So here it is.. the last update until i'm back in Europe (continentally speaking of course)After the dangers and beautiful views on the bus through the Tibetan countryside, it was time to go back to China proper and our first stop was Leshan.
After the massive buddha we went to Chengdu (and checked into out first 'western style' youth hostel thus far). We then proceeded to eat some mouth burningly hot vegetable sticks and had a few beers (while others ate chicken feet around us). The next day we visited a Panda sanctuary just outside of town; it was amazing. The pandas were all pretty active and the infomation and videos were certainly interesting. My favourite: A real life film of a panda being born. I also managed to make an American lady gasp because of my foul language, all round success really.
On the final day, when we went to see the rather spectacular, but smaller than expected, Three Gorges Dam. This dam will generate the same power as 15 nuclear power stations and force 1.5 million people to leave their homes when it floods the valley behind it. After the Dam we made our way to a City called Yichan, not much there, but i did manage to lose my camera (so all pics between the Yichang and Beijing are courtesy of Max and Benjie). 
Leshan is famous for one thing, and one thing only: A giant (71m) sitting Buddha, calved into a hillside. The Buddha was mightily impressive, as were the people who managed to fix my rather worn out sandals. Quite amazingly the giant buddha was really the first 'Tourist Site' we had visited for the whole of china and the throngs of camera bearing, flag following chinese confirmed that domestic tourism is truly up and running
After the massive buddha we went to Chengdu (and checked into out first 'western style' youth hostel thus far). We then proceeded to eat some mouth burningly hot vegetable sticks and had a few beers (while others ate chicken feet around us). The next day we visited a Panda sanctuary just outside of town; it was amazing. The pandas were all pretty active and the infomation and videos were certainly interesting. My favourite: A real life film of a panda being born. I also managed to make an American lady gasp because of my foul language, all round success really. Our next stop was Chongking, which we only passed through before embarekingh on a voyage along the Yangszte, which is the third longest river in the world..wow. The boat was certainly something to behold. A slightly rusted and worn looking old thing upon which we were to spend 
3 nights, bit of a shock really. Our cabin had six beds in it and we shared it with 3 octagenarian chinese, one of who claimed to be a doctor, but we weren't so sure. The days on the boat were passed by sitting on the deck and admiring the amazing views (including the incredibly dramatic three gorges), eating in the restaurant, going to weird riverside towns and generally chilling with the other westerners on board. Oh and of course there was the incident with the 56% vodka...
3 nights, bit of a shock really. Our cabin had six beds in it and we shared it with 3 octagenarian chinese, one of who claimed to be a doctor, but we weren't so sure. The days on the boat were passed by sitting on the deck and admiring the amazing views (including the incredibly dramatic three gorges), eating in the restaurant, going to weird riverside towns and generally chilling with the other westerners on board. Oh and of course there was the incident with the 56% vodka...
On the final day, when we went to see the rather spectacular, but smaller than expected, Three Gorges Dam. This dam will generate the same power as 15 nuclear power stations and force 1.5 million people to leave their homes when it floods the valley behind it. After the Dam we made our way to a City called Yichan, not much there, but i did manage to lose my camera (so all pics between the Yichang and Beijing are courtesy of Max and Benjie). 
Xian was our next stop and, most importantly, where we finally caught up with Dan. After my initial joy in seeing the little tyke he once again became part of the furniture and we could get on with real life. In Xian we spent lots of time eating at the most amazing cafe int he world which 
did the best soy sauce aubergines, and the crunchiest green beans and softest and fluffiest rice. It was good. We also paid a visit to the world famous terracotta army, built to defend an ancient city or something. They are pretty impressive, thousands of pottery soldiers stretched over acres.
did the best soy sauce aubergines, and the crunchiest green beans and softest and fluffiest rice. It was good. We also paid a visit to the world famous terracotta army, built to defend an ancient city or something. They are pretty impressive, thousands of pottery soldiers stretched over acres. After a few days in Xian, and one day after the other three, I finally left for Beijing. The train journey was as close to hell as a train journey has been for me. I was in the 'Hard Seater' section and got about 40 minutes sleep on a train which left at 8pm and got in at around 9am. I was lucky that the Australian and Bristolian (Anna and Lucy) next to me were rather amusing and entertaining and briefly helped me forget how uncomfortable I felt. I spent the whole of the next day whining to strangers and lying in bed alternately (I am still a teenager).
Our time in Beijing has been spent doing quite a lot of nothing and a little bit of something. We have vistied the impressive Forbidden City and the less than impressive but still rather haunting Tianamen Square. (No tanks). Me and Daniel paid a visit to The Natural History museum, which was impressively tacky and had a run-down aquariam (complete wit
h giant turtles) in the basement. We've eaten lots (no change there) and went to a famous (and rather upmarket) duck restaurant with our two favourite French girls Raphael and Cynthia, who then joined us in drinking games at our hostel. A pool bar round the corner also entertained us for an evening and will probably continue to do so but the highlight has to have been the great wall.
h giant turtles) in the basement. We've eaten lots (no change there) and went to a famous (and rather upmarket) duck restaurant with our two favourite French girls Raphael and Cynthia, who then joined us in drinking games at our hostel. A pool bar round the corner also entertained us for an evening and will probably continue to do so but the highlight has to have been the great wall. We went to a rather quieter part of the wall than most tourists visit and it was well worth the 
long coach journey. Despite the near 40 degree heat the walk wasn't too bad, even when we followed the wall up the sides of steep mountains, and the views of the ancient wonder stretching into the foregorund were really quite out of this world. The walk was rounded 
off in terryfying fashion when we all zipwired over a river to ground level. It was a brialliant day.
long coach journey. Despite the near 40 degree heat the walk wasn't too bad, even when we followed the wall up the sides of steep mountains, and the views of the ancient wonder stretching into the foregorund were really quite out of this world. The walk was rounded 
off in terryfying fashion when we all zipwired over a river to ground level. It was a brialliant day. 
And next (in 2 days in fact) is our 10 day trans-siberian train jounrney and we arew back in Europe and on our way home. Time is still flying past and leaving Asia will be hard but I have to admit I am looking forward to a few home comforts, and pint of real beer.
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