Beihai - Is it any different from other Large town or City?

My own experiences whilst travelling into and through Beihai have in the main been good.

Yes, of course Beihai does have issues, just like any other town or city.

First we need to understand a little of it's history, I mean it's more recent development history - Rapid development, faster than Nanning, I would not mind betting probably one of the fastest in China.

In the last 15 years, Beihai has gone from large fishing village to an almost modern, sprawling urban metropolis. I use the word metropolis in connection to it being the main holiday resort area on the particular stretch of coastline that it sits on in the Gaungxi region.

A 'honey pot' for those wishing to exploit, take advantage of, abuse the 100's of 1000's of tourists that flock there in the summer and winter months, some very naïve as Chinatyke has already pointed out.

And lets face it, those wishing to exploit are masters of their trade, wherever they are located and can spot a 'Dummy/Lemon' a mile off.

I think Pirieport sums up the solution very well.

Come on ! - Scams are similar, the world over - Who gets in a Taxi abroad that is not metered, rule number one, isn't it?

I admit, I did once, some time ago in Beijing - Yes, I was Mr Stupid. Charged me 20 RMB that had I got in a metered cab would have cost me 15 RMB.

We have probably all done it and probably in our home countries also.

It is not only Beihai.

I do not blame taxi drivers (how can I, my Brother drives a Taxi for a living in the UK and my ex-brother in law, both extremely honest chaps)

Is it not a bit like leaving your entrance doors in your home unlocked and then blaming the world and his mother when someone wanders in uninvited?

21st century necessity - Commonsense needed.

It is sad, I agree, but invariably we only have ourselves to blame.



Listen to Andrew...

Taxi Drivers !!! - As soon as you step out of a Train station, Bus station, Airport or any where else for that matter in any place in the world - What's the first thing you look for when searching for a Taxi - A LISCENSED METERED ONE! And if they refuse to turn the meter on - walk away.

I cannot comment on Chinatykes Blackmail saga - only to say - Some taxi drivers are cunning opportunists, same the world over, same as other profession's…Good and bad.

I can say this, my wife has been a victim twice in the past year of petty crime and I have witnessed umpteen cases of theft and attempted theft here in Nanning, far more than I have witnessed in Beihai.

Oh and one other very very important factor - Property prices have been rising in Beihai over a prolonged period faster than most other cities and towns including Nanning.



Commonsense is the order of the day. IMHO

I was referring to some licensed taxi drivers in Beihai, who are like marauding pack animals, and not to the unlicensed ones. Unfortunately these few get all of the drivers the same bad name. It is up to the reputable drivers and companies to weed them out.

And why do they have to sound their horns every 100 metres? Is it to show their own importance and try and elevate their status? They are oblivious to passenger comfort and the noise pollution is horrendous.

The recent history of the city is a little more colourful than suggested. Institutionalised fraud was the order of the day, resulting in government funding being withdrawn from Beihai for an extended period and the creation of the 'Beihai Bubble'. Perhaps this was when certain taxi drivers learned their trade, just copied the leaders.

Graham

Please excuse my ignorance but how can the withdrawal of government funding in Beihai create a Beihai Bubble? - I assume the Beihai Bubble you refer to is property prices going up in Beihai over a prolonged period at a faster rate than most other cities.
This was reported one year ago and still it rises - LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2007-07/11/content_5432472.htm

No, this bubble happened years ago and when the bubble burst prices of property crashed from 10000 rmb per sm to 400 rmb/sm, it could have been as long ago as 1993.

http://english.hanban.edu.cn/english/business/222848.htm

It was the classic boom and bust - the bubble popped when funding was withdrawn because of "misappropriation of funds" at high levels. I just wish I had bought some of the property at that low price.

Beihai certainly has the best fish and chips I've had in China, it's worth going just for those.

Graham

Graham

Great post by the way.
Ah, you said, "Beihai Bubble" not "Beihai Bubble Burst" now I understand.

I suspect a typo though by china.org.cn
The 10,000RMB per sq metre is meant to be 1000RMB - think about it for a minute, 15 years ago, 10,000RMB per sq metre, I don't think so. That would make it on par more expensive than average UK prices 15 years ago.
Ask the local Chinese - how much was property in Beihai 15 years ago and they will probably say, what property?

But if your point is - ups and downs - swings and roundabouts - I agree - history has shown time and time again perpetual growth is not sustainable.

Hi
In 2006 I spent a month in Beihai and I was told before the bubble burst years before, Beihai had the most expensive real estate in ALL of China.
So maybe the 10,000 price is right.
That is why there were 1,000's of empty apartments there, especially in the Silver Beach area. Some looked like the squatters were living in them. No windows or doors, but laundry hanging on the balconies.

Stuart

Beihai has not changed much then, empty apartments are still there as in Nanning and elsewhere. Most empty ones in Beihai get taken over by fishermen.
I have been doing a little research here and there and can find no supporting evidence of property prices in Beihai being 10,000RMB per sq mt 15 years ago.
Please, if anyone can find a supporting link other than the china.org.cn one then let us see it.
Hearsay has no substance.