It's cramped and stuffy in the metro. I am on my way to Pudong International Airport in Shanghai. Recent days have been hot and muggy. During such days it's best to stay in the house or in an air-conditioned cafe to escape from the heat of the city.

Just the right time to leave Shanghai for a short trip to Shanxi province. Let's get out of the town and into the heart of China!

Topic of the journey with China Daily: "Shanxi in the eyes of foreigners". China Daily gave fifteen foreigners including me, the opportunity to visit remarkable Shanxi province over a whirlwind week in May. Shanxi province lies southwest of Bejing and is easy to access by train from there. Traveling by air from Shanghai to Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi, is comfortable as well.

The first meeting with the other foreigners participating and the team from China Daily at the Grand Metro Park Wanshi Hotel in Taiyuan is hearty. All of us come from different parts of the world: America, England, Italy, Ukraine, India, Malaysia, Palestine — and me from Germany. We come from a wide range of backgrounds.

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