Next stop Chengdu where I stayed for four days, mostly sleeping/relaxing/walking the streets as you do when backpacking and planning where the hell I was going to go to next, as I had only really decided before coming to China that I would go to Beijing, Xian and Chengdu then make it up as I went along.

So far Chengdu is one of my favorite cities in China, its far more laid back than Beijing, they also have road names in English (as I am discovering most towns and cities do here) oh and I also had the best Aubergine dish yet (did I tell you that I am addicted to stir fried aubergine?). Another great thing that I am discovering about China is that there are public loos almost everywhere and they are clean.

Well back to Chengdu I have to say my favourite part of the city has to be the People's Park. I went twice to people watch and drink tea at a tea house. There's so much going on in the public spaces (not just in Chengdu I might add) card games, mah-jong (I think thats how its spelt), keep fit for the older people (no wonder the older generation are so mobile), dancing and karaoke of sorts. Another oddity are the ear cleaners that stalk the tea houses at the park! Basically these guys clean your ears with what looks like different types of pipe cleaners, cotton and a metal pole (I don't know the name of it I'm afraid) then they give you a neck massage, and yep you guessed it I gave it a go. I can't believe I trusted someone near my ears with those things but I got to admit I think he did a good job!

Another fab part of Chengdu is the Wenshu Temple and Wenshu Old town, both lovely, full of charm and actually not too touristy. In fact when I was at the Wenshu Temple I managed to be there whilst prayers and singing were going on.

I did two really touristy things, the first was the Scihuan Opera, not so much an opera but a medley of acts including hand puppet, comedy, acrobatics, fire spitting and face changing (mask). I have to say if you ever work out how they change their masks like they do can someone please let me know.

The second really really touristy awhhh factor thing that I did was go and visit the Panda Centre and oh my god they are sooooooo cute, particularly the new borns'. I now have a new favourite animal (it was the Camel) the Panda, I am so fickle!

Next stop Kumming on a 20 hour train luckily I managed to book a soft sleeper.