Ni hao, we are now on our way home and will be back in the land of sun, toilets that you can sit on and food that is recognisable, very soon! It was very sad to say goodbye to our new Chinese family - they have been incredibly generous and welcoming to us all and it has been quite a big task for them to transport an Australian family of 8 around the city. The wedding was a very unique experience with lots of toasts to the happy couple with some rather strong Ch...

Nihao from China, Sorry for the delay but our travels have been very very busy since returning to chengdu from Beijing. We went on a 2 day tour to Emei Shan about 130 km away from the city into a mountainous region and world heritage national park region, very famous for temples and large Buddha statues carved into the rock. Lots and lots of walking up some very steep mountainsides and many many steps through thick forest opening onto glorious temples high on...

Hello again from China. We are still in Beijing - we will be spending a week here before returning again to Chengdu. The weather has been much cooler here thankfully - even quite a bit of heavy rain. We spent yesterday visiting Mao's mausoleum where is body is displayed for a short period each day and everybody files past in a very orderly, organised and reverent fashion - not much to see really! Beijing is currently preparing for National Day celebrations o...

Hi all. We are now in Beijing, staying in a hotel in a central part of the city. We have had a busy pace but at least it is not quite as hot and humid as Chengdu. Yesterday we spent the day in the Forbidden City- a series of Imperial Halls and and private quarters and gardens where the Imperial Emperors of China once lived and ruled. An enormous area of beautifully preserved Chinese history - a fascinating history. Interestingly, as you leave the front entr...

Hi all. We are now in Beijing, staying in a hotel in a central part of the city. We have had a busy pace but at least it is not quite as hot and humid as Chengdu. Yesterday we spent the day in the Forbidden City- a series of Imperial Halls and and private quarters and gardens where the Imperial Emperors of China once lived and ruled. An enormous area of beautifully preserved Chinese history - a fascinating history. Interestingly, as you leave the front entr...