Beijing - Change in Visibility Over 24 Hours

[fasternyou929]

Originally Posted by t-rock

Looks like going to beijing is no longer on the bucket list.

Don't remove it, pollution or not, still my absolute favorite place I've ever visited. If it weren't for the air quality (it's not always that bad, but it's often very clear either) I'd take a long-term assignment there in a heartbeat.

Friendliest, most happy people I've met, anywhere. I travel alone a lot and have had to rely on the locals for conversation. More than once I've been welcomed at a bar like a celebrity, people offering to buy rounds, asking where I'm from, etc. They're finally getting exposure to a world outside China and they really try to soak it up.
Amazing sites to see and more history than one can absorb in a lifetime.
Excellent food. Local Chinese food doesn't compare. China actually has a variet of peppers they will not export, some of which are used in Hunan, Kung Pao, and Schezuan dishes. And it's damn good.
It's inexpensive once you're there. Sharing a 7-course lunch with 5-6 people usually ends up costing $4-7 tops. And it's good food.

And this is only Beijing. Western China doesn't have the pollution issue and offers some incredible natural landscape. I hope to see it in person sometime.

[Trip]

I forget where my parents live, I will have to get the name of their city. They absolutely hate it there in China. They lived just outside of Hong Kong and Beijing, I forget where they moved them now. They are both always sick. They have seen some cool stuff, but would much rather live in the states. My dad has to stick it out a few years and he gets a huge bump in his retirement since this economic downturn really hurt everyone, so he is trying to power through.

[njchopper87]

When I first saw those pics I thought of a show on the weather channel or history channel or w/e about this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donora_Smog_of_1948 .

[101lifts2]

That country def. needs CARB...Chinese Air Resources Board

[Trip]

My parents live in Tianjin

[z06boy]

Interesting pics for sure...geez !! A couple of guys I work with have traveled there and told me about it but didn't take pics. I've never been.

[Particle Man]

that's just freakin' insane...

[LeeNetworX]

Blech. I'm wheezing just looking at those pics.

[fasternyou929]

Originally Posted by Trip

My parents live in Tianjin

I didn't know where that was, had to Google it. Looks like another good sized city about ~80 miles SE of Beijing. Almost certainly not far enough away not to be affected by the pollution

[Smittie61984]

This is Bush's fault for not signing the Kyoto treaty.