Agree that we should try to veer back on-topic.

However, OP has not returned to thread, and is probably steeling himself for the journey ahead -- it's possible the routing was to ensure making EXP for 2012 -- a sort of MR with holiday tagged on. Having just done a mammoth work trip myself, which involved an even longer routing (but unavoidable in my case, unlike the OP), I can understand why...

Hope they managed to glean something useful from the thread: if nothing else, that China is not a scary place to be: yes, it can be disorientating to be illiterate again with some signs/menus etc, but for the tourist trail (and in general!), it's pretty visitor friendly.

tb