四月底，正值春暧花开的季节，我们全家去北京旅行，下踏亲戚位于中关村的民宿。春季的北京仍是非常干燥的，注意备些滋润补水霜。
第一站我们便去了俊美秀气的颐和园，那里千变万化的长廊绘画艺术作品和灵气的山水交融，仿佛时空倒流。
接着我们来到了香山植物园，一丛丛，一簇簇鲜艳欲滴的桃花绽放着如孩童般的笑颜，园里的人告诉我们，如果早几个礼拜，还可以观赏到灿烂夺目的樱花。
平日为营生忙忙禄禄的新加坡人当然不能错过北京著名的长城，去领略其张显的霸气，可参加一日游，还有雄伟的故宫，里面正有些精美的文物展览。
另外，可以带孩子去天文博物馆，观赏天体的形成，宇宙的演变。附近的动物园也是孩子最喜欢的去处。
值得一提的是位于北京前门的百年老店:北京同仁堂总部，是爱好中华医学的朋友不可错过的地方，古色古香的内外装璜，内有名医坐堂，还可当场看病抓药。
This topic is much of a cliche, at least for native residents coming from these two places.
From the official point of view, Beijing and Shanghai are always prioritized as the first and second city of the oldest continuous civilization in the world.
But the comparison between residents, as well as all other aspects about the two cities, has constantly brought into hot debate, on the internet, in the press, or by word-of-mouth.
While the rest of the world think fairly high of both cities, Beijingnese and Shanghainese look down upon each other fiercely, as they do with other ethnic Chinese, the latter attitude being actually understandable, since they simply stand out, as the elite groups of richer, better-educated, more open-minded people.
As far I can tell, the special feeling of superiority towards specifically the other group of folks can be generalized as follows: Beijingnese are disgusted with Shanghainese's overdone snobbery, shrewdness and standoffishness, while Shanghainese hates Beijingnese's forever brag and boast and boorishness.
I surely don't think any of this would be totally it or would do any justice to either side. And I'm not gonna buy any of the arbitrary conclusion that either Beijing or Shanghai is a better place.
But have I mentioned a customary saying I overheard the other day? The whole sentence can be loosely translated into: Beijing is China's Beijing, Shanghai is the World's Shanghai.
This makes much sense to foreigner visitors, for whom it's simply a matter of choice. If you wanna take in some insight into the profound ancient Chinese culture, Beijing is the place to be. If you wanna conquer the culture shocks with ease, invest on Shanghai.
Beijingnese also have a very strong master consciousness, this was especially true after their hometown won the bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympics. And I'm sure they will continue to keep it that way for years to come.
No matter he or she is a bus conductor, sanitary personnel, construction laborers, office worker, street artist plying Erhu under the wall of the Imperial Palace, or an old lady working for the Residents' Committee of a community around a Hutong, they all share the same pride and joy of this ancient and bustiling city, they care about the past, present and future of the great nation and energetic country, and they are ready to share with you their sentiment as well.
Taxi dirvers in Beijing, for instance, are known to be overly talkative, you should be prepared.
Whenever you tour a city which claims to be a cultural center of a particular region, you would always enjoy observing how local residents convey that cultural predominence in one way or another, such as festivals, architecture, arts and crafts, etc.
While for me, high-browed culture and high-engergy activities are not really my thing. Beijing has indeed an abundance of that and I enjoyed all of them during my stay and framed those memories in photos for future review.
But it is the group of Beijingness and the way they live their daily life that impressed me most.
Trueborn Beijingnese are easily recognizable by their "R" accent, which is redundantly used at the end of practically every other phrase. Beijing colloquial language is very much different from the kind of language you have listened and learned in your Putonghua (Mandarin) class.
Listening to them is quite an experience. They use very concise yet multivocal phrases, a musical tone, a clear and lively timbre and an easy and deliberate altitude to organize and sophisticate their speech to the point of concinnity and sagaciousness.
Listerning to them engageing in a verbal fight or something is an even more fascinating experience. They are so self-dignified that they seldom use dirty words, or escalate their reciprocal verbal counterattacks into physical combat.
No kidding, it's considered as an art, and it has to be heard to be belived. Yet for out-of-towners, chances are you're getting insulted and don't even have any clue!
Before I went on my Beijing trip this March, I have been reading stories about how big and magnigicent this city is. I myself was born in an international metropolis and figured that Beijing would seem familiar to me. Well, as far as the hustle and bustle is concerned, it is. But there is something more dignified and mysterious about it that will take your breath away.
I was on a very tight itinerary and decided to only visit the "must-sees". The Imperial Palace (Forbidden City) certainly tops the list. The buildings themselves appear to be incredibly square and symmetrical, and the sculptures are grotesque to the point of scary. But you cannot complain. Anyway, Forbidden City was built for emperors to exercise their supreme power over the common people and to overawe their enemies and hostiles.
As the naturally landscaped imperial garden and residence, the Summer Palace is more aesthetic and pleasant. 
It is said that he who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man. Seeing the stupendous stone wall snaking on the blade of mountaints and stretching as far as the eye can see, you will know he who has built the Great Wall was a true man. Here is a postcard of the Great Wall I selected.
