Everybody knows about the notorious Beijing air quality, or rather the lack of it.  Sure, there are other cities that are up there and could even be considered worse, but it’s not just the Beijing air quality that makes it an undesirable place to visit.

I can’t say I’ve been all around the world, far from it, but I’ve lived in New Zealand, Thailand, Canada, the U.S, and Hong Kong, I’ve been to most Asian countries, travelled around North America and Oceania, been to a few places in Europe, and Beijing ranks somewhere near the very bottom of any city I’ve visited.  It’s not just the poor Beijing air quality. Honestly, I’ve been in Sham Shui Po and Mongkok in Hong Kong and they can get equal to what I’ve encountered in Beijing.  But the city has no soul

There’s no liveliness, no heart to the city and even when you disregard the Beijing air quality completely, the city lacks the atmosphere, character and soul of almost any other asian city I’ve been to.  If you’re easily depressed, I’d stay away from here, and if you’re an optimist and one of those people who’s always happy, this is the city that can bring you back down to earth!

Unless you absolutely have to, I’d give Beijing a miss.  If visiting the Great Wall has been a lifelong goal and you’ve fantasised about seeing it in person for most of your life, I’d still think twice about going, especially if it involves a long haul flight because the rest of the city is a disappointment.  If Beijing were an hour’s drive from Hong Kong where I’m currently based, I’d still never go there.  It’s a city that has nothing going for it and I’d literally rather live with Kanye West in a 200sq ft apartment than live there.

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