I suggest anyone who has/had Asthma (or any other breathing problems) to certainly make sure they pack the appropriate medications they need.

For me, my Asthma has been in remission for the past ten years - I come to Beijing and I end up having Asthma attacks left and right. Because my Asthma had been in remission for so long, I didn't have any inhalers or medications to treat it.

Beijing's air is of horrible quality, the daily smog is thick, and the locals smoke and do it to the extreme - all of this combined is perhaps what triggered my reaction.

Even if you've never had breathing problems, it's best to pack safe and bring one.

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.