Well This is my first entry, and I've almost finished my time in beijing!! I've seen many of the necessary sites, from the forbidden city not what its fully cracked up to be, and walking round outside for four hours trying to see it all didnt help to, The great wall never to be missed, will remember them views forever and the summer palace beautiful but again to big for this weather. I've had squid on a stick, peking duck and chinese dumplings (which you HAVE to try amazing) and I've also seen a 4d film (good fun I kinda hope it catches on, at least for action films) and my first real lesson... try to choose your time more wisely! I chose the wrong time of year I can't recommend it to anyone coming round this time. Although it is beautiful it does have two fatal flaws; one it is freezing like literally the rivers and lakes are all frozen up, which makes for good fun in some respects but after a while it weighs you down, and this is from a guy from northern England I mean we're built for the cold, second floor is chinese new year. Now I love beijing and all that, but after two weeks in the cold not wanting to go out a lot I'm pulling my hair out, if i hadn't got a plane ticket out I would have been here another at least 3 weeks before trains got much better... I would have killed myself I know it. Luckily I'm off to kunming soon so that should be a lot warmer. The city of eternal spring sounds good. :D

signing off

your host James