Travel China and Beyond

Beijing 1987-1988

Earlier today I was looking through some old photos from the days I first came to Beijing. It was the Fall of 1987 - I was just starting college when the opportunity to study in China opened up and I decided to go for it. At the time, I spent 10 months in Beijing — from late September 1987 till late July 1988.

I lived at the Beijing Language Institute (near WuDaoKou in Northwestern Beijing) and explored the city on a bicycle. At the time traffic in Beijing was mostly bicycles and buses with very few cars (most of them taxis or gov’t official vehicles).

Take a look at these images and you will see almost empty roads (free of cars) and very few high buildings…. One very different city…! When you think that these photos are from a time period only 17 years ago, it is mind boggling So much change.

Can you recognize any of the places?

The building at the lower right corner of the image is the Beijing Language Institute front gate. Above it is the Drum Tower… Next to it is a picture from one of the main roads in Beijing in 1987 timeframe…. Where are the cars ???

Here are some images from Chengde (north of Beijing) - I will write a blog entry about Chengde later this week and give you some idea of how it looks like today…. And of course a picture of me and my room-mate at the Beijing Language Institute…..

Enjoy!