Beijing Discovery Tours

Last Sunday the Chinese government began restrictions intended to curb pollution for the Olympics period, including only allowing private cars to be driven every other day, based on an odd-even license plate number restriction, and shutting down most manufacturing and construction in Beijing and its surrounding areas. I’ve been reading how pleased the government is with its efforts and how the blue skies have been proof of its success. My question is, as I sit here in my 13th floor apartment building just 2 subway stops east of Guo Mao and the Central Business District of Beijing’s downtown area - where are these blue skies and how do you find them? From my observations, there has been even more pollution this week than before, although the previous week’s air was likely cleaned up by the nice rains that we had back then, plus I got out of the city on a trip to the Juyongguan Great Wall with a tour group of law students. I’m certainly not complaining about the restrictions though - taxi rides take half the time with no traffic jams, maybe they can implement this odd/even thing forever? - but it seems that it is going to take more to actually clear the air before the Olympics begin in less than 2 weeks.

Just read a couple of articles that confirm what most of us here at Beijing Discovery Tours have already been thinking:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcb_china/20080715/wl_mcb_china/foreigntouristsarestayinghome

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/staff/tim_johnson/story/42143.html

We have been fortunate enough to have a few people to have booked tours of Beijing and Great Wall tours with us during the Olympics, so it has not really affected us much, but some of our friendly competitors have admitted that business is not good at all. Here’s hoping that the tourists return to Beijing once the incredibly over-hyped Beijing Summer Olympics 2008 are finally over.

With Olympics fever (and paranoia) in full swing, it has become apparent that many potential visitors to China have been scared away by harsh visa regulations, threats of terrorism and price gouging by hotels and practically everyone else in Beijing. The good news is that it will all soon be over (the Games end with the closing ceremony on August 26), and everyone in Beijing and China will have to face the cold hard reality that despite billions and billions spent to create a gleaming new city, 5 years of hurried planning and fierce construction efforts, and the accompanying displacement of tens of thousands of longtime Beijing residents, the Summer Olympic Games of 2008 last 18 days - a scant 2 1/2 weeks of time for which so much has been spent and lost, and the lives of everyday Beijingers have been irrevocably upended.

Once the inevitable Olympics hangover has set in, Beijing will once again be a fantastic place to visit. October has the best weather in which to take your tour of Beijing - clear blue skies (even without the draconian pollution reduction efforts enforced by the Chinese government), cooler temperatures, and a fantastic pallette of fall colors gracing the numerous sections of the Great Wall of China near Beijing.  Prices for hotel rooms and vehicles for guest transportation should return to reasonable levels, and hopefully they will be hungry for visitors to make up for the lack of guests that did not come during their expected windfall during the Olympics. Beijing Discovery Tours will be here on the ground in Beijing for you to create the perfect Beijing tour or tour of China for your family, group or organization. Take a look at our website at www.BeijingDiscoveryTours.com and let us know at info@beijingdiscoverytours.com how we can help you to create the perfect Beijing tour itinerary at a reasonable price. We can accept payment by credit card through Paypal (you do not have to be a member to use Paypal), wire transfer or most electronic bill payment services offered by U.S. banks. Take advantage of what may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Beijing at its sparkling best with Beijing Discovery Tours!