When you go to China you do not have to bring a converter for electricity. Most sockets are the same as the European (two holes) and the voltage is 230 volts. So save some money on not buying a converter.

When you plan to visit the Muslim Temple in the Muslim Quarter, you can also visit het small and narrow souvenir market streets nearby. Always bargain for good prices. (about 20 percent of original price). They have got a lot of nice souvenirs. A lot of the "old" souvenirs is fake and brand new... But it is fun to bargain and look around at the souvenirs. A lot of gallery's are there also with nice drawings and artists.

If you go to Yangshuo the best way to see the beautiful mountains and the Li river is to take a bicycle tour on one day (you can probably find a good tour guide via Lisa's Hotel, Quan Hua Tang is a very good guide) You can cycle through the mountain area and visit the moon hill. It is absolute worth to climb the 840 steps to the top. You have got an awesome view from above.

The next day you can take a boat trip on the li river. There is a bustrip to a small vilage, you can visit a school there. From there you can take the boat downstream. We stopped at a very small village where very few tourists go. You can still see how people lived there for centuries. Further downstream you can visit a bigger village. You can go back by boat or arrange a bus to travel back to Yangshuo.

We stayed in Lanzhou two times. First time before we went to Xiahe (Labrang monastry) and the second time when we came back. The first evening we arived late and went out for a walk and met some chinese people who were roasting all kinds of things on small barbeque's. Try some of this local food. But do not try to much of the red powder because it is very hot!! The meat tastes very well.

The second time we went out for a meal. But in Lanzhou in the restaurants they do not understand any English. So i walked into the kitchen and they showed me all kind of things and made us a very special meal. They were making fresh noodles and meat in the Wok.

We did not eat the fish. A little boy was cleaning it on the ground.

More info at: http://kungfu.antville.org