Rock up at Heathrow to find we're flying club class with BA - that'll do nicely. We're booked into a suite at the Grand Hyatt in Beijing.
Day 1 - bike ride round Beijing, fantastic way to experience the city, we booted off round Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Don't think Beijing is used to westerners on bikes, no bother at all from the traffic - London learn a lesson!
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Got access to all areas of Forbidden City - usually reserved for visiting heads of state. Even allowed into the 4 star bogs!
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Day 2 - drummed onto the Great Wall and into a private area where we had a Tai Chi class before climbing the wall and then lunch. Dinner at the China Club.
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Day 3 - Mad dash round the market followed by full on foot and back massage. Dinner in The Great Hall of The People. This place is where heads of state get received and entertained and where the Goverment meets to set policy. Here's one of me and Mrs Snoop reaching an agreement about me getting a new bike when we get back. I'm starting to understand how the queen feels when she goes away...I keep pinching myself in disbelief - and it just keeps getting better
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Day 4 - Terra Cotta Warriors. We're met by the Ass't Cultural Director for this massive archaeological (sp) project who apologises that his boss can't be there - he's in London. We get shown around and then we're asked - would we like to go up close...? How close...?
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That close! Now I'm feelin even more vip-ed than the queen, I'll bet she'd love to goof around like this! Arrive in Hong Kong late evening to a champagne reception at the Mandarin Oriental - the poshest hotel I think I've ever stayed at. Then on to Lang Kwai Fong for some big time drinking.
Day 5 and 6 were spent touring Hong Kong, Aberdeen Harbour, Victoria Peak. We rounded the whole thing off with a black tie dinner and then went on into the night at a karaoke bar. In the morning staggered around for a bit - went to the Peninsula bar with fabulous glass fronted bogs on 28th floor before flying home. Absolutely unbelievable trip
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