First Day in Beijing         

          It was with some trepidation that I arrived at the Beijing Airport around 8 PM on the evening of May 25, 2010.  After all, it was a new country for me and I didn’t speak any Chinese and finding my hostel tucked away in a hutong (narrow alleyway) in the middle of one of the biggest cities in the world would be like finding a needle in a haystack.  All I knew was that it was near the Temple of Heaven.  After buying enough yuan (basic unit of the ‘peoples money’) at the airport to get a bus ticket, I soon found myself heading into the city.

          Right from the get-go my fears were allayed by the helpful, friendly people I met everywhere I went.  The bus was full of locals, but I spotted someone in a seat towards the front of the bus, who looked like he might also be a visitor. 

          “Do you know which bus stop would be the closest to the Temple of Heaven?”, I ventured to the elegant looking black gentlemen wearing a tailored suit.  He replied in beautiful English, explaining that he was a businessman from Africa and that he was in the same boat as I was.  As we poured over a huge map of the city together in the dim light of the bus, a young Chinese lady sitting across the aisle came to our aid. 

          She had overheard our conversation and said, “I live near the Temple of Heaven.  Get off with me and we can share a taxi”.  I was in business!  After helping the other gentleman find his bus stop, she and I got off in the middle of a huge boulevard.  She hailed a taxi and once again we were whisking our way through the streets of Beijing.  She introduced herself as Liang and explained that she was an attorney, returning from a business trip abroad.  I gave her the address of my hostel and it seemed like she spoke for the longest time to the driver.  She then directed him through the maze, pointing first down this street, then down another.  The streets became narrower and narrower, although still filled with pedestrians at this late hour, until suddenly there it was, looming over the little shops surrounding it, The Far East International Hotel.  Even after directing the driver to go far out of her way, Liang would not let me pay for my share of the taxi.  She gave me her card with her phone number in case I needed any assistance during my trip.  I had met my first friend in China. 

          The staff at the hostel greeted me as though they were waiting just for me and soon had me safely ensconced in my room.  After the long flight, I certainly didn’t need any rocking that night.  This was just the beginning of a nearly three week encounter with some of the most friendly people I have ever met.  I was off to a great start.  Tomorrow I would conquer Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.

Travel Tips

          The Far East International Hotel is both a hotel and a hostel.  It is part of the vast network of hostels that are part of Hostelling International.  I highly recommend that every value-minded traveler join Hostelling International.  The annual membership fee is free for youth under 18, $28.00 for adults from age 18-54 and $18.00 for seniors age 55 and above.  I booked my first three nights in Beijing in advance using their website (see links) and had a private room with bath for a total cost of about $86.00 for all three nights!  The hostel is located in the heart of the city in one of the quaint hutongs that Beijing is famous for.  It is within walking distance of Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and many of the other must-see sights in Beijing.  I felt safe and comfortable in this area and enjoyed the experience of living in close proximity to the citizens of this great city.