In Shanghai at the moment. I thought Beijing was big and busy....nothing compared to here!! Can't get over the amount of people and traffic! Crossing a road takes forever, and the green man does NOT mean go - everyone just drives, weaving in and out the traffic and people. You have to just walk and hope for the best!!

Really hot here, which isn't great mixed with the pollution. Keep trying to find air conditioned buildings! Off to Yangshou this afternoon - a 23hr train journey! The last train ride from Xian to here was 12 hrs which wasn't too bad apart from the heat, so thinking this one might be painful!

Yesterday we went on a boat ride down the river and then went shopping in the old town. Don't get as harassed here as much as the other places, they just seem to go for the men - they obviously think the women aren't in charge of the money! Went to a few local pubs last night...bit of a sore head this morning as me and Claudia made our way through the cocktail menu - had to be done at 10 yuan a drink (about 65p).

My Chinese is getting better - learnt the basics like "no", "take it easy" (need it on the subway as they push you loads), "are you crazy" (for when they tell you the price of something) and "bill please".

People still look at us and laugh here. Can't believe they still find white people amusing...if you try and talk to them they just laugh or, if they speak English, try and practise it on you with basic phrases. Loving it!