In Beijing: A Rainbow of Nations
Travel Blog • Eva Holland • 08.09.08 | 2:43 PM ET
I’ve been to plenty of world-renowned tourist spots before. But as I walked around the Forbidden City yesterday, I found myself thinking that the hordes of travelers in Beijing were a far more diverse bunch than the crowds I’d jostled with at the Taj Mahal, say, or Edinburgh Castle. Then, after a little more thought, I realized that wasn’t it. The people around me didn’t necessarily hail from a broader range of countries—the difference was that almost everyone was, literally, wearing their national colors on their sleeves.
I passed Dutch soccer fans in bright orange polos at the ticket booth, Russians in red and white baseball caps at a coffee shop, and later a group of young men (either athletes, or extremely healthy fans) in Team Cameroon track suits near the Hyatt. There was even a Mexican fan dressed up as a red-and-green lucha libre wrestler.
Ordinarily, I’d see a tourist and tend to assume—until proven otherwise—that they were probably American or British. Here, though, there’s no hiding the diversity. It’s been pretty cool rubbing shoulders with such a colorful array of travelers.
Related on World Hum:
* In Beijing: The Inescapable Games
* In Beijing: Not So ‘Sanitized’ After All?
* In Beijing: Red Tape and Roadblocks
Photo by Eva Holland
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Ling 08.11.08 | 9:17 AM ET
Looks like you’re having a good time, Eva. Have fun and be safe. I read yesterday about some nutcase who killed an American tourist and then killed himself.
Eva 08.11.08 | 10:58 AM ET
Thanks, Ling! I heard about that too. Thankfully, though, the biggest risk I’ve encountered so far is getting ripped off by souvenir vendors. My bargaining skills are mighty rusty…