Beijing Ranked the World's 11th Most Unfriendly City
We're sad to see our fair city on a "world's unfriendliest cities" list, but we're glad that at least it didn't make the top 10.
The readers of Travel + Leisure decided that Beijing wasn't their happy place: "Voters seem to agree that this city had too many people to manage, regardless of the friendliness levels of its populace. Escape the crowds (and, yes, the pollution) inside one of the city’s new hotels, which continue to practice the region’s famous, anticipatory hospitality – even if locals don’t. Try the new Rosewood Beijing, fronted with cast-bronze dragon sculptures, and featuring cloisonné in the 282 loft-style guest rooms."
If that's not a sponsored or content marketing plug for Rosewood Beijing, it's certainly the strangest we've ever seen.
That criticism aside, we're in good company. Number 12 on the unfriendly list is Miami, Florida; Number 10 is Cannes, France. Moscow was considered to be least friendly. In 2014, Travel + Leisure competitor Conde Nast Traveler readers also named Beijing to its list of unfriendly cities.
Galway, Ireland, was voted the world's friendliest city. Two other Irish cities/places, Dublin and County Cork, also appeared in the top five, at number three and four, respectively.
Here's the Top 10 Most Unfriendly:
1. Moscow, Russia
2. Atlantic City, New Jersey
3. St. Petersburg, Russia
4. Marseille, France
5. Los Angeles, California
6. New York, New York
7. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
8. Baltimore, Maryland
9. Las Vegas, Nevada
10. Cannes, France
Now for their rankings of the Friendliest:
1. Galway, Ireland
2. Charleston, South Carolina
3. Dublin, Ireland
4. Cork, Ireland
5. Siem Reap, Cambodia
6. Auckland, New Zealand
7. Melbourne, Australia
8. Sydney, Australia
9. Edinburgh, Scotland
10. Savannah, Georgia
More stories by this author here.
Email: stevenschwankert@thebeijinger.com
Twitter: @greatwriteshark
Weibo: @SinoScuba潜水
Photo: Shi Zhao/Wikipedia
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Comments
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WayDaLone
Submitted by Guest on Thu, 09/03/2015 - 06:26 Permalink
Re: Beijing Ranked the World's 11th Most Unfriendly City
Beijing is a very friendly city. If you need directions and find a local who speaks English, or your language, very often the person will make sure you are headed the right way or even walk with you to make sure.
javajoe
Submitted by Guest on Wed, 09/02/2015 - 20:55 Permalink
Re: Beijing Ranked the World's 11th Most Unfriendly City
Just stop spitting eerywhere then all be fine
Can I still jerk off in public?
Dawleylu
Submitted by Guest on Wed, 09/02/2015 - 18:58 Permalink
Re: Beijing Ranked the World's 11th Most Unfriendly City
When one travels, they naturally encounter the locals who inhabit a given area. Interaction with tourists isn't exclusive to hotels and restaurants as people from different places and different backgrounds seek out different places to spend their time. Spending a week in Beijing seeing even only the most popular tourist attractions is going to put you within sight and sound of thousands of native residents. Of these thousands, it's fair to assume the average tourist will interact with more than enough locals to make a determination as to their friendliness. It doesn't take long to see whether or not people are generally kind in a city of this size. The best places i've ever traveled were the places where the locals were the friendliest. It can literally make or break an experience abroad.
admin
Submitted by Guest on Wed, 09/02/2015 - 16:46 Permalink
Re: Beijing Ranked the World's 11th Most Unfriendly City
The world's friendlest cities are generally determined based off the benevolence of the people.....adhering to very basic social behavior on an escalator is hardly going to bring Beijing anywhere near the top of this list.
this list is compiled by a travel website. I think the vast majority of people ranking these cities are doing it on the basis of what they see as a tourist, which for the most part is going to be what they encounter in service businesses like hotels and restaurants as well as in public places ... not on the basic benevolence of the locals.
Dawleylu
Submitted by Guest on Wed, 09/02/2015 - 15:11 Permalink
Re: Beijing Ranked the World's 11th Most Unfriendly City
The world's friendlest cities are generally determined based off the benevolence of the people.....adhering to very basic social behavior on an escalator is hardly going to bring Beijing anywhere near the top of this list.
admin
Submitted by Guest on Wed, 09/02/2015 - 10:13 Permalink
Re: Beijing Ranked the World's 11th Most Unfriendly City
Fix public behavior in the subways, in cars and in pedestrian areas, and Beijing will skyrocket to the friendliest list.
And don't think it's not possible -- take waiting on the right side on escalators in the subway, to allow those in a hurry to pass on the left.
Two years ago this never happened. Now I find about 80% adherence to this custom
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