After some very tear goodbyes at the campus gates, getting our final salary payments (plus refnuds on our flights and a 2000RMB travel bursary that we weren't expecting) and a 16-hour train ride, we're in Guangzhou, Guangdong province (Canton to you and me).
More precisely, we're in the 4-star Victory Hotel (www.vhotel.com) on Shamian Island, the former colonial concession in Guangzhou ceded to the British and French after the Opium Wars. It's amazing - both the hotel and the island. Anna was particularly amazed by having a bellboy bring our luggage up to the 7th floor, and particularly stressed by how much one ought to tip; is there a rule for that kind of thing? You wouldn't believe we booked this through Hostelworld, would you?
We're off now to explore the island (Starbucks is around the corner!), the buildings here have largely been restored to their colonial glamour, so expect many photos to follow!
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