Today in Beijing it is a typical hot and dusty summer’s day with a forecast high of 37 degrees. It’s hard to believe that just a month ago it was snowing, and I was out taking photographs by Houhai wearing a thick quilted jacket. This is what it looked like in April.

These buildings are actually quite new, although it is good to see that the old architecture is being preserved, rather than replaced by concrete and glass towers for a change.