Beijing Cityscape

Streets of Beijing, does this look like a communist country to you? Yeah, Beijing is a lot nicer than Los Angeles, though aesthetically it is a bit off... See the odd looking building in the middle, that's the new state television network's office. Last year, a fire (caused by unauthorized fireworks set off by the tv network's employees) completely destroyed a $1 billion brand new soon to be open Mandarin Oriental hotel next to it... I've noticed this tendency in China: people are either too cautious and risk averse or completely reckless and careless, there is little balance in the middle.

Here is the charred remains of the billion dollar Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Chinese central television's new headquarters... it's, eh, so showy! Not feeling the odd shape at all, it feels like it may snap apart and collapse at any time.

Chang'an Avenue, the main thoroughfare in Beijing.