China Day Four

An uneventful evening (for a change!) and the best sleep so far - thank goodness.

Amnow in Beijing airport on a laptop which has a sticky space bar (apologies in advance for the words which will run together) and no r key so some words may losethis letter too! Keep you on your toes at least!

So after a lovely sleep at last and what I am referring to as 'beijing belly' (!) I have had the morning at The Summer Palace. Another very hot day, around 34c and blue skies and cottonwool clouds.

More amazing sights and many tales of wicked dowagers who locked up the prince regent and spent the country's money on 108 dishes per meal, 124 silk towels every bathtime and who poisoned all the emperor's concubines when she was a concubine so noone else could bear him a son. Rivetingstuff!

Sawthe infamous marble boat and the 700m long walkway with 80,000 different paintings in the ceiling so the emperor's mother could walk in the rain and still be protected from the elements ...

Imanaged to provide more entertainment at the Summer Palace this morning - at least 7 photos of me being taken with various family members - do you think that SocGen realise they have a celebrity joining them?! I have to say that I never giggled so much as I have been learning so much abouta county's culture. Tried my Chinese out today too - many smiles for this too.

I have a domestic flight to Xian this afternoon (M&D MU2108 not the flight inmy details as ithas changed) before seeing theTerracotta Army tomorrow. Am so excited as this is the reason for me coming to China in the firstplace!!

Anyway wish meluck on the next stage of my journey - hope the airplane seats arent just built for the domestic market or it could be a squashed flight!!