A happy Chinaman

 

By Rafael Ben-Ari, March 2009.

A year after the Olympic Games of 2008, I went to Beijing to explore what had changed and what was left from the glory days of hosting the games - and how it had affected the humble residents of this giant city.

In the past the Chinese were commonly portrayed to the west as poor, skinny, joyless and passive people. The architecture of the buildings in Beijing were old and dirty. There were no taxis, just overfilled public buses jammed full of passengers spilling out the door, not letting it close and lots of Chinese government propaganda.

Today all the past propaganda has decreased, the only government advertising scattered throughout the city was the year-old Olympics 2008, with the slogan “one world, one dream!” From the modern airport to the tourist-packed Tiananmen Square to the high-rise condominiums to the glamorous financial district, Beijing has been transformed with signs of prosperity and progress. The middle of the freeways is often lined with beds of flowers in pinks, yellows, oranges and purples. Green trees in lots big and small, making the city beautiful and fresh. The smell from local restaurants of the traditional Beijing duck and dim Sam fills the air. Over 70,000 taxis are now rolling around in the city. With only 2 Yuan (50 cents USD), you can ride the subway to anywhere, even the farthest part of town.

I found happy Chinese from all over the country hovering around the Birds Nest - the stadium where the elaborate opening ceremony of the Olympics was held. Like bees around a hive, beaming with pride, busily taking photos with family and friends. Singles are freely looking for love, affection and relationship. No doubt Beijing has changed, however the increase in richness has in turn brought increase in poverty as many peasants migrate to the big city to find their lost luck. Animal cruelty in Beijing Zoo never changed and the Chinese Communist Party is still in power with its “Big Brother” attitude.