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Today was our last day in China. It’s been something of a marathon 12 hours but a magical and perfect end. It’s going to be difficult not to be too lyrical. We took The Harmonious Train two hours south west to Hangzhou- described by Marco Polo as the world’s most beautiful city. I could agree and I daresay the other thousands of Chinese who also came on their family day felt the same.

We came to China’s most romantic and famous West Lake (there are thirty others) Xi Hu, immortalised by countless poets. The rain was pouring down in torrents but there, between a sea of colourful Chinese umbrellas, was this monochrome vision of pagodas rising through the mist clad mountains above a lake dotted with dragon boats. I thought I had fallen into a film set. A small cruise on the lake passed romantic images of weeping willows and arched bridges. Then…off to a Chinese pharmacy to find something to unblock my nose before I fly, and joy of joy, I recognise Beconase – so no snake potion for me then. A rapid lunch of two inch cubes of pork skin and fat (actually delicious)and bony fish in vinegar sauce (tricky with chop sticks) and then on to a Buddhist monastery called Lingyin Si (Monastery of Hidden Souls) far too beautiful to do justice in a few words here. We finish the day with a rapid drive up swirling misty mountains to see China’s most famous green tea plantation. An acquired taste. We bought some as it will lower Brian’s cholesterol and make me look younger!! Another two hour train journey back to Shanghai where our driver was waiting to whisk us downtown, suspended on the elevated expressway above a kaleidescope of neon- lit fairyland. It makes New York look tacky. I feel emotional. I have waited half my life-time to see this since I wrote my post grad thesis on Chinese Symbolism. It’s not often that our dreams come true. Long Life and Happiness to you all.
Patti