'Bolt'-ing through Beijing

The Jamaica Observer's senior associate editor Pete Sankey takes us back to Beijing two years after Bolt-mania. China is, he reckons, still worth visiting...

BEIJING, China — Most Jamaicans will never forget the pride and joy our athletes brought to this island of 2.7 million people during the 2008 Olympics held in the Chinese capital of Beijing.

So thrilled was one 'country' woman -- who had travelled from St Mary to Kingston to watch the events on a massive TV screen set up in Half-Way-Tree for the benefit of thousands of flag-waving and whistle-blowing Jamaicans -- that she blurted out excitedly to a television reporter, "I'm so happy to be here in Beijing!"

I believe that young woman, while savouring the memories of the proud Jamaican moments at the Bird's Nest -- the Beijing Olympic Stadium -- would be in for a marvellous time if given the opportunity to visit Beijing.

Don't mind the one-and-a-half-hour flight from Kingston to Miami after a 30-minute delay on American Airlines; waiting to be processed in a long immigration line; the anxious wait to get your luggage in the desperate bid to get your connection to Los Angeles, and just barely making the connection, then sitting down for the five-hour flight to the storied City of Angels.

All those memories of the Olympics will no doubt occupy your mind as you prepare for the long haul -- 13 hours to Beijing. Thanks to Air China, the courteous service and comfortable seats made the journey so much more pleasant. Just make sure you get some sleep.

Yes! Landing at the magnificent and friendly Beijing International Airport, clearing immigration, and jumping on the train to get to baggage claim and Customs was a 'breeze'. No worry! You are finally in Beijing.

Trees and flowers along the highways and city streets, as well as the cleanliness will not go unnoticed in the huge city, something that was apparently missed by some journalists from the West who only saw the smog, traffic congestion and other negatives during the lead-up to the Olympics.

But don't remain in your hotel room to look out at the colourful pair of white-gloved national guards on foot patrol as they slowly march together in keeping watch on the city which, like London and Brussels, also keeps an eye on you with a countless number of cameras.

Go walking, but stay alert at those pedestrian crossings not controlled by lights! Whether it is an expensive motor car or SUV or the Chinese hurrying about their business, be prepared to hop and skip across the road.

Beijing is brimming with attractions, many of which we had to miss because of the tight programme of activities that our host had squeezed in to ensure that a team of nine journalists and media executives from the Caribbean and Latin America got maximum exposure, not only to the city, but to the culture, the media and the workings of government.

The State Council Information Office made sure that members of the team not only enjoyed a taste of real Chinese cuisine, but were given a chance to experience some of the major tourist attractions -- the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Bird's Nest.

All members of the team, including those in their early 60s, put on a determined show as they climbed to the first stage of the Great Wall, sweating and complaining of weak legs. Barbados' Carol Martindale, The Nation newspaper's Sunday editor, raised her arms in triumph when she reached her 'planned destination'.

Climbing down was also a challenge for some, as tired legs began to take their toll.

"You are not a man until you climb the Great Wall," our guide and interpreter Betty said, as she reminded us of an ancient Chinese belief.

According to TravelChinaGuide.Com, the Great Wall of China, one of the greatest wonders of the world, was listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1987.

"Just like a gigantic dragon, the Great Wall winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus, stretching approximately 8,851.8 kilometres (5,500 miles) from east to west of China. With a history of more than 2,000 years, some of the sections are now in ruins or have disappeared," the website described the Great Wall.

However, it said the Wall remains one of the most appealing attractions all around the world owing to its architectural grandeur and historical significance. The story goes that more than one million Chinese lost their lives in the construction of the wall.

The Forbidden City, meanwhile, gives you a glimpse of the luxurious life that the Chinese Emperor enjoyed.

Archive Beijing says the Forbidden City is a typical example of the palace architecture in ancient China and the East.

It is ranked foremost among the World's Five Great Palaces, for its magnificent and gorgeous style, rare art treasures, and agglomeration of various cultures in ancient China. It is included on the World Heritage List.

The Bird's Nest needs little introduction to Jamaicans. Mention the name Usain Bolt to any Chinese person and they can tell you who he is. Bolt's three world-record runs at the Bird's Nest in 2008 will remain an item of discussion for decades to come.

The Chinese, in the meantime, have been earning from the stadium since the Olympics -- making it a major tourist attraction. Hundreds of people were seen streaming in during our visit.

Time did not allow us to stop at Tiananmen Square -- the place where members of the army in 1989 stormed a mass demonstration led by university students and killed hundreds of them. Thousands visit the location daily.

There are numerous other attractions in Beijing which tourists will definitely enjoy. Among them are several historical sites, ranging from huge private mansions and gardens, to simple villages on the outskirts.

Museums will provide rich information on Chinese history and culture, but there are treasures for anyone looking for something different in the world's most populous nation.

And, of course, Beijing could be one of the safest cities you have ever visited!