BAODING LIFE

I sometimes get asked to show ordinary life in China by my family so these are snapshots of daily life around the University. I hope to visit a village as well at some point.

Watermelons in the street market

One of the street cafes where you can buy beer and a meal!

The night market outside the campus:

A rainy day in China: a sea of umbrellas as the students walk back to college, and street cleaners sheltering from the rain!

I've been looking to buy a bicycle for some time now and so have visited West Street in the old town  a few times which is full of cycle shops and electric scooter shops: some expats have bought one of these! I see what's available in 3 price brackets, low (400-500 RMB) mid (500-800) and high (1000+). My friend Abby offers to come with me to help me communicate with the shop owner and tells me you can haggle the price. There are some racing cycles that look great but they are over 3000 RMB or about £300. That's a good price but too much if you're not staying permanently! 

I meet Abby in town and we visit a few shops: I like the look of some of the bikes outside one particular store: the only problem I have is in finding one tall enough. I test ride a couple of cycles they have there and settle for one that costs RMB 750. It is a 21 speed MTB and looks very stylish. Cheekily I ask Abby if she can bargain the price although I'm willing to pay the original if I have to: my top budget is RMB 1000.  She manages to get it down to RMB 650 which is a good bargain! There is a lock thrown in for free and I buy an extra one for good measure!

I'm pleased with my purchase: Abby goes shopping for some plants for her flat and I offer to buy something for her as a thank you but she won't have it: also I offer lunch but she says no to that too. In the end I cycle back to the University and have lunch in the shacks!

I start cycling around Baoding but have to develop 360 degree vision and extra caution owing to the chaotic nature of Chinese road use!