The snow came down whilst we were at Jiuzhaigou, making the trip out of there along the mountain pass very cold indeed. One's steaming breath, the chill of a wet, red nose, and the ache of legs clad in too-thin jeans made the first few hours of the unheated minibus journey back to Chengdu somewhat intense.

Please ignore if you come from a region where such flurries are commonplace ... if, on the other hand, you come from a climate where such sights are wonderous and heart-jumpishly exciting, take a closer look!

Grey, early morning sky. Still hung with sullen clouds from the previous day's frigid outburst.

One of the minibus passengers looks disgruntled, waiting while on-board the bus some peasant-construction workers we've picked up along the way are given the once over by local police.

Snowfall mottles the ground in lazy, white welts.