Walking around China you loose the feeling quit quickly that you are in a communist country. It is very modern, there are vendors selling everything from socks to cell phones, people are busy pursuing their careers, etc. Then reality hits you from time to time. I had one of these moments when learning what it takes to buy a car in China. It isn't as simple as going to a car lot, picking out what you want and paying for it. You have to enter your name into a lottery - depending on your status you get entered into different lotteries. So, for example, if you are a foreigner you are in a different lottery and fewer cars are awarded. I have been warned that if I plan to stay in Beijing longer than 3 years that I should enter my name in the lottery even if I don't want a car now. Even after you do own a car there are some days you are allowed to drive it, other days you are not depending on your license plate number. In Beijing it is one day a week that you can't drive your car.
When you do get the opportunity to buy a car - be prepared to pay a lot of money. The government charges a 125% tax on it. So that $25,000 Honda sedan will cost you around $60,000.
That said, there is traffic in Beijing, but it is the same as in Los Angeles, New York, Barcelona or any other city around the world. Before coming I read about a traffic jam in Beijing that lasted 7 consecutive days.
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