Eric's Beijing Diary

Got back from Shenzhen last night. I'm sure you know the feeling, so I won't go on and on about it, but it sure is good to be back in my own bed. I have been treated so well, it's not that. I had a nice apartment in Beihai, and the mosquitoes weren't too bad this time, although the humidity was quite significant. Fortunately, Beihai is right on the sea, so you do get a breeze. Shenzhen was a little hot, but not unbearable. Linda was a little concerned that I would not be happy with their humble accommodations. She had actually arranged for me to stay with her uncle, but it was quite a distance from the company dormitory, so I told her that I didn't mind staying in the dormitory. Not luxury, but it was comfortable. Still, although it is fun to go, it is sure nice to come back. "Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home."

But I was dismayed by what I saw in the neighborhood. I think it's part of Beijing's "face lifting" in preparation for the Olympics. It's getting to the point where I am afraid to leave town. I go away for three weeks, and when I come back, the whole place is falling apart. They tore down the Wudaokou Market! Can you believe that? OK, so those guys would rip you off if you weren't careful. But they had just about anything in that place. And the used bookstore! It's history. The used bookstore on the second floor of the Wudaokou Market had mostly Chinese books, but there were a few that I got in English. The books I got were always in mint condition. Old, but in good shape. Here is a sample:

A book on the theology of Paul the Apostle by a Dutch theologian, published by Eardman's.

A fawning, three-volume biography of Kim Il Song (father of Kim Jong Il) published in Beirut. (Did you know that the sun is brighter in Korea since...never mind)

A World War II era novel by a Russian novelist, published in the old Soviet Union (which I bought for 15 RMB, and found on EBAY for $100).

But alas! There's nothing left of the old Wudaokou Market but a few steel girders that haven't fallen out of the sky yet. Just one more sad reminder of China's excessive image-consciousness. I've heard they are going to tear down the whole West Side. I hope that's not true. There are lots and lots of restaurants on the West Side of Beihang that serve food from every corner of the country. Good stuff for a very reasonable price. Boy am I going to miss them if that rumor becomes reality. As they say in China, "What a pity."