China - what do YOU think of? Ming pottery, Chairman Mao, the Red Army, poor grey people, human rights abuse? That's what I thought before I went. Well after two weeks there most of my preconceptions were well and truly shattered.

OK, Tibet was very much in the news when we were out there but the Chinese take on the whole issue is very different from ours. In any case is what China may be doing in Tibet and worse than what the USA and the UK have done in Iraq? Probably not.

The biggest shock upon arriving in Shanghai was how new everything was. Much of the land has been reclaimed from the sea and every square metre of land has been built on, usually with a hugely impressive skyscraper. This was a feature repeated across the country - massive development with apartment and office blocks appearing everywhere with road and rail links to match.

In Chonqing (reputedly the largest city in the world, with a population of 30 million) the city straddles the Yangtse Gorge. 15 years ago the 200 metre wide gorge was crossed by just two bridges. Today there are 15 and we are talking major constructions, similar to the Second Severn Crossing. As if that wasn't enough they are also on the verge of completing a monorail and a four-line subway!

Highlights of the tour:

The Yangtse River - fascinating to watch the commercial life of the river with huge ferries laden with vehicles going in both directions. Cargo ships piled high with lumber, coal and sand heading downstream.

The Three Gorges Dam - the project has virtually been completed. Next year the river level will be raised by up to 25 metres. To accommodate this 1.3 million people have had to be relocated. Surprisingly people we spoke to were happy with their new lives as the government spent as much on compensation as it did on the construction.

Xi'an - the Terracotta Warriors were amazing. Thousands of lifesized warriors, each individually sculpted, painted and decorated guarding the Emperor in the afterlife.

Beijing - a surprisingly attractive city. I was disappointed that the might of the Red Army and the old-style communist sculptures were noticeably absent, except in Tiananmen Square. But the Summer and Winter Palaces, the Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall were all remarkable testiments to the grand visions of the Emperors and the industriousness of the Chinese people.

This legacy lives on and the preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games are progressing on time. The Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium is very impressive, but so too is the attention to detail. When the Games are on private cars will be banned and every taxi in the city has been resprayed in the colours of the Olympic rings.

The people - the biggest highlight for me. The Chinese people went out of their way to be helpful and frindly, although there out-and-out curiousness could be a little disconcerting at times.

China is changing day-by-day. It will be well ahead of the West within a generation. The good thing about China is that whilst it races towards change and development, it is very conscious and proud of its great history and traditions.