Finishing with Greatness

What is that past the smog? The famous 3 gorges? Who can tell...
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We were very proud of ourselves for escaping the tourist track (which we had to go within a stone's throw of Burma to do) but decided that we really needed to see some certain special things (a wall anyone?) before (gasp!) heading home. Since leaving Deqin we have already taken a cruise down the Yangzi, which was once the way for tourists to see dramatic limestone gorges, but we mainly saw a river filled with garbage floating through smog obscured hills flooded by giant hydroelectric dam projects. Realizing that the smog blanket will only increase the further east we go, we have decided to focus on cultural sights that we can see up close and personal. Today we were in Xi'an, Shaanxi to see the famous 6000 strong Terracota Soldier army that some megalomaniac emporer had buried in his tomb. Pretty nifty. Tomorrow we are off to Beijing and hope to hit the Forbidden City, some palaces, and of course Tianamen Square. Then some major dim sum before flying to Hong Kong to go home again home again.

Many of the rock features are covered by the rising water due to new dams like these. This boat ride was in eastern Shichuan
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I'm giving a preview because I doubt Ill blog again - partly because we will try to fit a whirlwind of things in before we leave and partly because Ill be inundating family and friends with tales and pics in person before you know it. I will try to put in some reflections and thoughts before signing off on these though. Its certainly been a lovely ride!

Realizing that the smog blanket will only increase the further east we go

Bell tower in Xian. Old color, ringed by a traffic circle full of colorful ad-laden buses. Xian is on the line between Lijiang and Beijing, about half way.
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UPDATE FROM HOME:

I have added pictures of Xi'an, the Terracota Soldiers, and Beijing - including Tianamen Square and The Great Wall. Enjoy!