Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
when you choose rather than at the same time as the rest of the country or the lack of oblig-
ation to follow certain cultural mores.
One of the first things you'll notice when you move to Beijing is the curiosity of the
locals for foreign faces. There might be certain sections of the city, such as Sanlitun, Lido,
or Guomao, where people won't look twice at you. But if you live or work outside these
areas then inevitably you're going to run into one of the millions of migrant workers who
are new to the city and its strange inhabitants. Get on the subway or bus and it's unlikely
that you won't be stared at by somebody. If you have blonde hair, or particularly children
with blonde hair, then you'll cause an even greater stir. It can be a hard thing to adapt to
when you come from a country where staring at a stranger is considered rude or even haz-
ardous. It can also interfere with one's dating radar, as women, men, young, and old can all
stare at you with the same prolonged blank expression. You'll soon get used to hearing the
term
l
ǎ
owài
or
wàiguórén
(foreigner) said by children and even adults as you walk past.
In a dramatic reversal of the 1919 student uprising, many young people today have a
strong attraction to the West and its influences. Steve Jobs gained iconic status, and an al-
most nationwide sense of mourning ensued when he died in 2011. KFC, which set up its
first shop just near Tian'anmen Square in 1987, is not only often considered a flash place to
take a date, but now competes with the hundreds of outlets of McDonald's, Starbucks, and
Pizza Hut that have spread over the city. Unfortunately, such places have come to define
“Western food,” and for those who love the intricacies of their own country's cuisine, it will
be painful to constantly hear the locals say they “hate Western food.”
