Emerging through the thunder, lightning and torrential rain, we touched down in Guilin, very relieved. Not relieved to be out of the storm but relieved that we had actually got to Guilin. The flight was 5 hours delayed and after waiting for 3 hours in the airport we were taken to an airport hotel ...for an hours sleep before being dragged back to the terminal to wait some more before being able to board the plane. Arriving in the airport at 4 in the morning to fi...

After our overnight sleeper train in 'smoking class' we arrived relaxed and smelling like a local boozer. The hostel hadnt booked the right room for us so an outdoor shower and bathroom was our only option in the freezing cold. Thus began our time in chilly Chengdu. Undeterred, we set off to the People's park. The Chinese like to keep things outdoors and that goes for their lunchtime karaoke sessions. Three neighbouring competitions kept us on our toes. If that w...

An easy overnighter in "noisy class" on the sleeper train paved way for a morning arrival in a chilly but nice Xi'an. The hostel collected us from the station and let us enjoy the restaurant for nearly 2 hours whilst we waited for a cup of tea and a slice of toast. Messing about done with, we got on the next bus and found our way to the terracotta warriors. The first emperor was certainly a nutcase to order the building of this super army of warriors, e...

Greetings from Pingyao. Pingyao is described in the guide book as a town straight off of a film set. Not sure what type of films they have been watching! Not quite what we had expected but still very interesting and in parts a very beautiful place. Surrounded by a complete 10m high wall, that is still in tact, the place is a bit of a fortress. The town itself was the financial centre of the whole of China for years but now curiously doesnt even have a bank. This ...

China was the place that we both felt would be the most interesting and the most mystical and Beijing has not disappointed us. Ming style buildings are everywhere but each is still as beautiful as the first. Some of the many sights we have seen are the Great Wall (we clambered up the Badaling section in 25 minutes then took about an hour taking photos!), the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven Park, Lama Temple and the Summer Palace. When Dave was ill I also wen...