Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Politics is barely mentioned, at least not in public, and as Beijingers flock to buy the cars that are the principal
reason for the poor air quality in the capital, environmental issues are still low on the local agenda. More than
anything, the huge and rapid changes the capital has undergone in recent years mean that people tend to look for-
ward, rather than dwelling on the often unpleasant past.
Family First
Even though life for many in Beijing seems unrecognisable from what it was even at the turn of the millenium, its
core tenets remain the same. The family is still the very heart of society, and three generations often live together
under one cramped roof. And while their children work and grandchildren study, it is the elderly more than any-
one who do as Beijingers have always done, hanging out in the
hutong
or streets chatting, playing Chinese chess
and mah jong and roaming the city's parks.
