Al was up early this morning and, ever dedicated to the cause of Chinese History, off to see Chairman Mao. Jan had a lie in.

While it's free to see Mao's embalmed body, draped gracefully with a spotless red flag, it's no free for all. You cannot take in any bags or cameras and they only let in a certain amount at a time, although this being China 'a certain amount' is a huge crowd.

Once inside the building's forecourt people flock to buy flowers from the government stall. Inside there is a larger than life statue of Mao and people lay their flowers in front of it and even get down on their knees, hands clapsed together.

I have to say once you finally get to see Mao, he looks a bit waxy, . He lies straight as a ram-rod in a large glass booth which is itself inside another glass booth. We crowds file past him silently, our heads uncovered (as the sign has instructed us) and craning our necks as we disappear out the door for our last glimpse of his face.

Would we do the same for an embalmed body of Hitler?

Back to the warmth of the hotel. It is freezing here today.