Hi, I just returned from China and want to share my experience with you. I think you will love Beijing, Shanghai and Suzhou. They are three huge cities but all have a completely different feel and sights to be seen. The Great Wall at a lower more touristy section in Beijing, Shanghai is an important centre of commerce and finance. Suzhou is fantastic-you will also love the beautiful largest fresh lake. The hotels I booked were so good while I was searching information of China and discovered a website. My tour was a fantastic experience – I hope you enjoy yours too!

Any suggestions for dealing with the air pollution there?

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Originally posted by g-man:
Any suggestions for dealing with the air pollution there?

And the repression, lack of free speech, constant photo and electronic surveliance [splled wrong but...]

Agree!!! It contains hotel booking system as well! Let me try it for my vacation to China next month. Thanks for sharing your Experience !!!

I've heard great things about the food there. How many ways do they prepare SPAM?

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Originally posted by Ozarks21:
I've heard great things about the food there. How many ways do they prepare SPAM?

Usually stir fried on top of ramen soup noodles actually..

I like throwing a fried egg and some fresh scallions on top. Makes for a great cheap meal.

I've been to China three times and despite the socio-political problems, it's a fascinating place to visit. Beijing is not a handsome city but it has some excellent restaurants and there's a growing interest in wine there. The Great Wall and Forbidden City alone are worth the trip.

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Originally posted by Tim Fish:
I've been to China three times and despite the socio-political problems, it's a fascinating place to visit. Beijing is not a handsome city but it has some excellent restaurants and there's a growing interest in wine there. The Great Wall and Forbidden City alone are worth the trip.

It would be curious to visit after the olympics.

They've upped and moved a good chunk of the old towns and made them all modern I hear. Wonder what they'll do when all the people leave.

Like Fanny and Tim, my family and I went to China last year for a month. Hong Kong, Guilin, Shanghai, Suzhou, up the Yangtze with stops along the way until we got to Chongqing (the most populated city in the world); on to Xian and lastly to Beijing. Best trip we ever had bar none. So much to see; so much variety; such friendly people; such beauty and history.

Food was outstanding; water unsafe so bottle water for just about everything. One quirk that made it difficult for some people to exchange their currency for Yuan - bills had to have no marks, no stamps, no tears however small, and usually no folds. That was a challenge.

As for surveillance, not sure you can go anywhere in the dear old U.S. without some concern about that nowadays.