Touring - Bike and Uni Touring in Beijing

I'm in China for an internship work term and had a few free days in Beijing last week. I rented a bike for 40 Yuan and explored the city. A few days later I bought a unicycle and rode it across the city. Enjoy:

Yours truly:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ib2u8E6wacE/S07QCxarZhI/AAAAAAAAAVk/bmjO9910_m4/s512/Beijing%202010-01-11%20113.JPG

The basket is handy for stashing the guidebook:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ib2u8E6wacE/S07P74Y6UmI/AAAAAAAAAP8/n-GkSM9nlaQ/s720/Beijing%202010-01-11%20101.JPG

Tiananmen Square:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ib2u8E6wacE/S00Nr1YnRSI/AAAAAAAAAKM/UMRvteeUKGE/s912/%5B3%5D%20Photographs%2C%20Beijing%202010-01-11%2C%2011%20images%2C%20Beijing%202010-01-11%20030%20-%20Beijing%202010-01-11%20042%20-%2029333x2542%20-%20SCUH-Smartblend.jpg

The wall of the Forbidden City:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ib2u8E6wacE/S00NslwdZ-I/AAAAAAAAAKQ/h8_WfE9gHDc/s912/%5B4%5D%20Photographs%2C%20Beijing%202010-01-11%2C%203%20images%2C%20Beijing%202010-01-11%20094%20-%20Beijing%202010-01-11%20096%20-%208495x2338%20-%20SCUL-Smartblend.jpg

Part of the walls are painted red. The corners of the walls are adorned with large towers:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ib2u8E6wacE/S07P-aYlaXI/AAAAAAAAAQE/6ngzi3FfR7U/s720/Beijing%202010-01-11%20109.JPG

Here's a frozen over lake to the west of the Forbidden City.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ib2u8E6wacE/S00NtaDX5xI/AAAAAAAAAKU/NxLH5Xbr-oE/s912/%5B4%5D%20Photographs%2C%20Beijing%202010-01-11%2C%203%20images%2C%20Beijing%202010-01-11%20144%20-%20Beijing%202010-01-11%20146%20-%2010550x2439%20-%20CCUL-Smartblend.jpg

The bus is in the right most car lane. The rest of the road is the bike lane:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ib2u8E6wacE/S07PsYfDzlI/AAAAAAAAAO0/h1DvQ3-t5RE/s720/Beijing%202010-01-11%20082.JPG

I got lost in the Hutongs:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ib2u8E6wacE/S07P0q9FUwI/AAAAAAAAAPI/Q8re_Jt7lc8/s720/Beijing%202010-01-11%20090.JPG

I found this bird guy in the small square between the Bell and Drum Towers:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ib2u8E6wacE/S07Qfhzf1ZI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/dVV_RlO1hPk/s720/Beijing%202010-01-11%20149.JPG

There are several of these traffic wardens at every intersection in downtown. They're very handy for asking directions:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ib2u8E6wacE/S07RAA2aUHI/AAAAAAAAASs/LhrLc2Gj4S8/s512/Beijing%202010-01-11%20202.JPG

These arcades can be found in many Chinese gardens:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ib2u8E6wacE/S1hUmRSPwuI/AAAAAAAAAeM/SVW7cZFwQ5g/s640/DSC05595.JPG

The wooden structure is hand painted. Each beam is adorned with a unique vignette.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ib2u8E6wacE/S1hUjlodXHI/AAAAAAAAAeI/e4x3i5pmixM/s512/DSC05594.JPG

The park with the arcades also contains a large number of cats:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ib2u8E6wacE/S1hU7hw18mI/AAAAAAAAAe0/FtC21XOneUI/s640/DSC05632.JPG

People glide around on ice seated on metal sleds, propelling themselves with two sticks:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ib2u8E6wacE/S1hbLdlVwtI/AAAAAAAAAhY/MUPuI2k45GY/s720/Beijing%202010-01-11%20137.JPG

Thanks for sharing - it's always nice to see other places on this planet, especially those we consider exotic.

Hi Yan,

I am in Shanghai and I too recommend the basket. Mine contains a city map, a couple of bike tools, spare old t-shirt, chain/lock and some chewing gum.

I have removed the rear rack whilst riding in the city (it is sooooo heavy!). But the basket is very under-rated on the touring forum and I would not hesitate to use one on tour again.

I don't like the idea of riding a unicycle in Chinese traffic. If sounds crazy to me. The behaviour of drivers and pedestrians here is too unpredictable. I don't know how you made it across the city in one piece!

I don't like the idea of riding a unicycle in Chinese traffic. If sounds crazy to me. The behaviour of drivers and pedestrians here is too unpredictable. I don't know how you made it across the city in one piece!

Pardon my ignorance - I've never ridden a unicycle - but the same argument can be applied to riding a bike in traffic. How is a Uni different, apart from speed?

I've never ridden one either and only have the image of a clown at the circus in my mind. Surely it would difficult to stay balanced with nothing to hold onto. I don't imagine it would have any brakes, and would be slow off the starting line at traffic lights. There is nothing in Australia or Europe that I can think of which comes close to the traffic conditions in a major Chinese city. Not just the cars, but motorcycles, electric bicycles, bicycles, pedestrians etc. Speed, and moving forward at all times is essential. Find yourself at a standing-start in the middle of the road with traffic going around you in all directions and it is very difficult to move.