Beijing is big, and suprisingly clean and shiny - in fact more than most of London right now I'd say. Unfortunately I managed to coincide my visit with a bank holiday weekend, so I got to meet most of China's 1.3 billion citizens at the Forbidden Palace on Saturday.
In total contrast, went to the 'secret' great wall, 'discovered' by my youth hostel, who ran mini buses to an unrestored section; ie no one else around, no souvenirs, crowded car parks etc. So got to walk along the original bricks. A secret worth keeping!
