes. You will be able to purchase watches on the streets for almost nothing, but they tend not to run very long. *Business opportunities. China is looking for partners and investors. China owns more American bonds than any other nation on earth, and it will have to find ways to spend dollars on American products and services. Tips For Travelers In China *Don't go to Beijing or Shanghai for a vacation. Go to Cancun or St. Barts instead and lie on the beach. Go to China for an adventure. *Choose a hotel as close to the central city as you can. Otherwise you'll spend a lot of time in traffic. *Be on guard against pickpockets and counterfeit money. *Do go to The Great Wall. Do avoid the Peking Opera--amateurish and strictly for Western tourists--and the Peking Duck banquet that they serve in the restaurant adjoining the theater. It's difficult to make Peking Duck taste ordinary but these chefs succeed brilliantly. *Do go to the Shanghai Acrobats Performance--amazing--and do not miss an excursion to Suzhou, a few miles from Shanghai. Known as the "Venice of the East," Suzhou is renowned for its canals and gardens. A Travel Bargain Check out www.smartours.com. If you are accustomed to flying business-class or first-class and staying in five-star hotels, don't consider smarTours. But if you don't mind flying coach and staying in four-star hotels, this company provides excellent value. (You may want to consider using Smartour and purchasing upgrades for your flight.) Their guides are fantastic; they take away the pain of navigating through a foreign culture. From The Achievement Digest April 2005 2005 - Gene Griessman |
