Had a recent trip to China, my first ever. Gave a university lecture on (what else?) competition for investment between Chinese province and municipalities that was well received.Took a high-speed train the equal of France's TGV, complete with "flight attendants." My actual flight was an ultra-northerly Great Circle that went closer to the North Pole than Alaska. Rode in a rickshaw and got ripped off; stuck with taxi drivers (very inexpensive) thereafter.

The oddest thing about China's internet censorship was that it made no apparent sense. I could access TPM whenever I wanted, same for Daily Kos. But Huffington Post was blocked (did Arianna say something the government didn't like sometime?), as was fivethirtyeight.com (huh?). I have no explanation for the differential access, and would be interested in hearing any theories you may have.

Did all the usual tourist stuff, this being my first trip: Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Bird's Nest, National Center for Performing Arts. The latter was visually stunning inside and out, a very pleasant surprise. Most thing are set up bilingual Chinese/English. The Beijing metro cost 28 cents a ride and is growing rapidly. I wouldn't mind going back again.