Impressions

I hope it's safe to post this now.  I learned that China pretty much orchestrates these trips.  Many are like mine.  Hotel quality varies.  Some add Tibet.  The path is similar for many trips.  They require the tour company to take us to some government factories where they show how pearls, jade, carpets, and silk are made.  And then provide us an opportunity to shop at what might be high prices.  I bought a beautiful pearl necklace and earrings for myself, not realizing I should bargain there too.  So I'm sure I way over paid.  They bargain almost everywhere in China.  We ate in restaurants with our own room often, which means we didn't see a lot of real Chinese people eating out.  We also ate in restaurants where there were no customers but us, Western or Chinese.  They want us to see what they want us to see.  Not how I have ever experienced China before, and not how I want to do it.  It was nice to have everything organized for us, all the internal flights, most meals, hotel checkins, luggage, etc.  Except that I want to see the country as the Chinese see it.  And I wish I could speak Mandarin so I could chat with the people.  Maybe I will have to live there sometime.  Beijing and Xi'an are too polluted.  But Shanghai is pretty nice, somewhat humid which is negative, but the air is much more clear.  Chongqing actually looked kind of nice.