Well guys, everything is ready and next week I'll flight to China to attend a congress ...and to have also a couples of weeks of holyday. I'll stay mainly in Beijing, but I'm also thinking about going to Xi'an to see the famous terracotta army (are they made of bryce terracotta?). Do you have any advice for China? Can I go by train from Beijing to Xi'an? (16 hrs travel) What do I have to see? What do I have to avoid? If we have some Chinese fellow here, I'll be glad to pay him a visit! Bye Vasq

Why not visit chairman Mao's grave? :-)

Wow! Thats great. I've never been so I have no advice, just have a great time and (hmmm can you take pictures there?) I was going to say take lots of pictures. :-D

Attached Link: http://travel.state.gov/travel/china.html

Read the state department bulletin at this link. There was an issue last year where anyone using a laptop was being held and their laptop siezed. Lots of Hi-Tech stuff is automatically considered spy equipment. Know what you can take before you go.

Advice: In China they don't call it Chinese food, it's just food. I'm pretty jealous. I've always wanted to visit the far east, just one of those things I've never got around to.

only Nixon can go to China...

Don't visit the markets if you're squeamish and like animals :o(

..old Vulcan saying..;) Also, watch out for the communal toilets..I've heard some are literally just a hole in the ground..the smell is legendary..avoid 'fragrant meat'..it's usually dawg or cat..;) don't forget the Forbidden City..(in Beijing)..tho to be honest, I've never been within 5,000 miles of there..;)

Get yourself a "Lonely Planet China", i have one of Japan, and that book was most usefull when i was there last month.

China sounds like an interesting place to visit. A civilization that more or less goes back 4000 years has got to have some things worth checking out. Also it's funny how their government is cunning enough to be able to pull off a capitalistic/socialistic balance and manage their population via 1 child policy, but then are willing to sacrifice their overall potential by compromising environmental and public health for industry and the desire for the automobile. (You think with all the stuff they've pulled off as a country, that they'd come up with some environmental standards and an electric car policy. It's dumb not to.) But who am I to comment on that. Still, under the right circumstances, I'd be willing to visit there.

Advice:- Visit the great wall of China Don't eat the food Don't drink the water Don't take any petrol (we haven't got enough as it is) Don't stand in front of any tanks (Bad taste - I know) Don't wear T-Shirts with J Edgar on the front Don't protest about the environmental issues associatated with building big hydro-electric dams Dogs are regarded as food Sex is defined as 'Long Time' and 'Short Time' Chairman Mao is regarded as a 'Hero of the People' - not a 'pinko-commi-bastard'. Have a great time!

I'd suggest visiting the Imperial Gardens in Beijing, there are lots of buildings, temples, and other stuff to see. The gardens are quite extensive, also the Forbidden City, AND take lots and lots of pictures..........:)

KUNG-FU!!!!!!!!! go to a park in the morning around 5 or 6 am and watch all the kung fu......it is awesome.

Hey! Twisted! I bet that's Ti Chi ...?

it is..just avoid the ones doing falun gong..;)

Remember, when you're finished with a meal, never stick your "chop sticks" in it pointing upwards! This is a big insult in the Chinese cultures.

@pakled-Ouch! you're really passing out the punishment tonight. ;-P

Attached Link: http://www.fofg.org/about/about_what_is_fg.php

Sheesh, that Falun Gong sounds really dangerous! Just did a google on it out of curiosity. To my shame I have to admit that I ignored all the recent hoohaa in our national papers when a Chinese student (rather long-in-the-tooth student, as I recall) returned to China and was slapped in jail. Eventual happy outcome - our wondrous leader brought the matter up on a recent trade visit, and the student was released back to Ireland. Interesting to see what all the fuss was about. Sounds like the kind of religion/discipline governments would be glad to have their citizens espousing! (ever start a sentence that deteriorates as you write ROTFL)

I seem to remember John Major - at the time he was Prime Minister - visiting China, while back home the press/media was giving him a hard time about something. The Chinese were amazed that he hadn't had them all arrested or something. The concept of a free press was simply beyond their comprehension.

Thank you guys, some good advices here! I'll do a lot of photos, for sure! Just have to find some more memory cards for my crappy digital camera! I believe Chinese are really friendly with strangers, the only thing I have to avoid is the police (just joking).

Best advice I have,........go look for a book(now several years old) by a guy named Paul Theroux called "Riding the Iron Rooster - by train through China",....could be very enlightning.

Valciula ;p