Just like here at home, late March is Springtime in China. While it was COLD in Beijing, as we worked our way south toward, Chongqing and Shanghai, the days warmed right up. China has an incredible variety of flowering shrubs and trees.

Here I am in front of what I was told is a variety of Peach tree. These were blossoming all over the hillsides as we worked our way toward Shanghai.





China is a land with an artistic heart. The people are very interested in music, dance, drawing and painting. I met the young lady pictured below on the Great Wall. She is practicing an art called nei-wa, or "inside painting". She is actually using tiny paint brushes to paint Chinese landscape scenes INSIDE a tiny glass bottle. You can only imagine the amount of patience this takes, not to mention an extremely steady hand. This girl was a real sweetheart and was so happy to be practicing her art in such a majestic setting.

















Below you see a photo I took in the city of Chongqing, which as I mentioned earlier, has a population of 28 million people. Chongqing (pronounced chong-ching) had more of a rural Chinese feel to it. In Beijing, the buildings and streets looked more like Detroit - a much more "down to business" feel. But as we explored the hilly curving avenues and side streets of Chongqing, I sensed that I was entering the true heart of China. If I had to compare it to an American city, I would say that Chongqing was reminiscent of San Francisco - more earthy, and laid back.

The Chinese people seem genuinely happy, and are very curious to learn about Westerners. Brett and I felt very welcome throughout our journey in China, and were amazed that many of the local people spoke excellent English.

The man sitting down you see in the photo below is a "Chicken Vendor". His woven baskets are filled with LIVE chickens. He meanders about the streets calling out "chickens, chickens, chickens for sale" (in Mandarin Chinese of course).