Beijing: Locals' envy, shoppers' pride

The Chinese capital, Beijing is no more a good place for a leisure living for locals, though it has convenient access to shopping facilities, a report said today

The Chinese capital, Beijing is no more a good place for a leisure living for locals, though it has convenient access to shopping facilities, a report said today.

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According to the report, Beijing, a sprawling city of over 15 million people, only scores 61.91 in the level of comfort and 63.8 in overall evaluation, just over the passing line.

"The level of comfort is very important for living space, including natural and human environment, but the public has low recognition with the index," a research fellow with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhang Wenzhong said.

Beijingers have higher assessment on the city's shopping facilities, neighbourhood relations, both scoring over 70 or the highest.

Receiving over 7,600 questionnaires across the city, the survey is designed to gather public opinion on Beijing's safety, healthiness, level of comfort and transportation convenience.

Beijing's notorious traffic and air pollution partly contributed by vehicle exhaust cause more concern among the respondents who have college education background, while those who have middle-school diplomas say they are more unsatisfied with recreational facility access.

Over 90 per cent of the interviewed believe the real estate price in Beijing is too high and nearly a half say the price will rise in the next five years.