Last weekend Ali and I decided to "get out of the city" and take the subway as far as we could in any direction. We chose the southeast corner of the city and rode Line 1 as far as it goes eastwards, out to where nobody lives. And by nobody, I mean actually a lot of people live there, and the area is under rapid development, but it wasn't QUITE so urban as Beijing proper.We were hoping, misguidedly, for a bit of a "rural" feel, but what we got was less that and more of a barren wasteland feel. There were a number of old factories out there, still chugging away and pumping out noxious fumes, as well as some clusters of village-style homes. However, most of the area was either occupied by very-recently built high-rises, or by vast tracts of dirt where construction of more high-rises was underway. In general it was pretty polluted, especially the water, and overall seemed pretty grim. We just wandered around for a few hours, ate a pineapple, got shouted HELLO at a bunch, then got the train back to the city.
This weekend we're planning to go a bit further afield, and are heading out to hike and camp on unrestored sections of the Great Wall.
Heading home
On the wrong side of the tracks, apparently
Building apartments....more new apartments in the background...no people in sight....real estate bubble, anyone?
and even MORE....
People fishing in the most grimy, scummy, sludgy green pool of filth that has ever been called a pond and harbored fish. Fishing at the edge of a construction site in a toxic puddle wouldn't be my idea of a good time or an appetizing meal later on should you be successful. Environmental Education = necessary, please.
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