"Guilin's scenery is the most beautiful under heaven," goes a Chinese saying. So beautiful, in fact, that the back of the 20 RMB note has a mountain and lake view from this very location. 

Here I tasted the local Guilin rice noodles (looks like wheat pasta, tastes like rice), and the by-now-all-too-familiar hot pot (boiling soup on the table, every ordered ingredient placed in and eaten directly from the bowl after cooked).

I climbed a mountain to take pictures of the city from above, and went into a cave to see million-year-history in the making. As beautiful as Guilin is, even here you can feel the West creeping in. A McDonalds on the street corner, cars beginning to flood the streets in an almost grotesque "these shouldn't be here" way.

See photos from Guilin here.

Caught a train to Guangzhou, another bustling city in the midst of rapid growth. The day and night markets here were splendid to see, thousands of people bargaining for items of daily use. Fake brands galore, real brand also available. One of my photos shows an example of brand stealing that I have often seen in China. For example, Pepsi Cola Clothing, JEEP Clothing, etc.

While meandering one of the busiest markets I saw a very out-of-place foreigner; a 50+ year old man, his brown wallet sticking two inches out of his back pocket. I quickly said hello and advised him to push his wallet deeper. He thanked me and we exchanged our stories. He was from North Carolina, in China trying to adopt a child. He was completely lost and looking for his hotel. I helped him find his hotel, for which he was very thankful.

Find photos of Guanzhou here.

After a very brief stay, I flew to Guilin (next post).

First, a link to photos from Zhuhai here.

After Zhuhai, I took a ferry for one hour to reach Shenzhen. This city is a bit of a miracle; the first SEZ created by Deng Xiaoping in 1979, the population went from 4,000,000 in 2000 to 14,000,000 in 2009. Shenzhen is the fastest growing city in China, and has been for the past thirty years.

Shenzhen is the manufacturing capital of the world. Indeed, most iPods and all other "made in China" goods probably originated here.

Even in the dead of the winter, it was hot here. I cannot imagine what it is like in the summer, and everyone I spoke to agreed that the summers are treacherous.

I met a guy in my hostel with a Boston Red Sox T-Shirt on; he was in Shenzhen trying to find an apartment and start a business. He was about 24 years old.

Paul Lopez hopped the border from Hong Kong with his girlfriend Kelly and we went to a famous amusement park. Check out the photos here: Photos from Shenzhen.

After taking a plane to Zhuhai, I wandered this SEZ (special economic zone) city in China, one of many that operate under separate economic rules from the rest of the country. Neighboring better-known Macau (China's gambling city), I was able to see Macau but not enter (as my visa is a one-time entry).

The air was beautiful like in Sanya, and the views of the coast were spectacular. I was expecting a much more international feel, but hardly saw any other foreigners. There is a 酒吧路 (liquor bar street) where all the foreigners were. I noticed a "pajama party" where foreigners and rather hip (western'ish) young Chinese women went to sip martinis and socialize in their pajamas.

I often worried that learning Chinese was perhaps not a good use of time - as everyone knows English, right? Not so. Although many Chinese can understand some English, almost no one in this city spoke any.

I took photos and began to upload them, but the connection here is so abysmal that I will have to wait until the next hostel to upload any more.

I spoke with a 59-year old British man today who is staying in the same hostel. He met a 35-year old Chinese woman who is interested in starting an affair with him. Apparently the husband and her don't share any interests. He said over and over how the two of them (British man and Chinese woman) just "clicked" and could talk for hours in a state of absolute bliss. (He knows no Chinese, her English is far from fluent). 

Unfortunately, he needs to leave China soon per the terms of his visa. He spoke enviously of his friend who works six months per year in England, then vacations six months per year with his wife and child in Thailand. Unfortunately for my friend, he claims to have no "special woman" in his life. Although, he is happy to be able to travel for half of every year...

I walked for two hours yesterday to see Pheonix Island, a new manmade island with six gleaming luxury hotels and condominium buildings. I've seen them in commercials in Beijing, and I can see them proimently displayed on the map I bought at the hostel. Alas, when I arrived I saw they are still under construction! I'll post pictures tomorrow.

On the walk back I passed endless construction sites and took eye-opening photos. It always surprises me to see old women doing manual labor. They are in better shape than 95% of my friends, even at 65. I wouldn't wish that tough life on anyone, yet I wonder how many over stressed workaholics in the financial hubs of the world these woman are happier than.