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...

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...