Were up at 6 to leave the freezing hostel and made our way to Chengdu station for the train to Chongquing where we were planning to do a Yangzi river cruise. After 5 hours journey through the countryside we arrived in busy Chongquing. We had read that there was no budget accomodation in Chongquing (what a shame), and after trying to find a cheapish hotel our angry taxi driver unceremoniously dumped us infront of the marriott hotel. Momentary debate in the marbl...

Chengdu - Day 5 + 6 (Jan 21st& 22nd) Arriving in Chengdu was a joy. It was everything that we wanted Beijing to be. It was cleaner, less polluted (no nosebleeds - but still fairly bad). There was lots and lots of colour, which Beijing surprisingly lacked. Beijing was really grey and dull and souless. Chengdu looked alive wih people and activity - but not overcrowed and stressed. We arrived late, so checked in to the hostel and went over the road for food. C...

Beijing - City Centre - Day 3 4 (January 19th & 20th) I dont know where to start. To control any ranting, I am simply going to bullet point my feelings on Beijing: Pollution - unbelievable Nosebleeds - from arriving to leaving - pollutions fault Manners - appalling Spitting! In streets, shops, indoors, restaurants, at your feet!! Traffic - makes London look empty Trying to cross roads - impossible Almost getting killed everyday from crossing roa...

Beijing (nice part) Day 1 + 2 Arriving at Beijing Airport were met by our driver and taken to the hotel where we were staying for the first night, the Great Wall Commune Kempinski. Arriving at the hotel, we were told that as our own villa was a little far from the hotel we could dial 4 and someone would come and pick us up for dinner or take us back to sleep, and when would we like to book our massage and skiing lesson? Nice for us. We immediately booked another...