Used to travel there a fair amount and lived in Shanghai as well. Curious to your experience in Beijing. Definitely got mobbed by trinket salesman in the main tourist hubs, can get college students trying to pull you into an art exhibit in Wang Fu Jin area, but wouldn't call it a cesspool. Other than the bad air, Beijing is really a pretty clean city. I would say it is cleaner than NY on average. Other than having trinket salesman or some beggars coming and asking for money, what about the city makes it a cesspool?