Service drags down standards

In many ways, Beijing has become an international city with excellent restaurants, luxury hotels and premium department stores. In terms of architecture and style, many facilities are just as good as any other city.

Last weekend, I went to a store in the suburb of the city, which looks exactly the same or even better than those in Europe or the US. But the service was not to international standard.

When I stepped into a jeans shop, a quarrel had erupted between four customers from Northeast China and the outlet's managers.