A welcome 27 hours of rest on train from Yangshou. The only other foreigners of the 1000s of people on this train happen to be in the same carriage as me - two American guys - theology post-grad students from Ohio.
Arrived in Xian and faced the ruthless taxi drivers who refused to take us to a hostel for less than 5 times the going rate. So we squeezed ourselves and luggage in to a tuk tuk - actually modified from one of those golf cart type things that disabled people drive around - and braved the city centre traffic. In any other circumstances would consider this the best way to halve my life expectancy, but as I was crammed in between two soon-to-be Masters of the Divine, I worried not.
So Xian. 8000 terracotta warriors worth the journey. Also cycled round city walls, ate kebabs and avoided buying authentic Chinese painting.
I keep on saying it, but photos to follow soon. Found internet cafe with the usual slow connection, but am only customer here so not like the hostels where always someone breathing down my neck in hostel for their precious minutes of internet time. Will be back. Off to see the Chinese acrobats now.
