"Get off your ass and head for CHINAAA!!!" China by Whoopi

I studied in Fudan University, Shanghai, for two months - awsome is all there is to say about it. Then I studied two months in Yunnan University of Nationalities, Kunming. Even better!

I never imagined China to be such a wonderful country. The people are very honest and welcoming, they force you to speak Chinese (unless you want to imitate chickens or draw cows every time you go to a restaurant) and you really get the good feeling of knowing you are able to communicate with any person you like just by using body language. Making friendships across such a border may not be as difficult as you think.. Make the effort and you will be rewarded - the Chinese will embrace you for trying.
Take care with the tones in the language. One word usually has four meanings in Chinese, depending on what tone you use. Say, if you want to ask for an internet-bar you may end up calling someone a turtle-egg...

the Orient Pearl in Pudong area

Shanghai is a wonderful city in sooo many different ways, it has the global metropol space as well as the rugged look of small local streets. The city where people either eat their dogs or put them in their handbag like Paris Hilton, where they ride expensive cars or transport mountains of garbage in small bicycles... Shanghai is your pick and choose a lifestyle number one city!! Budget or luxory, traditional or modern, expensive or cheap, international or local...
Shanghai has it all baby!

on the streets of Kunming

Kunming is the nicest bohemian city you will ever come across. I loved it so much. I could just feel my lungs relax from the disgusting air in Shanghai, the girls had some flesh on their bodies (unlike the skinny supermodels of Shanghai) and the population in general seemed to be so relaxed, happy and ..nice.
Kunming is the capital of the Yunnan province, which inhabits more then half of the ethnic minorities in China. If you want to get some insight into how the people who are NOT Han live, go to Kunming and travel around in the villages. You will not regret it..
Kunming is a comfortable base to have when you explore both the south and the north of Yunnan. Relax in the hot springs outside the city, walk around in the birds and flowers market or have a coffee in the always busy western street of Wenlin Jie... Say hi to French Cafe for me :)

• Pros:diverse, great food, great beer
• Cons:languageproblems, too big, stricktly controlled (!!)
• In a nutshell:more then Maoism, tea and mass-produced goods