The first thing that strikes you as you land in Beijing is the massive international airport - and its majestic architecture - with a runway that could be the size of Namibia.

As I walked around I naively thought it was extravagant of the Chinese to extend an already enormous airport, but then I remembered that just under 20 million people live in the city. That is more than a third of South Africa's population of 50 million people.

After checking into the hotel, my first stop was HongQiao Market - an indoor market with four floors where it is easy to buy items you don't need, including fake designer bags, suits and an electronic device resembling a BlackBerry. There were clocks, painted fans and jewellery, with every vendor swearing theirs was the real McCoy.

All I needed was a battery charger for my camera, so I went scouting for one. I quickly learnt that because, quite clearly, I was a foreigner, prices were hugely inflated. Take Sharon Meng Ying who, after exchanging pleasantries and a lie about loving South Africa , wanted to sell me a new battery for $650 (about R5000). I kept refusing as she continued to lower the price. Tired of slow negotiations, I left. S he ran after me: "Please, you my first customer on the morning, come here friend. How much?"

I left with a new battery. It cost 120 Chinese yuan (about R147).

Opposite the market is Yonghe King restaurant, which serves people walking in and out of the busy Yong'anli Station on Silk Street. I knew I wasn't going to find a prego roll and potato wedges, but beef fried pancakes and beef rice vermicelli with boiled cabbage was as good as the menu got. The very medicinal tea was served in a tumbler.

Retail was put on the backburner for a bit, with a visit to the Beijing Ming Tombs - the mausoleums of 13 emperors of the Ming dynasty - around the Tianshou Mountain. The visit, after a lengthy drive, was not a pleasant one. The cutting wind in already freezing conditions killed the experience.

Despite the trying conditions, I wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to climb the Great Wall. And so I did. But only up to the first beacon. The majestic 6259km long man-made wonder was all I had expected it to be, and more. It's a true feat of an ambitious Chinese endeavour.

Shopping is a big part of Beijing, and The Place, with a big LED sky screen in the middle and two luxury buildings on either side, is any shopaholic's dream. It is a combination of office space, shopping mall and a fashion district. I couldn't resist grabbing a Starbucks' signature hot chocolate before spending all my available cash on clothes. With the popular Spanish label Zara store in Sandton, Johannesburg, I had to see what the winter range looked like. Let's just say I walked out a happy man.

Finances and time allowing, it would have been nice to move on to Shanghai - the hotel staff (the only people I met who spoke decent English) suggested it would be even more fun than Beijing. I'll probably not get to China again soon, but if I do, it will be during their summer months. It's far too fascinating to see from under beanies and trench coats.

Alas, the folk spit whenever and wherever. I doubt that's a seasonal habit.

• Ndlovu's trip was sponsored by SAA

FACT BOX:

TO LOWER your risk and help prevent DVT:

• Maintain an active lifestyle. Exercise daily if possible;
• Manage your weight;
• Don't smoke;
• Check your blood pressure regularly;
• Report any family or personal history of blood-clotting problems to your doctor;
• Discuss with your doctor the alternatives to birth control pills or hormone-replacement therapy;
• During pregnancy, ask your doctor what you can do to help prevent DVT;
• If you need surgery, your surgeon will review your medical history to help assess your risk for DVT and determine whether you need aggressive measures to prevent it;
• Consider purchasing compression stockings at a medical supply store and wear them during your travels;
•  Avoid wearing short, tight socks or crossing your legs for long periods;
•  Drink plenty of fluids and avoid those which dehydrate you, such as coffee and alcohol;
• When travelling by car, stop every hour to walk around; and
• Between connecting flights and during long flights, get up and move around.

(Sourced from www.webmd.com)