China 2024

Another day and there has been no spanning. We had the morning to wander as the train to Xi'an didn't leave until mid afternoon. We checked out a banking museum (the world's first is said to have originated in Pingyao), a coffee shop and a Confucian temple.
A few other things while I think of it...
The infrastructure in China is amazing. 6 lane highways everywhere (some toll roads), fast trains everywhere and a communication system that works everywhere -- for locals. There are some signs of over-construction and who knows about costs. But it's impressive.
They have taken steps to reduce pollution. There have been clear days. You don't see a lot of solar or wind farms but they have planted heaps of trees.
Still have not seen a lot of Westerners. Apparently the Chinese are not really concerned about attracting foreign tourism. There's enough domestic tourists to keep them going. And that reflects generally higher prosperity. That said, conditions still appear a bit softer at the moment.Read more