The seafront restaurants and cafes in cannes are teeming with bejewelled ladies and men in black ties but attendance is down an estimated 20 to 30 per cent on last year as corporate expense accounts are slashed amid the slowdown .
Of the caves of guilin , the reed flute cave is one of the most fascinating haunts . Illumined by multi-coloured lights , the cave looks like a bejewelled world whose brilliant display of colour and light makes one gape .