For those wishing to explore further a field from the main city of Beijing then the obvious choice has to be the Great Wall of China. Our journey out included a stop at the Cloisonné Factory where one can see some of the most brilliantly crafted enamel on copper work in the world. The factory is some what archaic like stepping back into the early 1900’s and sadly the workers are not the highest paid considering the stunning work they turn out. The process is complex but basically thin copper wire shapes or forms are painstakingly glued on to say a plain copper bowl to eventually for intricate patterns and designs.

For the first half of the year, airlines around the world have lost about £3.7 billion. It’s due to the economic downturn, the recession or whatever you want to call it. They have cut capacity, mothballed planes, deferred new ones, reduced staff and are looking at any way they can for reducing money. British Airways is even considering taking selected advertising on the website.