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Old 04-26-2004, 06:20 PM   #5 (permalink)
greytone
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I went for 12 days last year with a tour. It was well run and we saw a lot for the time we had, but we only had one morning in Shangai to ourselves. You may find the same, or your tour may be more loose.

In Shangai you need to see the Yu gardens in Chinatown and the Bund and the fancy shopping street a few miles from there. I don't remember the name.

Then we did a cruise up the Yangtze before flying to Beijing. You should see Tiannemen and the Forbidden City as well as the summer palace and the Wall and the Ming Tombs. We did not have time to see the Terra Cotta army in Xia.

Every place you go you will get the opportunity to buy things from people who run up to you at tourist sites. This is stuff is very cheap. The Friendship stores are government run for tourists. It is interesting to see one, but they are not a good place to shop. I did get a sweatshirt at one because I was freezing. I actually layered it under my sweater and raincoat and was still chilled to the bone on the Yangzte. Take some fleece.

My best purchaces were from artisans on the ship. We had time to contemplate our purchaces and I got two paintings from the artist and a traditional kite.
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I was there to see beautiful naked women. So was everybody else. It's a common failing.
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