Building across the street III

It's the one year anniversary of the start of construction of the building across the street and still the end is not in sight. They worked day and night starting last February. They ruined our sleep with the noise of cement mixers arriving throughout the night.

Then in July they stopped as part of the Olympic preparations - all building works across Beijng were halted and the skies cleared and noise disappeared.

They resumed after the October national holiday, but by now the persistent complaints of the neighbours had resulted in a ban on night-time work. We watched as every day the building grew taller. We speculated as to the final height. Originally we had been told 5 floors but when this was passed we were told 28! Now, in fact, it looks like a dozen or so..but who knows.

What will it be? Who will move in? No-one seems to know for sure. Building in Beijing is shrouded in mystery and speculation. What we do know - for sure - is that our view from the 12th floor is seriously impaired - the line of site to the mountains, on a clear day, is now obstructed by Beijing's rising skyline.

Building across the road

We have enjoyed open views - west, towards the Drum Tower - across downtown Beijing from our apartment for the last year. Partly because of a large, tree filled, empty lot across the street. But we knew to expect the worst when the trees were all cut down a few months ago. One morning we awoke to find the bulldozers and cranes had moved in and the building work had begun. Not sure what they are building - offices and apartments are the favourites here - but I'm sure we'll find out soon. Building work is a 24 x 7 activity in Beijing so the lot is being transformed daily before our eyes. The huts in the foreground are the on-site accommodation for the out-of-town migrant workers that make up the majority of Beijing's construction workers.

Looks like we will be in for a spring and summer of dust, noise and scaffolding. And what about the view?