Beautiful Beijing

Sing with me now: I can see clearly now the smog has gone…

What a difference a bit of wind can make! In just a couple of hours, a smoggy morning can become a comparatively clear afternoon. If it is possible to find a positive about high pollution, then perhaps it is the fact that I always do my best to enjoy the clear days. It would be quite easy to lounge around the apartment and order in food (thankfully, there is still ample time to do this) but yesterday was one of those crystal clear days that should not be wasted. 

When the polluted curtains are lifted, it allows people to see into the distance…and this is exactly what I had in mind when deciding on my adventure. Liz and I wanted to grab our chance and take in the views of Beijing from the tallest structure in the city: The Central Radio & TV Tower (中央广播电视塔－zhōngyāng guǎngbò diànshì tǎ). 

Your eyes do not deceive you, that is a blue sky.

It seemed like a lot of people had a similar idea to us, but despite the queue, we were not waiting for too long. After going through a security check and entering another queue, we were entertained by a clown. His job required him to give a prize to anyone that could beat him at ‘paper scissors stone’. Which is quite a novel method of passing the time and pacifying youngsters (or perhaps terrifying them into silence) while visitors wait for the lifts. It also provided me with a tacky (and free) souvenir of the day. If you are wondering, I beat him with the stone (not literally). 

Smiley face keyring? Yes please!

The observation deck, at around 230 metres high, offered amazing views of the city. Before I could behold the breath-taking sights of the smog-free metropolis, I was greeted by bloodcurdling yells as if I had stumbled into the lair of a wailing banshee. Someone had decided to install a large brass megaphone, which actively encourages people to scream and shout so that your cries can be amplified across the skyline. Naturally, Liz and I felt that it would be rude not to put this contraption to the test. Admittedly, projecting a hearty “Mother of pearl!” into the distance did feel quite good. 

Shouting did make me happily.

After two laps of the observation deck we went inside and descended to a lower level, which boasted more views (and thankfully without a shrieking soundtrack or a freezing cold wind). It is also home to the highest post office in Beijing. Since moving to Beijing, I have had a few issues with the postal service. So, I decided to take this opportunity and conduct a little experiment by sending a postcard to Wales. Will it even make it out of the elevated post office? Mum and dad – let me know if it ever reaches you! 

UPDATE: The postcard arrived safely in Wales! Hurrah! 

Having a 360 degree view of the city really allows you to recognise the immense vastness of Beijing. In addition to the panoramic scenery, there was plenty of memorabilia about CCTV and a model of the new CCTV tower (nicknamed the big pants). The uncontaminated air did allow for amazing sights but my phone camera is not really the best quality to capture everything. The ability to see into the distance also meant that I could see the smoking chimneys of factories. A thought-provoking reminder of the reason why days like this are far too rare. 

There is a revolving restaurant within the tower, but Liz and I felt that we had been living the high life for long enough. Once out of the tower, we had a walk around the nearby Yuyuantan Park. As the sun began to set, I realised that Beijing is like a dear friend with a bad chain-smoking habit. You really enjoy spending time with your friend except for when they decide to light up. Nobody wants to have a friend who promotes passive smoking. Come on Beijing - get a nicotine patch!

Ở Bắc Kinh ô nhiễm không khí thì rất tệ, nhưng hôm qua là một ngày đẹp trời. Tôi đã đến một tòa tháp. Tháp này mang lại toàn quan cảnh tuyệt vời. Tôi rất thích những khung cảnh ngoạn mục của Bắc Kinh.