We are in Beijing for the start of the rally. Although it is not the largest city in the world (Tokyo) or even the largest in China (Chongqing and Shanghai are larger) it is still twice the size of London with a population of 21 million. And yet it seemed today curiously empty although the roads were uniformly jammed. Our luxurious hotel, chosen as a the best place to park more than 100 classic cars, was near the No 2 Ring Road and also to the rather lovely Purple Bamboo Park where we managed to get lost in the evening (but what a place in which to get lost!).

 

And yet it seems in many ways to be the centre of the world – the clear capital and leading city in the world’s second largest economy which will soon be the largest. In the last 10 years China has accounted for 40% of the world’s economic growth and you can see it in the rising living standards in Beijing which now seem to be roughly where Singapore was about 20 years ago.

 

Morning started with Mike and I press releasing Cebr’s Belt and Road study in the hotel lobby. We coincided with a property conference. As the Chinese buy property with suitcases of cash the security was impressive and tight. Fortunately we had briefed China Daily in advance and there was a good report in their international edition. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201905/26/WS5cea60a7a3104842260bdcfd.html . The Belt and Road Initiative will transform the world economy, particularly Central Asia and Russia. But our guess is that Western Europe will join in, with Holland (surely Rotterdam is the Western end?) and the UK also benefitting. The country most affected proportionately is predicted to be Mongolia, through which we will be driving in a week’s time. So we can see for ourselves!

 

 

Having disposed of work we went off to visit the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower.

 

 

Former closed for renovation. Climbed up steep staircase in the latter to read about the ancient Chinese seasons where voles turn into quails (Qingming) and where pheasants turn into clams (Li dong). The drums are huge and it must have been terrifying for the population to hear them, which normally meant an army was approaching. The nearest recent equivalent must have been air raid sirens.

 

 

Then lovely hutongs and a drink by the lake before finding a Malaysian restaurant nearby which we had last visited in 2012 with Paul Lambden from ICAEW. The owner also came from Petaling Jaya which was a coincidence. The food was exceptional – curry ayam, rendang and satay – by far the best Malaysian I have had except in KL. Mike and I enjoyed nattering in our broken Malay with John Paul Cho, the owner.

 

The hotel is starting to fill up with rally crews. They all seem frighteningly knowledgeable. We had a quick drink with one lady who is taking her 80 year old mother as navigator (not sure I would have done that to my mother, even when she was only 80!) and an American gentleman who when we asked if he knew about cars turned out to be the top adviser on classic cars to Bonhams…..bit of a faux pas that one!

 

Then a quick (as we had thought) walk to the local supermarket to buy provisions. Alas, Apple maps turned out to be out of date – no supermarket at all but instead a lovely patch of green with lakes and islands, the Purple Bamboo Park. Sadly phone had discharged by now so no pics today. And also meant that we ended up walking about 5 miles instead of the 1 mile intended because the maps application was no longer available and we turned the wrong way more than once. But it really was pleasant. The park is filled with more than 50 varieties of bamboo and a third of its area is lake, with spectacular lotus blossoms and water lilies. We really didn’t mind getting lost even if our feet complained a bit as we got back to the hotel. Early night tonight because Rowena and Mike have booked a tour of the Forbidden City and Summer Palace and the guide is fetching us at 8 am.