I have two main rules that I live by in China:

1. Don't see the inside of a police station
2. Don't see the inside of a hospital
   

Unfortunately, I have broken the second rule for a second time. Perhaps my quota is now filled. It was interesting to see what a Chinese hospital is like (previously I just saw a tiny medical clinic), and it's not much like Western hospitals. I was sent to the internal medicine department where a doctor sat in a room. The patients then pushed into the room and all lined up to see her. She asks you your problems, and everyone listens. "Diarrhea for two weeks, huh? How often?" Me--often enough. Ten other Chinese patients, "ohhh, interesting!" She then proscribes some sort of test that you preform (minus points for filthy bathroom) and return with the results. They are then publicly analyzed. And some sort of medicine proscribed.

On the whole my impression was all right. It was a standard hospital, not an elite level, and while the service basic, it was at least available and professional. Privacy, you must understand, is not part of the Chinese professional package. And they can handle high level issues as well. Last year a girl broke her collarbone and required surgery. It was done and set perfectly. Still, send me home for open bypass surgery. Or a colonoscopy: 200 Chinese people, "Cool! Pink!"

Above is Yellow Mountain, more or less China's premier tourist mountain. They say you won't want want to see other mountains after this one. I went during China's travel holiday (Golden Week) and they're right. I never want to travel again.