Beijing Expert

Feb. 11th, 2007 marks the first “Waiting in Line Day” for Beijing. (Official name “Polite Queueing Day”) This is an effort to improve Beijing locals’ manners as the 2008 Beijing Olympic is getting near. From now, each 11th day of the month will be the polite queuing day.

“The foreigners will have a good impression of the Chinese people if we behave well,” a local resident said.

My foreign friends all complained about being pushed when they walk on a busy Beijing Street or trying to get on a bus. But how far can this campaign go to actually improve anything. Metropolitan Cities has as many people as Beijing probably all have similar problems. I have been to New York, and people there are definitely less polite than the mid-west folks. I don’t blame them. It’s the social environment that changes the people.  I wish the best for the Beijing residents’ effort in becoming more polite and well-mannered.

Yesterday, Beijing’s high temperature was 16 degrees Celsius. It was a record for the date since temperature was first recorded in China in 1840. Global warming is sneaking up on us. The Chinese government has announced plans to deal with climate change, according to China Daily.

China is preparing its first plan to battle climate change, a senior policy adviser said, stressing rising alarm about global warming in the country.

Zou Ji, a climate policy expert at the People’s University of China in Beijing, said the national program would probably set broad goals for emissions and coping with changing weather patterns.

It is likely to be released this year after at least two years of preparation and bureaucratic bargaining, he said.

“All this shows that the Chinese government is paying more and more attention to this issue,” he said. “When it’s approved and issued it will be China’s first official, comprehensive document on climate change.”

Another Super Bowl, another winner. The Colts won. Good game, and they deserved the victory. Another exciting news is that NFL is going to have a pre-season game between the Patriots and the Seahawks in Beijing “Workers’ Stadium” on Aug 8, 2007. The date also marks the one year countdown to Beijing 2008 Olympics that will take place on August 8th, 2008.

The National Football League — America’s most popular sports attraction — has been selected by the city of Beijing to stage a game in the Chinese capital city that will serve as the kickoff of the one-year countdown to the opening of the XXIX Olympic Games in China.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced tonight that the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks will play in the first NFL game in China — the world’s fastest growing market — when the teams meet in Beijing on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2007.

China has become a big consumer for foreign goods and services. China is the second largest market for luxury goods in the world after Japan. Of course NFL would want a piece of Chinese market. NFL has increased its penetrating effort for the Chinese market over the years, from Superbowl-only broadcast to season broadcast on CCTV, the national tv station.

In my opinion, it is going to be a very hard task for the NFL as American football is a very expensive sport to get into, the rules are very complicated, and the games are mostly played early Monday morning China time. As a big fan of the NFL, best wishes on getting to China.

Recently the Beijing Olympics committee has released a electronic map for the foreign tourists coming to Beijing in 2008.

The map features special columns on four topics including Olympic competition venues, Olympic-licensed stores, subway stations, and traditional housing in Beijing – Hutongs. One of the map’s highlights allows users to zoom in or out. More information and functions will be integrated into the map and users will be able to receive competition information, a basic introduction of the venues and weather information. You can find the map here.

Here at beijingExpert, we also provide you a printable English version of Beijing Map. Personally I think this map is much simpler and more useful than the dreadful Emap. You can find the attractions and venues much faster. Click for the full map.