Ok, let me break it down for you as simply as I can. I had a two point argument. Firstly, that I could travel to more than one city, in fact three cities in Europe, for around the same price during peak time (against your single flight for the same price).

Secondly, and most importantly, you failed to see that you can get return flights for around 5200 rmb to Heathrow during the peak period in August.

Just to be clear, 5200 rmb is considerably lower than 9000 rmb, if my maths still treats me well.

And yes, hello to my new identity. My previous identity got blocked, which was the icing on the cake, because it completely proved my point. I falsely alleged something with no hard evidence, and rightfully so it got deleted. I think I know someone else who alleged something in an ARTICLE which thousands of people can see. Thank you for proving my point and agreeing that these kinds of false allegations should be stomped out and deleted.

But, alas, I have lost hope in your comprehending anything I say, for you seem to have blinkers on that make you only see your skewed mostly incorrect point of view. Shame

"it's too damn expensive to go anywhere else. Checking fares to go to Europe (Estonia) for a wedding in August, I looked at fares to London Heathrow, and came up with RMB 9,000+ as the lowest fare, on Finnair. Of course, Heathrow is the most expensive airport into which to fly, but yikes."

Yet again, inaccurate information Steve. I am flying to Florence, Rome, London (Heathrow I might add), and then back to Beijing, at peak time at the end of August for 9500 rmb all in. Also, to back up my point, and disparage yours, you can also get much cheaper flights if you are flying direct to Heathrow around that period for around 5200 rmb return. So do a bit more research before you squeeze hope out of the good people's holiday plans.

And for someone who seems to write travel articles, you should really brush up on what cheap flight websites there are available; to help you, give Kayak.com/co.uk a go. It may provide you with more helpful and accurate information than what you have previously been posting.

Steven Schwankert wrote:

I still don't understand why anyone would live in a place where they feel the air is so polluted that it must be filtered.

Well, there are many reasons to live here, even if one feels the air is so polluted that it must be filtered. Say, for example, the local residents who have lived here for generations, the waidi folks who find the work environment better than that back home...

http://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2014/06/30/cancer-beijings-top-killer-seventh-consecutive-year-healthy-life-expectancy-58-years

Steven Schwankert wrote:

Lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and liver cancer were cited as the leading killers of men. For women, breast cancer, lung cancer, and then colorectal were the leading types of cancer fatalities.

Doubt wisely; in strange way / To stand inquiring right is not to stray; / To sleep, or run wrong, is. (Donne, Satire III)

Steven Schwankert wrote:

Chaofan,

Wow, how clever of you.

Hey thanks buddy,

and if you ever need me to explain to you why people live here just let me know,

happy to help educate the retarded in our community.

Good luck to ya!

Steven Schwankert wrote:

I still don't understand why anyone would live in a place where they feel the air is so polluted that it must be filtered.

I think the debate about polluted air is pretty much finished and the findings are - yup, it is polluted, and yup, it is a health risk.

What I can't understand is why parents with children, especially young ones, live here. Kids are a high risk group, and they don't have the choice where they live.

Maybe it is because Mommy/Daddy are narcicists and want to feel delusionally "special" as whities in China, whereas Mommy/Daddy are nobodies back home.

They are always the first to claim they are great, loving parents. Sure, sacrifice the kids' health for that potential promotion.

Two choices: Can build cities, or can build Smart Cities. Reducing pollution from the urban cores of BJ and TJ is not reducing pollution at all, but simply dispersing it elsewhere. And let's not kid ourselves: as much pollution stems from low octane petrol and diesel by way of cars/trucks, it's the factories of Hebei which carry the lion's share. If the transportation network planned for this shared cityurbanized area is car dependent, I would argue it's the following a blueprint of the former (city) and the not latter (Smart City).

Every time I've eaten at one of those shiny malls, I feel gipped on the food quanity/quality.

I've basically got about a dozen restaurants on my rotation that i know are good and mostly stick with. Some local places are excellent, it all depends on the owner. You can tell cuz which ones they are cuz they're usually packed.

How about you fax that offer to my publicist? And we'll flush it down the toilet in front of you and see if it floats.

Steven Schwankert wrote:

I still don't understand why anyone would live in a place where they feel the air is so polluted that it must be filtered.

Well you are simpleton,

there are many things you do not understand.

Life must be very confusing to you. Unknw

Beijing street food vendors could take a lesson or two from those at the Iowa State Fair. Corn dogs (with contrasting textures and whose dog requires actual refrigeration), kettle corn (where the sugar is carmelized), and ice cream (made with real dairy!) are a few that come to mind. The next time Pres. Xi comes to Iowa, he'll again be welcomed with a homecoming dinner : http://archive.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120212/NEWS/302120080/Seeds-Xi-s-visit-Iowa-planted-1979

I used to eat street food all the time when I came 14 years ago. I mostly stopped around 2006, and in the last two years have avoided it completely. It's sad, because I love Chinese food. I just can't be breaking out in a rash or worse whenever I eat at a local place.

I haven't, however, followed "the hoards to the shiny malls". I now eat almost exclusively at home; if I don't cook it, in general, I don't eat it. There are a few restaurants I'll still go out to with friends if eating out is the only way to get together, but not many.

Doubt wisely; in strange way / To stand inquiring right is not to stray; / To sleep, or run wrong, is. (Donne, Satire III)