Don't be too impressed, it's taken three years ! It should be have been less, but I got lost down various dead ends. I did HSK 3 years ago and got 90% and then went on to HSK 5, which I failed by a narrow margin. I spent a lot of time on characters at the start, which was a good move. I like those books that turn the characters into a story based on the radicals, like Matthews and the Heisig book. After that, I foolishly tried to do too much grammar at once, there's no point, it won't stick, and a lot of the advanced stuff hardly comes up, even at HSK 6. Best to just watch a lot of TV and talk to people and read those kiddie books you get in the bookshop, especially the parallel texts. Good luck !

I am OK on listening, reading and writing, but the advanced grammar section on the exam has had Chinese friends of mine shaking their heads and saying "we never use these words". If anyone knows of a website or book that focuses on this stuff, I'd be glad to know.

I was at the embassy today, and they say you have to fly in, no overland routes right now. Has anyone been recently, and can they tell me if you still have to carry American dollars, and whether the cash tills are working these days ? This and any other info gratefully received, Sam

I was at the embassy today, and they say you have to fly in, no overland routes right now. Has anyone been recently, and can they tell me if you still have to carry American dollars, and whether the cash tills are working these days ? This and any other info gratefully received, Sam

Colin, I was there along with a couple of other waiguoren, if things still require some PR, e.g. Me reading from an 'I love China' script while waving a Chinese flag in front of a local journalist, let me know.