The thought of going on a vacation to China ALONE was a bit daunting at first. But, I had gotten pained of waiting for friends to agree for trips. So, I decided to go ahead, come what may. And with the help of a couple of friends in Hong Kong (I got lost on my way to The Great Wall)and a few words of broken Mandarin that I had learnt, it turned out to be an amazing adventure. No trip of China is complete without Beijing and Xian,and like any other traveler starstruck by its ancient wonders, I duly obliged. Beijing came across to me, as a city going further and further away from its rich heritage. Having said that, a trip to The Great Wall (paucity of time led me to go where most TOURISTS go; The Badaling Great Wall) and Forbidden City takes your breath away. They were designed to inspire awe amongst common people who saw them and that's what they do to this day. Simply fabulous. Leave alone the architecture and the extreme conditions in which they were built; simply standing on the long snaking wall with no end in sight or the huge courtyards of the Forbidden City makes you feel like a speck. Xian, the cultural capital of ancient China, is well known for the Terracota Army. Again the size of an Army 2 millenia old crafted with such detail leaves a great impression on your mind. They are simply MAJESTIC. It was one of the most memorable trips I ever had.