Xinhua isn’t generally known for its heart-warming fuzzy stories, but China Hush has translated a cute tale of two “swarthy, ragged Chinese guys with half long hair” (half long hair?) who supposedly hitchhiked from Beijing to Berlin so that one of them could see his German girlfriend.

As huge, developing countries with burgeoning economies, China and India are often seen as rivals on the world stage. Now both countries have ranked highly on a list they would probably prefer not to be on. For the second year in a row, Beijing Capital International Airport holds the world’s worst departure record, with just 38% of commercial passenger flights leaving on time, according to Forbes.com. The worst airport in terms of arrivals was Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, with just 45% of passenger flights arriving according to schedule.

As Beijing barrels into 2010, the wrecking balls are swinging south of Gulou, plans are afoot to restore the burnt out TVCC Tower in the CBD, and authorities say they want to bring mass biking back to Beijing.

Disturbing news in the Chinese press has bar owners around Gulou (aka the Drum Tower) feeling nervous. Plans have been announced to “restore” the area around the tower to the style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties and build an underground “Beijing Time Cultural City,” comprising restaurants, parking spaces, and a museum about timekeeping technology.

As mentioned in our "Sneak Peek 2010, Part II" post yesterday, Beijing is set to unveil several new subway lines this year. More details of the plans have now been published and according to the China Daily, five lines will be opening for business before the end of 2010.

It seems north China isn’t the only region experiencing extreme weather conditions. As Beijing deals with the aftermath of the heaviest snowfalls in more than half a century, parts of Europe and the US are also buried under unusually thick layers of snow, while Greece and Israel enjoy unseasonably warm conditions.

The Beijinger has been watching the machinations at the Copenhagen climate talks with keen interest, partly because the negotiations carry implications for the entire planet, and partly because emissions are such a pressing daily issue for those living in China’s capital. Plus there's the fact that China is one of the key players in the negotiations.

There have been several interesting stories doing the rounds recently about Beijing’s ongoing urban development, including plans for expansion of the CBD, a new “media hub” and a crackdown on cyclists.

I’m not what you’d call an environmental role model. I have no idea how big my carbon footprint is, but I doubt I’ve shed the wasteful habits learned in 30 years of life in America, so we’re probably talking Sasquatch proportions. Air conditioning, beef consumption, incandescent lighting – my sins against Gaia are numerous.

Seems it’s not just our lungs suffering from particularly poor air in Beijing recently. In a rare admission that the muck outside our windows isn’t just “fog,” the Global Times reported this morning a major traffic pile-up on Sunday as a result of heavy smog.