Last night there was a huge sand storm in the town and everything is covered in a layer of it this morning.

Today I have travelled further along the modern silk road towards Chechen. I was accompanied by a hysterical couple of older women who struggled to hold a conversation with me through drawings, gestures and Uighur language.

We woke as the sun began to rise

20 hours to reach Huatogou ( aptly pronounced 'far to go' )

Driving around the mountain area from Xining

It's Friday and that means extensive prayers at the mosque

A long train journey over to Xining through mountainous country side

I remember well the awe I felt seeing the terracotta army over 25 years ago

Yum..... veg dumplings and steaming hot soya milk for breakfast.

The 18 hour coach journey to Xian turned into an epic25 hour trip with 7 extra hours spent stuck on the highway waiting for the road to reopen. These coaches are the ultimate in reclined travel, you get a bed not a seat... Now I know why?

Last night it was a bit rocky and rolly but not enough to stop everyone having a really good sleep. On deck this morning it was cloudy and there were ships everywhere. We had entered the main shipping channel to and from the Chinese ports. Our boat slowly made its way up the Huangpu river towards the port of Shanghai.

This is definitely one of the best ways to travel from Japan to China. It's slow and leisurely and gives you plenty of time to prepare for your arrival. I have spent today out on the deck watching the scenery go by and the occasional boat.

The Su Zhou Hao ferry slowly moved away from the port of Osaka in brilliant sunshine on extremely smooth waters. I was allocated a bunk in a four bed cabin with two others.