Since today were the day we were due to go to Shanghai, we attempted to cram in the remaining places that we wanted to visit much as we can, this involves Tiananmen square and Temple of Heaven, both places were a disappointment...we rushed through Temple of Heaven and the square were too merchandised and lacking the historic charm that Forbidden City had.

In Chinese railway system, we had to get to the correct departure lounge an hour and half early, by then it were already packed so we sat on the floor and attempted to avoid get stamped on by impatient locals. We got on the train eventually and we were assigned to our bunks which I found really cool. The train journey will take about 13 hours and through the night so we will need a bed to sleep in but we were one of the luckier ones, some people were too poor to get a bed so they only have a seat to sleep in.

I also had my first meeting with the eastern toilet which is basically a cistern which is flat with a hole to aim for.....my stomach took a cowardly route and clammed up. So, having escaped the horrors of the Chinese toilet unscathed, I then spent the rest of the night attempting to do Sudoku rather miserably, making friends with two Algerians, one of them mocked me about England's draw with them in the last world cup but they both were lovely.

Overall, I had excellent first few days in Beijing but polluted environment, ineffective sewage system and no decent-looking restaurants led me to looking forward to the next chapter of my adventure but I am glad that Beijing taught me that I am lucky that I live in England even if we are run by David Cameron and Nick Clegg!!!