HUAIROU & BEIJING CITY, Beijing Province: Did manage to get up this morning! (just) I gave up the beds to the Shenyang lot, so I slept on the floor in the living room - so cold!!! We got the minivan to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, and got the cable car up to the wall. The day was much clearer than when I went there with Sarah, so got some more beautiful photographs! I'd planned to stay in Huairou when the others went back to Beijing, but they c...

BEIJING CITY & HUAIROU, Beijing Province: Today we went to Tian'anmen Square - which wasn't really what I was expecting, but it was a good visit. I was expecting it to be a bit more sombre... but I don't think the Chinese give any acknowledgment to the history of the place. After the Square we went to Ya Show market - I bought a dress! In the Sanlitun shopping area there was a 'Wishing Tree' - where people could attach their wishes for Golden Week (written ...

BEIJING CITY, Beijing Province: Happy National Day!!! Today the Shenyang lot were going to see the Lama Temple, but because I've already seen that I decided to do something different. I had a lazy morning having a look around the area near the hostel, and then in the afternoon I went to the Olympic Green. I don't whether it's just for National Day, but when I finally got to the subway station to transfer onto the Olympic Line, you needed a special ticket to co...

BEIJING CITY, Beijing Province: We had the free breakfast at the hostel - was pretty good! Toast, ketchup & banana - what more could you ask for?? We decided to go to the Forbidden City today, and after initial problems reading the map, and then getting a taxi, we finally arrived! The Forbidden City is absolutely amazing - so huge! We wandered around for maybe three hours but I don't think we saw all of it. I forgot to charge up the battery for my...

BEIJING CITY, Beijing Province: Had a lie-in this morning, was really nice! After lunch we got the bus into Beijing City, and met up with Warren and Teresa (friends from Harbin). They took us to an area in the city called Sanlitun - where there are loads of bars & shops. In the evening Teresa and Warren took us to some bars - had my first gin & tonic in China for only 10 yuan! Bargainous We headed over to the train station to meet up with more frien...