Beijingers Enjoy Unusually Balmy Spring

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, April 11, 2003

Beijingers Enjoy Unusually Balmy Spring

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The aroma of flowers and the scent of new green growth permeate the air of China's capital -- a welcome change from the more usual chill winds and dust storms which scour Beijing at this time of year.

When night falls, the brightly lit Sanlitun Bar Street is one of the most popular places in downtown Beijing for Chinese and foreigners alike.

The street is lined with by 28 bars of different styles where visitors may chat over a drink or eat or sing songs.

At "Boys and Girls Bar", the biggest on the street, an American tourist named Peter quickly made friends with a couple of young Chinese, drinking beer amidst music and songs. Peter had just arrived in Beijing and found the bar street with the help of his guidebook.

To the west of Sanlitun Bar Street, a bustling food trade does brisk business at Dong'an Market in Wangfujing, the city's busiest shopping street, till late night.

People who prefer a quieter time often choose to sip coffee at one of the city's many modern coffee rooms, or drink tea at decorated teahouses after they finish a day's work.

"I feel relaxed and romantic by taking a cup of coffee here in the evening, and feel good for the rest of the night," said He Lei,an insurance dealer and a frequent visitor to the Starbucks in the downtown Xidan area.

However, a growing number of people have been sitting through night college courses to improve their education. In the evening, bicycles and cars fill the open space in front of the teaching building of People's University, situated in the northwest of Beijing, and on the campus, it is common to see many young people eat bread or boxed meals in order be on time for the night courses.

A woman surnamed Liu, who works at an foreign-financed company in Beijing, said, "Nights are very precious, as I don't want to lag behind in this competitive era, so I have to learn more things."

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