Metro Special

My 2010

By Li Jiabao, Liu Yujie, Yang Wanli and Todd Balazovic (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-30 08:09

As the New Year's bell gets ready to sound, there is just enough time for a little reflection on personal events that took place in 2010 and feelings for the year to come. Reporting by Li Jiabao, Liu Yujie, Yang Wanli and Todd Balazovic.

Dou Keying, Beijing native, taxi driver

"I love my job, not only because I earn at least 500 yuan every day, but because I can talk with my passengers.

I have learned how to say 'hello' in almost every language.

Once I took three Australian tourists to the Silk Market. We had a nice chat and they asked to take photos with me after arriving.

There are so many people on the street because I was with three foreign young girls. I felt really good about myself. I hope to make more foreign friends and more money next year."

Peder Kristian Pedersen (and Laura Havemann), Danish, student at Peking University

"I am impressed by the number of people in Beijing.

It doesn't matter what time you go out, there are always lots of people around. Back home (in Denmark), when it hits 5 pm, there are no people on the street at all. We love living here.

The one thing I would like to see is an improvement in Beijing's air quality.

My new year plan? To decorate our new apartment in Denmark."

Wang Shaochun, Hebei native, security guard

"The greatest thing that happened to me this year was getting a girlfriend. She is in Shandong province and has just graduated from high school. A friend of mine introduced her to me and we fell in love.

Probably the worst thing was when I 'lost' a lot of cash. I was playing cards with a friend over the May Day holiday and I lost about 1,000 yuan. My monthly salary is only 1,700 yuan, so it hurt a lot. I won't play any more.

My plan for next year is to get my girlfriend to come to Beijing. We miss each other and don't want to be separated."

Isaac Ololade, Nigerian, PhD student at the Chinese Academy of Sciences

"I find it hard to mix with people here because of the language barrier. Most of the time I feel lonely so I hope I can make more friends next year.

In every aspect though, Beijing really impresses me. The city is not only growing, it is flying along.

I would like to see English translations in every public place.

China is full of opportunities for foreigners and is a promising land for scientists."

Huang Fashou, Hainan native, urban administrative officer

"I finished my three years of work as an assistant in a village in Tongzhou district and took the urban administrative (chengguan) exam. After passing it, I was transferred from a remote village to the bustling metropolis.

The city stunned me with the legacy of the Olympic Games, but also confused me with the skyrocketing price of property and deteriorating gridlock. I am content with my job and happy to live here. I just wish the wages could be a little higher and property wasn't so expensive."

Harry Kaib, German, telecommunications

"I am impressed by the internationality of Beijing and plan to stay here for two more years. I have settled down quite well in Beijing and my kids are happy here.

My biggest wish for 2011 is to learn a little Chinese. I find it very hard but very interesting.

My biggest success in this year was running the marathon in October. It was raining, cold and windy and made it the worst competition you can imagine. Although I was very slow, my time didn't matter, I'm still proud I managed to take part."

Zhang Xue, Anhui native, shop owner

"My happiest moment this year was when my oldest son tried hard in his study. He was in a kungfu school but we moved him to a bilingual school this year.

After one year of trying hard, his math score jumped from 70 to 94.

I sell tobacco. Last year, as a result of the media's focus on living well, my store did pretty badly. This causes a problem with my plan next year to buy a house. They are too expensive and I can't afford to buy one. I just want a house that belongs to us."

Piotr Gillert, Polish, diplomat in Beijing

"After spending five years living in Beijing in the first half of the decade, my highlight of 2010 was returning to the city two months ago.

It was a comeback that we were very much looking forward to. Some of the old places have disappeared and there were a lot of new ones.

It is a great period to be in China. We are looking forward to traveling so we can see the places we've seen before and note how they have changed."

Zhang Shuang, Beijing native, student

"The most impressive thing for me was passing the gaokao exam this year.

I managed to get into a university but Yang, my boyfriend, will have to study for another year so he can re-take the exam. Failing it was a great disappointment to him."

Tong Liang, Beijing native, restaurant greeter

"While I also have a problem with the city's slow transportation, I want to praise the freeway in front of my home as it helps me get to work faster.

I hope that commodity prices could drop a little and wages might rise slightly too.

I don't really worry about finance and accommodation too much, I just wish I could get a better job."