Jilin City isn't glamorous or on the tourist trail, so places to stay are limited.

I stayed at Tian Shi Bin Guan (Angel Hotel). It is in an excellent location for viewing the Wu Song, being just 2 minutes walk from the Song Hua Jiang (Song Hua River) and the Catholic Church.

A twin room cost me 120RMB. Breakfast was included, nothing fancy but good enough. The staff were very friendly and helpful.

I did return back at around midnight one evening and the doors were locked. Fortunately a security guard was awake and unlocked them ;)

Not sure how good their English is though!

Address: 2 Nanjing Jie, Jilin City

The Wu Song really is spectacular.

A unique winter wonderland created by warm river water meeting freezing fog temperatures. All along the river everything is turned white with a heavy frost.

For the best landscape I recommend going East along the river. Especially from the Catholic Church head East, there is a nice park area with sculptures, trees and...erm... tanks!

Get up early, the Wu Song is at its best between 7am - 10am.

Wrap up warm. It's absolutely freezing and the vapour sticks to your hair/clothes etc and freezes them!

Enjoy!

OK, so I haven't tried any other Indian restaurants in BJ and I hadn't eaten a curry for 6 months...

The Golden Elephant, Beijing

has a relaxed atmosphere and serves up pretty darned delicious Indian and Thai food. Staff are friendly.

Expect to spend about 150-200RMB for 2 including beer.

It's in the ex-pat part of town on Sanlitun Street (a bit of a dodgy looking side-street) but worth the wander. I would definitely recommend it.

Yum!

You can do a lot worse the Soma Hostel, Chengdu.

Rooms are spacious & clean, staff are friendly and helpful, make onward bookings etc.

Nice cafe/bar at the top and a roof garden where you can sit out and watch the city lights.

Good location for the long distance bus station too. Great cake shop nearby and choice of Western & Chinese restaurants.

Seems a bit dodgy at first, as you have to go down an alley and use a really old lift. It's OK, it's a great find.

Here's the address:
6 Floor No. 81 NanDaJie, South Street, Chengdu

Have fun.

OK. July 2005. I took a bus from Chengdu to Leshan and when it pulled into the Leshan bus station there was a bus already waiting. 1RMB which everyone (including me) took to go to the Big Buddha (Da Fu).

When the bus got there, it passed what I spotted as the 'main' entrance and carried on. It dropped us off next to a second entrance maybe 10 minutes further on.

At this entrance you must pay 105RMB to see Buddha (including various other attractions). Yet, on the price board there is clearly an option just to see Buddha and nothing else for 70RMB. Enquiring, I was told I could only buy the 105RMB ticket here. The 70RMB ticket is only available from the 'main' entrance.

I caught a 10RMB rickshaw back to the main entrance and got my 70RMB ticket from there. This gave entrance to the grounds and Buddha.

Well worth it, he's amazing!!

An annoying little scam though. Don't know how you can avoid it though unless you book a tour as the Leshan bus station are obviously 'in' on it.