We recently visited Nanjing and the relatively smaller city of Yangzhou. Here, too, the sidewalks are broad and well swept, with non-slip paths clearly lit up by lights that also decoratively reflect the cultural elements of the city.

Nanjing's new business district, especially, is efficiently designed and illuminated, with plenty of green space among the towering office blocks. In the old town by the Qinhuai River, gnarled plane trees guard the streets, but the pavements are still straight and true and well maintained.

Another city that manages to fuse modern amenities with history is the port city of Tianjin. It has become one of my favorite places, with its sweeping river and beautiful bridges that reflect so much of the port's past.

New buildings and hotels have been built to consciously blend in with the architecture of the old Concessions, and again, its sidewalks and streetlights do what they are supposed to do-light the way and allow pedestrians a comfortable passage.

In comparison, Beijing has not only lost most of its picturesque old neighborhoods, but the old city walls from the Yuan (1271-1368), Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties are now jostled by skyscrapers that subscribe to no particular style or school except their own.

Our friend, an emigrant who still has strong links to the old country, says she carries a torchlight in her bag whenever she comes back. Otherwise, she cannot avoid the cracks and potholes in the sidewalks.

Sadly, I agree. Our residential estate has the same problem. We have plenty of lamp posts, but they all give out the barest minimum glimmer, so much so that a torchlight in the handbag is no longer an option but a necessity.

It would not be so bad if Beijing sidewalks were smooth and straight.

As it were, apart from avoiding shrubbery designed as an obstacle course, there also seems to be an infestation of a mole species that delights in tunneling under every alternative pavement slab.

We can only hope that if Beijing succeeds in winning the bid for the next winter Olympics, the city will light up, straighten up and fly right.

Related: On the glory road home

Looking back, looking ahead

Pony tales for the new year

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