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Like most expatriates, when we were deciding whether to move our headquarters from Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland, we had a difficult time deciding between Beijing and Shanghai. In the end, Beijing won me over with its distinct four seasons and more resourceful, multitalented citizens.
As the nation's capital, Beijing has diverse Chinese citizenry, making it a fascinating place where you can meet people from all parts of China. I find the local people are friendlier and more sophisticated than in other parts of the country. In Beijing, we can put our Mandarin to use. Believe it or not, I often was left out of Shanghainese's conversations, as I do not completely understand the Shanghai dialect.
I also like Beijing because it is the political capital where policies are created. In the midst of its development, China is still in the process of learning and improving itself. Therefore, during this process, various ministries often seek advice and comments from different sources. Being close to the centre of policy-making gives foreign businesses an advantage because they can better prepare themselves for policy changes.
Finally, it is a great treat to hike on parts of the Great Wall in the Beijing suburbs, especially during autumn. Walking atop "the largest man-made structure seen from space" makes us respect China's ancient history and wisdom.
But Beijing does have its share of problems. Spring brings sand storms, for instance. But these are not as deadly as hurricanes or typhoons.
Having said all that, is Beijing a livable city?
The universal definition of a habitable city is a city worth living in.
People choose their community according to their profession, education, cultural interests, age and wealth. People move when they become more affluent, and they will not compromise when they have financial means.
An average American moves seven times in his or her lifetime. As the Chinese economy grows, I believe the average Chinese will move at least three times in his or her life. Thus, it is important for an international city to build itself to attract and retain talented residents.
Furthermore, Beijing is host to the 2008 Olympic Games. More and more foreigners will come here to visit, or move here to do business.
The city needs to improve itself in many ways. I often suggest to the government that it must get larger taxi cabs and ensure that all drivers are more professional, maintaining their taxis in tip-top condition.
As the city grows, Beijing roads are constantly changing. It is important that bilingual road maps are updated for the 300,000 foreigners who live in Beijing and cannot read Chinese.
Finally, since it is impossible to easily remedy the traffic problems in Beijing, an easier way to help ease the gridlock is to come up with a traffic radio channel that can give real time information frequently, such as every 10 minutes, during rush hour.
Beijing should make efforts to become a more pedestrian-friendly city. Often times, crossing the street is dangerous, the sidewalks are clogged with bicycles and parked cars, and vendors are scattered haphazardly.
The government is also working hard to complete much needed subway expansions with several new lines. New subway stations provide an opportunity for transit-oriented development (TOD). TOD focuses on a mix of land uses, such as residential, office, entertainment, shopping and civic uses, within a convenient walking distance from a subway station. TOD also has environmental, social and economic benefits for a city. With TOD, Beijing can capitalize on its massive transit system investments.
People come to Beijing to experience the wonder of Oriental history and civilization. Other than the Forbidden City Museum, I suggest that Beijing should have more museums that showcase its ethnic groups. The city also needs more community gardens and squares.
Efficient and smart planning and development make a city more livable by improving the quality of lives for residents. Shorter commute times, an efficient transportation system, attractive public places, and more interesting cultural and entertainment activities are needed in order to create a livable city.
(China Daily September 9, 2005)
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