Xi'an and Pingyao

Terracotta Warriors pit 1
see all photos »

After the fiasco with the train to Chengdu I decided to take the plane to Xi'an to be safe, however even that was delayed by 2 hours, so we didn't arrive in Xi'an until nearly midnight.

6 June

Xi'an is lovely and I am staying in the old walled city, which is especially nice.  After a wander around the place, looking at the Bell Tower and the drum Tower I have booked for a tour of the Terracotta Warriors - quite looking forward to that.

7 June

see all photos »

Went on the Terracotta Warrior Tour and although it included visiting a factory that now reproduces the warriors, it was a reasonable tour and I got to see what I wanted.  The warriors were quite impressive - I thought - I know others were disappointed in the whole thing, don't really know what they had expected, but I was happy - hope you like the pictures)

In the evening I went to the Goose Pagoda as there was a fountain and music show - I really enjoyed myself.  The fountains were linked to the music and there were different heights of water etc - difficult to explain.  Not only that but people were standing in the water and getting each other drenched - great fun was being had by all!!!!  As I walked around afterward there were people listening to music, dancing and there were a group singing - everyone was having fun.

see all photos »

8 June

Went around the Bell and Drum Towers in the centre of Xi'an - they historically gave out the time to the locals, the bell during the day and the drum at night.  Apparently all the cities with history, or should I say previous capital cities, have these towers so I expect I'll be seeing a few more over the next few days!!!!!  As the names suggest the bell tower has a lovely big bell and the drum tower has a lot of drums of differing sizes.  Had a wander around the Muslim Quarter of the town and managed to buy some gorgeous nuts and candied fruits, ready for the train journey to Pingyao.

Yes - sorry I ended up following a guide with a flag!!!
see all photos »

In the evening the hostel had a 'dumpling party' and you could come and help make dumplings and then - the best bit - eat them and it was for free, even better.  It was quite an enjoyable evening and there was a French family there with three children - it was great just watching them enjoy themselves so much.

9 June

Last morning in Xi'an so I had my last little walk around the back streets before getting on the train.  This was a good experience as I met up with some people from Mongolia - well as much as you can do when neither speaks the others language - sign language and pictures work wonders!!!  The young man had bote his feet in plaster and he was with his mum and girlfriend.  They  plied me with chocolate and insisted on buying me water melon, I shared my nuts and fruit, although I don't think they really wanted any, they preferred their own chocolate!!!!  The train arrived at just after 9pm and there were two young girls there to meet me from the hostel.  The first impression of Pingyao in the dark was that it was much older and smaller than Xi'an, but with the same walled city, the streets are quite narrow and so much of it is pedestrianised.  You can however ride a bike around and there are some motorbikes and other smaller forms of transport within the paved streets. The wall was first built in 827 -728BC with earth and mud and later was built of stones and bricks.  Apparently the name Pingyao means turtle and the wall is built in that shape.

The music and water show at the Goose Pagoda
see all photos »

10 June - Happy birthday Angela

I bought a ticket to visit most of the famous buildings in the town and walked around.  The buildings are most impressive and luckily the whole place has kept its ancient feel with many buildings being preserved.  There are no new or high buildings within the walls - the only down side is the number of tourists, with the compulsory guide holding a flag on a pole and with a small microphone.  You can't get a photograph without several tourists in it!!!!  I visited the Ancient Government buildings, with the court, prison and instruments of torture!!!!  The Chenghuang Temple and the Confucian Temple, together with the South tower and gate, by which time I was exhausted from walking back and forth and although the places were interesting there was minimal information in English, so I wasn't altogether sure what I was looking at.

The Drum Pagoda - Xi'an
see all photos »

I have met up  with quite a few people in the hostels here and it's great exchanging information.  I even met up with a couple that remembered Rachel and I from La Paz of all places!!!!

11 June

Had another walk around and visited the West gate and tower and the 'Risheng Chang', reportedly the first Draft Bank in China, which remitted money all over China, so got some pictures for you bankers in the family!!!! Thought you might like to see how they used to do banking!!!!

The bell on the Bell Pagoda
see all photos »

Travelling to Datong this evening - next stop

Sorry no photos as the computers are a bit erratic here, will upload them when I can.