Qingdao
This is where I disembarked from ship, the first chinese city I've been to, and it's an unremarkable, modern city. It has a somewhat famous mountain, Laoshan, but it really isn't much to look at.
From Qingdao, I headed toward Tai-an, where I climbed the very famous Taishan.
Tip 1: It's very cold at the summit, especially in the early morning.
Tip 2: If you're hoping to see the "sea of clouds", chances are, you won't. It's a long climb for an unspectacular sight.
After visiting one of Tai-an's public toilet, I immediately bought a ticket for the next train out of Tai-an and headed straight to Jinan.
Beijing
Not quite what you'll expect from the modern chines capital? These two photos were actually taken in the city center, just a few minutes walk from Tiananmen square and the Forbidden city. Tuck away to the south east of Tainanmen square, this area is filled with narrow alleys and roadside stores, a remnant of Beijings cultural heritage.
In a few years, these areas will be a thing of the past. With the upcoming olympics hosted in China, the communist government is rushing to demolish these "unsightly" structures sitting on prime real estate.