The World's Freakin' Big. So I Had a Look. In China.
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Wow, I just came back from Beijing, and it feels like my perspective on things has changed!
- Previously, I always thought that big cities like Beijing (which is China's capital, an extremely huge city!) were filled with great opportunities and exciting lives, and I was particularly eager to experience them.
- But after really going there, how should I put it? That mysterious appeal seemed to disappear instantly. It felt like... just that. I no longer feel that I must stay in big cities.
- A little reflection after the trip (or rather, a reminder for you):
- Be cautious of the "big city filters!" Experiencing a place first-hand is great, but sometimes our imaginations about these places can run too wild.
- How to avoid disappointment? Try to slightly lower your expectations before you go, ha ha. The reality of urban living might differ somewhat from the shiny appearance we see from afar.
Let’s explore this beautiful world together! ## A big world waiting to be seen! ## Venture out to see the world! ## Only by seeing the world can we have our viewpoints! ## How many journeys of ‘taking off and going’ are there in life?
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After visiting Beijing, my worldview shifted. This 'disenchantment' with Beijing isn't about denying its value, but rather falling from a 'symbolic imagination' into the raw reality of life. I used to picture Beijing as an ideal city: the historic red walls of the Forbidden City from textbooks, the sleek CBDs on social media, the spark of ambition in countless 'Beijing drifter' stories. But then, navigating the morning rush hour subway, I saw well-dressed commuters mechanically pushed along by the crowd. Standing outside Zhongguancun's office buildings, it hit me that behind those gleaming glass facades lay the living spaces countless young people secured by burning themselves out. Beijing is like a giant prism, reflecting China's most advanced civilization while also starkly revealing fierce resource competition and the clash of dreams with reality. I realized that so-called 'opportunities' might just be a celebration for a select few. It's not that Beijing isn't good enough; it's that when the city transformed from a spiritual totem back into a real arena for survival, I felt the true, heavy weight of life hidden behind its brilliance.
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Achieving one's ideals is a tough journey, not a glamorous one. People chasing after mere glitter aren't pursuing ideals; they're pursuing vanity.
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They say Beijing is rich in resources. But if you're a 'Beijing drifter,' those resources are largely out of reach. After working long hours, from dawn till dusk, when you finally get a day off, do you really have the energy left to enjoy museums, libraries, art galleries, or nature?
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Since when is a nine-to-five job considered 'working from dawn till dusk,' may I ask?
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My ancestors were all Beijingers, but we're already thinking of retiring early and moving to another city. We also hope our kids can find work elsewhere. Beijing isn't the city of our childhood anymore. Many self-proclaimed 'New Beijingers,' or 'first/second-generation Beijingers,' are the ones caught in the intense competition in districts like Xicheng and Haidian. After urban 'tidying up' and population dispersal, storefronts are neat and uniform, but that vibrant, down-to-earth atmosphere—the 'breath of life'—is fading. We took our kid to Tianjin, and at night, so many street food carts appeared. We browsed, picked things, bought a bag of egg puffs—our kid was overjoyed. You rarely see such scenes in Beijing's urban areas now. Every day, the streets are filled with frustrated honking, anxiety, and a general sense of agitation. But in this current environment, perhaps just getting by is the top priority.
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Yunnan welcomes all you hard-working folks (often jokingly called 'beasts of burden') from other provinces to come give our economy a boost. Many cities in Yunnan are actually great places to live.
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Life in Beijing can be quite comfortable if you're not slaving away in a '996' job. Just look at the Beijing 2025 concert lineup – you could catch a show almost every week until the end of the year. Then there's the upcoming May Day Super Strawberry Music Festival. While others spend thousands on flights and hotels just to see one artist, even if you buy the cheapest 380 yuan tickets for 10 concerts, it's like their cost for one show. Plus, with a 100-yuan annual park pass, you get unlimited access to places like the Summer Palace and Beihai Park. Spring blossoms, autumn foliage, winter snow – the fun never ends!
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Going to concerts is really expensive.
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I think Beijing is great. I'm a young woman from a rural area, a college dropout, and I managed to save 35,000 yuan in just six months here. That's pretty amazing for me! I've learned so much, like independence and how to handle pressure.
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You're doing great, sis! Things will only get better for you!
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I know a young security guard at a middle school. He doesn't smoke, drink, or date. His sole passion is visiting museums. In Beijing, his life is basically work and museums. When he finds an exhibition he loves, he'll spend the entire day there. In his spare time, he meticulously studies the pieces he's seen, examines photos, researches them, and then revisits. It could be a sculpture, a vase, or a painting. The Forbidden City's ten-visit annual pass isn't nearly enough for him. Whenever he has a bit of leave, he explores museums in the Beijing vicinity. Talk to him about museums, and his eyes just light up. He truly loves Beijing.
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I used to dislike visiting museums, but ever since turning 35, I've become a huge fan. It's a shame that on my first trip to Beijing, I couldn't explore them enough as our tour guide had us on a tight schedule. This time around, I couldn't even manage to book a slot for the National Museum of China.
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I'm visiting Beijing right now, and I'm most impressed by how polite people are – they give up their seats to children on the subway, which I really appreciate. However, I'm accustomed to the slow, easy-going life in Quanzhou. While Quanzhou might not have many 'major' attractions, the thought of a high-intensity daily commute in Beijing, rushing for subways for over two hours, makes me think I'd probably have a meltdown. I guess I'll just stick to being a 'happy little slacker' and visit Beijing as a tourist now and then.
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It just means you haven't experienced the good side of Beijing.
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People from Yunnan are often true homebodies; for them, no place can be better than their hometown because that's where their friends and family are.
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During my recent trip to Beijing, I encountered quite a few people who were very blunt and aggressive in their speech. It really is a city that needs some 'demystifying.' Its level of inclusiveness feels pretty average.
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They're blunt because they have the 'capital' (status/power) to be. Us 'workhorses' can't afford to be assertive like that, no matter where we are.
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I really wonder, what's supposed to be so 'enchanting' about Beijing anyway?
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I still want to go there.