Stoic soldier at Forbidden City entrance

Bright lights, big cities, summits, and chopsticks

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October 3rd 2006
After 2 weeks in China it is readily apparent that this is the most difficult country I've ever traveled in. The language barrier is simply impossible which makes everything a struggle. If I can eat 3 decent meals, find a not too shabby hotel with hot water, cross 8 lanes of traffic without a near death encounter, use a clean toilet, and procure a bus or train ticket then the day is an unqualifi ... read more

Asia » China

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For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. A... ... read more