China
Because we've travelled to China only once, so many years ago, it's impossible to represent that I really know anything about the China of today. In 2000, we were in and around Beijing for about a week, while we acclimated to the time zone before heading to Tibet.
Bike riding in the midst of Beijing traffic - where there is a definite pecking order (hint: large groups of bicyclists are less likely to get run over than single bicyclists) -- was a bit of a nail-biter.
Riding through the hutongs - traditional housing, with coal-fired heating - was a fascinating glimpse at city life in the year 2000.
The rebuilt - and touristed - portion of the Great Wall was not as interesting as the actual ruins.
