Chinese burns

Well, the weather in Beijing did last week...

With temperatures in the late 30s, early 40s, Beijing was a welcome relief after the cold wet start to summer in England. Steve's MBA was going on another jolly, you remember the one in Argentina, only this time Bridie got to go too!

So while Steve spent most of his time in the hotel conference rooms, Bridie roamed Beijing and Shanghai...and fell in love with China. That is, despite having her handbag stolen in the Forbidden City.

China is extraordinary - a place where someone with curly hair is chased by people with camera phones, where the people just want to talk and practice their English, where people get paid the equivalent of $5 a month and are expected to live on it and where there are more cities with pollution than any other. A country where, due to progress, a rich and vibrant culture is steadily becoming westernised for the sake of progress - if you want to see China, be quick...it is literally disappearing before our eyes.

Despite that China is beautiful and full of wonders...


A rare (for China) twin pagoda temple in Suzhou, south of Shanghai.



The tallest hotel in China, if not the world - Grand Hyatt at Jinmao Tower, Shanghai.



East meets west - neon lights highlight a traditional tea house in Shanghai.



A night market in Beijing...anyone for grasshopper?



Steve on the Great Wall - we had dinner on the Great Wall shortly after this photo.



Nanjing Road, the Las Vegas of Shanghai.



The Peony Pavillion, a short Chinese Opera.