Beijing is very different to all other cities we have visited throughout Asia, and it is of course our final stop. A calm place even if it is the capital of China, with fewer cars and public transport, as well as people. The air pollution here is terrible, the smog is so thick that we haven't seen a single cloud, blue sky, stars or the sun while here. We are staying at Ming Courtyard Youth Hostel, which we found down one of Beijings many traditional hudongs. The place is beautiful and has lots of traditional furniture and Chinese paintings around the place. Unfortunately everytime we venture out we are hit by some discusting smells! We were not to know at the time, but we have located ourselves for the next week or so right next to a huge tip- all the rotten food and sewage waste comes here. Lovely! We have renamed these famous little alleyways... poodongs. It seems more appropriate!
Not all bad though we have seen some incredible sights while we've been here.