Old Meets New: Google Ads Spotted on Traditional Beijing Rickshaws

For those who have seen their fair share of advertisements on buses, subways and airplanes, here’s something to meet the eyes in Beijing’s hutongs (alleyways) – ads on the Tricycles (Sanlunche, a traditional old-Beijing style vehicle). On the sides are ads of Google’s AdSense. The Chinese characters on it read “Forever Trust, Succeed Together.” Putting ads on those rickshaws seems to be something only Google would attempt.

Tricycles are, to some extent, one of the best symbols of the old Beijing, but have been rendered as a kind of vehicle only for tourists these days. So there is some doubt as to how many Chinese will see these ads. Nevertheless, travelers to the capital of China for this summer’s Olympics should try to avoid those tourists-flooded attractions like the Great Wall and the Summer Palace, taking instead a tricycle tour down those hutongs to enjoy the beautiful scenery of old Beijing.

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