Racism in Beijing is at an all time high, never in my life have I experienced such prejudice. This racism seems to be towards anyone who isn't Asian - though if you have a darker complexion, expect the worst.

While in Beijing I was constantly yelled at by complete strangers, teens would come up and laugh in my face, not to mention the constant staring - it got so bad that I dreaded leaving my apartment and would only go outside while wearing sunglasses as to "hide".

And getting a cab was impossible until I got my roommate, who happened to be Asian to hail a cab - she got one immediately, while I had been standing on the side of the road waving frantically for 45 minutes.

As for those of European descents, expect to be treated as if you're a walking ATM with the smarts of a pile of rubble. The natives will charge ridiculous prices as if you have money to blow - and then talk down to you. Even if you can fluently speak the language they still treat foreigners as though their morons.

If you're set on going to China, I suggest visiting a more westernized city like Hong Kong or Shanghai, where the above prejudice is less likely (though still in existence) to occur.