I knew I was going to prefer Shanghai to Beijing as soon as we stepped off the overnight train. It was so busy - its kind of dirty and soooo big! It feels like such a real city whereas Beijing was very clean and controlled. Didn't realise that until I left though. Saying that - there isn't a lot of culture in Shannghai and 3 days there was almost too much time! I don't have much time to write so I'll try and keep it brief.

Day 1

We arrived and took a tour of the city. The skyline is AMAZING! I could have looked at it all day. The smog is almost unbearable in the heat though - I don't know how the chinese do it - I haven't seen a blue sky yet! Its just white with all the pollution! The city was awesome though and absolutely mental. Cars, suses, rickshaws, even trains trying to run you over. The green man that tells you to cross has no power over here - he may as well not even exist! Agter taking a tour of the city we went to see an Acrobatics show which was basically a circus show. The performers where brilliant and we saw a girl with no spine who could literally kiss her own arse, and 5 motorbikes driving around a big death wheel. Thats right 5! Top Gear could only manage 4...

Day 2

We went to a huge market right in the centre of Shanghai and found a traditional chinese gardne. Small on the outside but massive on the inside - we ended up walking round it for most of the day. I did my first spot of haggling for a fan with my name written on it in chinese. I pissed the guy off so much as I got it down from 30 quid to 8. I was convinced he'd written chicken chow mein instead of my name! I haven't dared ask my tour guide to read what it actually says!

That afternoon we went to an area called The French Quater which was in no way french. I was so excited that I might find some pizza! In the end I settled for pizza bread which i found in the best shop ever called Bread Life. I wish they had it in the UK!

That night we went up the TV tower which is the big bobbly one you see in all the photos. It was an awesome view and they had this scary skywalk which made you feel like you were going to drop to your death. Again we caused lots of attention and people were more taking photos of us than the amazing view! We had dinner in a Hong Kong restaurant and had to ask the lady to read us out the whole menu as they'd lost all of their english menus. Was so funny we were in there for so long!

Day 3

We potted about till the afternoon when we had to get yet another overnight train to Xi'an. Shanghai was fun but it also has a seedy side. Lots of the guys on our tour were trying to be made to get prossies by loads of pimps near our hotel! I was excited to get to Xi'an as I knew it wouldn't be as big a city compared to Beijing and Shanghai and besides I don't think my lungs could stand another full day there. Great city though and so far I think if I had to live in Chiona I would live in Shanghai (with a face mask and lung transplant!)