Culture contrasts

A day of contrast, to say the least. The ancient and modern

Up bright and early into a baking hot Beijing day for a visit to the Forbidden City.

Every player went to see the famous palace of the emperors during Imperial rule, and the only shame was that it had to be a whistle-stop visit.

You can't do it justice in the hour we had, and a visit to Tiananmen Square had to be crossed off the list too.

Some Blues players thought they would see the Terracotta Army - they are in central China.

Built between 1406 and 1420 by 100,000 artisans and a million labourers as a palace for the Ming and Qing Emperors, it has 8,600 rooms and lies on more than 178 acres.

It's pretty incredible and Blues squad and staff played the tourist with their cameras, just like the rest of the daily 40,000 visitors.

On the way back to the hotel there was a stop-off at one of the Silk Alley markets, where brand names - real or knock-offs, are pedalled to the visitor.

The idea is to drive a hard bargain and be prepared to barter although Cameron Jeremy was told to 'get out of my shop' by one irate woman after offering a rather cheeky £10 for a Louis Vuitton bag!

Blues new Xtep kit has not yet become a counterfeit favourite of the stallholders and hustlers.

It was officially launched in China at a rather grand ceremony at the Intercontinental Hotel.

Alex McLeish, Vico Hui and Peter Pannu were joined by Xtep vice president Ye Qi and Yeung Si Yu, their brand marketing director.

Speeches were made in Chinese and Scottish to a very hearty crowd of around 100 Chinese media.

And Big Eck was up to his tricks again with the odd dry quip.

Scott Dann and Kevin Phillips were designated to show off the 2010-11 home and away kits, and McLeish talked about 'the lovely models sitting on the front row with their lovely Xtep jerseys and pants, so I'm sure you'd love to see the strip'.

The thing was, Xtep had four models flanking the stage in T-shirts and short denim shorts, who were due to come forward first in the new jerseys. So who exactly McLeish was referring to, and in what context of 'strip', wasn't quite clear!

Eventually, Dann and Phillips were corralled with the girls for photo opportunities and the event compere insisted that arms had to be linked.

After what seemed like an age, the pair were allowed back to their seats and on his way Super Kev turned to the top table and joked 'make sure that's not on Sky'!

It shouldn't be as this was for the Chinese and Far East market.

It was interesting to see how Xtep staged such a set-piece event, and it was no small gathering, or low key.

Ye spoke passionately about Xtep, their plans to become a major sports and leisurewear brand, and the link up with Blues.

And they even tailored Carson Yeung with the white silk suit he wore to Blues first friendly game.

We've hardly heard of them in England but from what we saw and heard they do seem to be an emerging, young company - a bit raw perhaps - with a will to succeed.