Move on to Chengde — Chengde, China

Today was the transfer to Chengde. A city four hours train ride north of Beijing where the Emperors used to come as a winter retreat. For skiing I think 🙂 It was an early start for what I was expecting to be a boring ride. In fact it turned out to be quite entertaining. We were put in first class which was not exactly as I’d describe first class but we did have curtains. Inside they served us with various coffees and food but then came the circus market sale. Various goods were brought on trollies which we were encouraged to buy. But before a note could be exchanged our tour guide, Noa came running in to barter. That woman can get a deal. The first five or six offers of a price are normally shouted down with a resounding ‘No’. The she offers a price, usually considerably less than the first. Once this is refused she says ‘bye bye’ and walks off. Eventually she agrees an acceptable price of the event space rentals which those of us actually buying then pay. I quite like this. The sales staff on the other hand don’t seem so keen. After some intial sales and yet more goods they decided to kidnapp her and took her into another car. It was all very entertaining and more importantly we got plenty of great stuff. Once in Chengde we were taken to out new hotel, The Mountain Villa Hotel. After firstly looking like a building site we discovered that they were just re doing the front and Noa had sorted us out a suite. Nice room – sitting room, tv room, bedroom and bathroom with, thankfully enough, internet access. First on the agenda was lunch and then for those of us brave enough a Chinese massage. We were told it was reflexology and was relaxing and rejuvenating. Noa lied. Amy and I along with two others off the tour were lead through to this seedy little room with red lighting. That was the first thing that intimidated me. Then, for an hour and a half a young Chinese girl, no more than six stone beat the **** out of me. She was so hard I was afraid, and she had a grip a rugby player would have been proud of. Amy on the other hand got a bloke who was gentle enough for her half way through to start snoring. Apparently tomorrow we should feel five years younger. In the mean time though I think I’m going to bruise and most of my leg hairs have been pulled out. I did thank her for her time and give her a tip. We have a short time now before dinner and tonight a full nights rest hopefully. With the internet access Amy’s put a load more pictures on for you to look at so go back to previous days. None of me being tortured though. Rob