Dang, that was only two days! I MAY have a chance to go to China in 08, I've got dibs if the film ever gets green lit.

China was an eye-opener for us. Raw. Somewhat wild west in many ways & yet so constrained in others. But it is working tremendously well. The most capitalist communist country in the world. Nostradamus was right.

Ian

Anyone been to Guangzhou? Interesting sites or things to do?
I leave on the 1/9, and will be there 6 weeks.

More - day 3 Temple of Heaven, Beijing
 

(I can't believe forgot about this - sorry)

Temple of Heaven- where the Quing dynasty rulers prayed for a good harvest.

On the way in, it serves as a social gathering area. People just hanging around doing their own thing

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Square dancing- this is something else I never thought I'd see in China-

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day 3 part 2
 

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Thanks for sharing, great photo's.

I watched the 3 Gorges Dam project on the DVR again last night. I need to get to China before it changes beyond recognition.

day 3 part 3
 

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Inside the big temple, the detail..

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Wow! That is ALOT of lead right there! :D

To keep Randy's theme going . . . more Temple of Heaven

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Ian

I've been there a few times. It's different. Super, super amazing food, unreal traffic and lots of people. Crossing the street there is the most dangerous thing I've ever done. Never come closer to death or been more scared in my life. I'd rather get shot at. Gawd, it's dangerous. Not many pedestrian overpasses like in other cities. Lots of great bars in GZ too. You will love it. Go to Shenzhen too. It's about an hour or two away by car.

Beijingers consider the people from the south - like Guangzhou - to be theiving, uncouth peasants fwiw.

Hutong around Dazhalan Jie - southwest of Tiananmen Sq, northwest of Temple of Heaven Park. Lots of shopping here.

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Ian

End of Feb I'm off to HK for a week. The g/f is there the whole month so I'll have my tourguide when I get there, staying at her sister's place I think. We talked about going to Shenzhen, but I'd have to pay $130 for a visa. Not sure it is worth it...

Yup, PRC just more than doubled their visa prices for Americans in retaliation for what we put their people through in getting US visas. Since you've been to the Mainland a few times, I'm not sure SZ is worth a $130 visit. But if you want to head up to GZ or go the track at Zhuhai, it might make it worthwhile. Kinda weird starting out in HK. When you cross into Shenzhen it's like getting hit in the face with a bat. What a contrast.

Yeah, having been to Beijing twice and Shanghai once, I don't feel a huge need to go to the mainland just for the sake of going. Originally we talked about going to Yunnan province as I've heard a lot about that. And I'd like to go somewhere in Sichuan. But I'm not there long enough to make a longer trip in worth it (plus we're on a budget - I'm flying using miles and hope to make this a really cheap trip). If I go to Yunnan I'd like to spend at least a week there.

I'd highly recommend Kunming and Lijiang in Yunnan and Chengdu in Sichuan. Domestic flights there are not expensive and those places are much cheaper than the big cities you've been to before.

Sign in elevator

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Sign outside Forbidden city

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Bicycles outside mall in Handan

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Porsche dealer Beijing

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Ian

Next UPM (yeah, right!) in Shanghai...
 

I was in the exact same Hutong - I remember seeing those places..

You probably did. It's only a 10 minute walk from Tianamen. You went to Xi'an too, didn't you?

Ian

Xi'an - South Gate at night from the 15th floor of the Hojo's. Taken by sticking my camera out of the window.

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actually, xi'an was here too - but we didn't stay - we actually boarded a train that night.. I'll have those pics up tommorow.

rjp