What is the rhythm of life in Beijing?
Beijingers, particularly the old-generation residents, are known for their slow pace of life. Nurtured by the ancient culture, Beijingers have inevitably assumed an air of stateliness. They look carefree, strolling around neighborhoods. In the Qing Dynasty, the Manchurian government decreed that Manchus not engage in labor. Hanging around was the only thing left to do. For the upper class, playing music and chess, practicing calligraphy and painting and going to Peking Opera houses became hot fashions, while the lower class killed time by raising pet birds, walking dogs and fighting crickets. Eventually, the ordinary residents also developed this laid-back lifestyle. With rapid socio-economic development, of course, the pace of life has quickened in recent years. Young people no longer like to stroll around. Compared to the life of New York, however, Beijing still has far to go.
