Propaganda posters currently ubiquitously litter Beijing's streets and highways. Large colourful billboards plastered with images depicting Africa, it's visually stunning and varied countryside and scenes of rural villages and tribes people. Of course, this is all for China's largest ever political summit involving 48 out of the 53 African nations' heads of state. Although, road users have suffered a huge blow as roads all over the city are closed during certain times to allow rapid progression through Beijing's notoriously slow streets. On top of that, the Airport express way is closed for the entire 5 day summit. How many countries do you know that would put such guests above the convenience of 14 million residents?

A lot of these nations regard China as "their second home" and are making massive trading deals to aid both China's rapid economic development and Africa's struggle to develop their countries and overcome poverty. Part of this is rumoured to have come about as a result of mass exploitation and neglect by the West (who, apparently, are becoming increasingly worried by this) . However, the one thing that did seem to niggle at the African nations was the posters depicting indigent indigenous rural life in Africa,that, perhaps emphasised the stereotype which the world already holds of Africa as being poverty ridden and totally undeveloped. As I write, and the summit continues, I'm quite sure that somebody is receiving a tonguelashing for putting those posters up!

In other news; it took a hell of a long time. Maybe too long. Another creative murder

A new breed of weapon developed to be used against Allied forces in the Middle East .....Birds!

Also, today, I managed to check out what are known as the Fragrant Hills (香山) for free thanks to a colleage of mine. An idealistic view of Beijing from the north really put it's vastness into proportion and we also caught the magnificently clear sunset featured to the left. Nowhere else except China are you likely to constantly stumble upon such beauty.