14. - 7 MAY: Fly back to Italy via Chengdu and Amsterdam End of the trip.

I come away from China impressed, even awestruck. Despite my strong misgivings about the politics of the country, I must recognize that the improvements to the living standards of the Chinese people are immense. At least if what I was able to see is any indication of reality, but it must be. I am aware that there are huge discrepancies between one region and another, between cities and countryside, etc. But overall the picture must be positive. Leaving aside material improvement, I am heartened by the fact that great efforts are being made to make up for the enormous losses caused by the maoist regime, and especially the Cultural Revolution, to China’s immense treasures of art, literature, architecture, music, etc.

What would they say if they saw China today?