Shanghai was looking a picture this morning as I did my farewell rounds.

Coming back here I realise how seriously cool this town is. As I’ve travelled around China over the last (nearly) four months I’ve noticed how, like any other country, stepping off the tourist trail a mile or two gets you right into a different place. In Shanghai, wander a block or two from the fancy restaurants and Aston Martin dealerships and you’ll find goats being butchered on the pavement just like you would in Xuyi.

I have been thinking that I was done with China. But strolling around in the Shanghai sun today I cast my mind back to when I was here in August, overawed by the crowds and the scale and the, well, “differentness” of the place – and I now see so much more detail. In fact, I reckon I could come back here some time. Not to the provinces – it’s just too bloody ugly, to be frank – but I’ve got a little travel plan forming in my head which would involve a few places I’ve been on this trip and a couple of new ones.

Anyone keen?