Finally on my second visit to China and third attempt I actually got into the Forbidden City. Although we did have a run in with some camera sales staff that was a bit stressful. The forbidden city is the most enormous house in the world, I expected it to be huge but until you go through it you can't appreciate the sheer scale of all the buildings with their incredible detail. It really is an incredible place. I was thinking how proud it must make chinese people feel to go there. The outer court is full of huge courtyards and massive 10 story buildings designed to intimidate and awe people at the emperors power, but further on in the more private areas it is full of gardens and is still impressive but far more personable, the ... read more

So in 3 weeks we will have FLOWN 26,000 kms DRIVEN 1200 kms WALKED 200 kms CYCLED 14km and it has been awesome The two things i was worried about - the food and toilets have been fine. The food has been incredible, and I have mastered the floor loo (although you always keep an eye out for a sit down loo and use it whether you need to or not and don't forget your own paper everywhere you go) The Chinese people have been very friendly and helpful, everywhere you go you are almost always the only caucasian and you get plenty of looks, some smiles, lots of 'hellos" and the occasional giggle. I haven't been robbed or felt at all in peril (as some people warned me). I would reccomend seeing China with someone ... read more

Today in Shanghai was beautiful weather so we started walking in search of the fabled soup dumplings (Dumplings with hot soup in them). On the way we went past the Shanghai museum which was free today and had a massive line up. We decidded to give the museum a miss and found a restaurant. The soup dumplings were good but I wasn't blown away by them, perhaps I've had sooooo much good ffood I've become spoiled. We then went to Nanjing Rd (a major shopping area) and caught the subway uNder the river to all the new huge buildings. If I'd thought there were a lot of people at the museum I was wrong, on Nanjing Rd, on the subway and everywhere there was literally a sea of people. Walking through them was like swimming through ... read more

On our last day in Lijiang we spent the day chilling out around the area. Only 80yuan and three minutes walk from our hotel is the Black Dragon Pool. this is a beautiful waterpark with bridges, buildings, traditional Chinese music, Naxi dancers and pools and waterfalls everywhere. Unfortunately Jade dragon Snow Mountain was covered in cloud but the scenery in the foreground was still fantastic. Lunch was at a little restaurant nearby called Crossing Bridge Restaurant and you guessed it we had crossing bridge noodles - and they were great. My Chinese friends are always amused because I always finish my meal unlike them. I explained that in Australia when you are young if you don't eat everything you get in trouble.. After Lunch we drove only a few minutes away to a little village called ... read more

We booked in with a tour company out of Lijiang to see a whole bunch of canyons, mountains, temples and more. I was a little apprehensive over whether we would get value, see cool things and be on some Contiki thing. BUt it was excellent. We all pilled into a twenty seater bus and headed off into the hills. Going was slow as we were on secondary road with lots of traffic going both ways on both sides of the road while looking over the edge of incredible high mountains. We made plenty of photo stops and one was interesting. it was my first sight of the mighty Yangtzee river. the spot we saw is where it comes out of the Himalaian platteau and then makes it's first U-turn. The reason this is significant is that ... read more