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China is one of the most amazing places in the world. Ideal for those who want to experience a completely different culture and way of life. This country has seen great change over the years, evolving to the magnificent country that it is today. Still as Eastern as you can get, but with much Western influence, mixing the very old and the very new. I found the Chinese people to be warm and welcoming. Many were fascinated by seeing westerners as there are so few.

My visit to China was part of my incredible 'round the world journey' taken in Spring 2007. My first week was spend in the buzzing city of Shanghai, followed by a week in what used to be called Peking, now called Beijing.

My hotel in Shanghai was The Ramada Plaza in Nanjing Road. An excellent prestigious hotel in the heart of Shanghai. I often walked the 300 metres in one direction to Peoples Square and was only a 20 minute walk in the other direction to the tourist area called The Bund.

There is so much to do in Shanghai (apart from shopping) and these are a few that I enjoyed and would recommend to you. A cruise along the Huangpu River with a meal is a great way to see some of the city. Taking a lift to the top of Pearl Tower (Asias tallest) for a great view of the city and taking a stroll around Peoples Square is a must. Try and get away from the tourist streets and choose one of hundreds of 'real' chinese restaurants. The food is great, often very unusual and eating with the locals provides the perfect setting for the feeling that you are so far away from western civilization.

After my flight to Beijing, I checked in to a great Marriot Hotel not far from Tiananmen Square. There are so many things that you can do in Beijing apart from enjoying Peking Duck, which was amazing. A visit to The Forbidden City is essential for those interested in Chinese history. Tiananmen Square is quite awe inspiring. Security was high around Chairman Mau's resting place, but the main reason for a visit to Beijing is to see The Great Wall of China. Now most people dream of climbing The Great Wall. However as I was there in February and it was covered in 3 inches of snow...I just slid down it. If I had been there in the summer I would have walked miles along the top, however after realizing that walking far was not an option, I just stood, amazed at the views, the structure and the excitement of seeing it as most people would not, covered in snow!

In summary, China is a vast and very proud country combining the very old with the very new. The Chinese people were warm and welcoming and I would highly recommend China to those who want a different, overwhelming and memorable holiday experience.

Please feel free to call me if you would like to know more about China.

Thank you for reading my personal travel journal.