[Aussie Mike]

Finished my work in Yantai and now I'm back in Beijing.

Staying in the Beijing Hotel which is some nice digs. The Chairman from Taiwan is staying here for reconciliation talks with the Chinese premier. They have booked out 3 whole floors and it's a big deal over here.

I'm off to check out the Great Wall tomorrow which should be pretty cool.

China has changed a lot in the 7 years since I was here last. A lot more cars on the road and a lot less bicycles is the most obvious change. The whole standard of living has improved a lot and it looks like their economy is really going strong.

A lot more personal freedom too with many of their old laws being repaled. Can you believe up until a couple of years back you weren't allowed to marry whilst at university. I guess the theory was that a wife/husband and kids would distract from your studdies.

A few decades of a one child policy has created a generation of people without brothers or sisters (at least in the citys, the rules are different in country areas). I know what that's like growing as an only child. My Wife has 3 sisters who are close and it makes you realise how important family is. I wonder how it will affect the Chinese in the coming years.

Cheers