Shanxi Wen Yuan Hotel Xi''An Xi'an

... just need to roll that out to their other major cities. While we have travelled around China I have noticed plenty of solar panels and the cities have good recycling schemes, all waste bins on the streets have two units for recyclable waster and non. We don't have that on our streets back in the UK. They just need to stop burning coal and find another energy source. I can't get too environmental though with the amount of flights I am taking!

... deeper into the market we got to see where all the local people eat, there were pig trotters, big boiling pits full of weird meats. We were very nervous about trying to much food as you could see the hygiene of this area is not great, flies all over the food. However we see a flat rice pancake filled with meat and chili. It was delicious. We also bought Chili peanuts,
we even had to haggle for these. Going though the market we could see that the Muslim / Chinese in ...

... carts though. You have to hold the handle down to "unlock" the brake and some people could not figure that out.

We went outside to catch the bus. I ended up shoving money in the ticket lady's face like everyone else to get a spot on the bus that had just arrived. It cost 25 yuan each ($9) for the bus ride to the Drum Tower.

Less than an hour later we entered the massive old city gate. They are incredibly impressive, as are some of the ...

... Death and partly due to the encroachment of sedentary civilizations equipped with gunpowder.  The effect of gunpowder and early modernity on Europe was the integration of territorial states and increasing mercantilism; whereas on the Silk Road, gunpowder and early modernity had the opposite impact: the level of integration of the Mongol Empire could not be maintained, and trade declined (though partly due to an ...

... by other chinese standards, compared to England it was nothing) but we didnt stay long and made our way back to the hotel in a fleet of taxis.....the comfy bed was calling. Finally, our last day in Xi'an and it couldnt have come soon enough. I spent the day with Josh, Aisha and Rachel (at this point i should point out that Josh and Aisha are something of an item so shall be referred to as Jaisha) and we walked around the Muslim quarter checking out the sights one last time. We ...

... went to bed. The next day we decided to start seriously exploring. I asked if there was an easier way to get down to the Drum and Bell Tower and was told to either take a bus or a taxi. Bus was just fine. We caught it and it took us exactly where we wanted to go. We went inside the Bell Tower, but by the time we got to the Drum Tower it was far too busy. While we were in the Bell they also had a free little show where there were people singing ...

... in giant pots at the front of the restaurant and we (actually those of us who spoke Chinese) just pointed to some pots to order dishes. Most of the time I let my Chinese friends order for me and just expect that it is likely to be spicy. I have always ended up with good food, and the spice is rarely too much for me to handle. Anyways, we had a great and filling breakfast and all for 1.5 RMB. That is the equivalent of about ten cents! God bless China. Meal time together can actually ...

... Anyway, in the third pit there were the more important generals and life size terracotta horses, these acted as a second line of defence against the Emporers tomb. On the next day we hired bikes and cycled the full way around the Xian city wall which is around 10 miles, then ate some interesting street food in the Muslim area of the city. That evening we went to a huge club in the centre which was an experience!

... this huge room was designed so that first you have to walk through a huge Gift Shop! So after the meal everyone took advantage yet again. This one was more fun though because we got to bargain for everything. One of my friends bought a knock off Northface jacket here for about $50USD. Let's just say the whole thing fell apart by the fourth day of use. In the afternoon, we went to the Big Goose Pagoda. There are tons of ...

... a striking exhibit is a tiger-shaped tally covered in characters (duhu fu) which gave its owner, one General Du, imperial authorization to mobilize over 50 soldiers at will. As you move on to the Tang dynasty (618-907), the influence of Buddhist art from the Silk Routes becomes apparent -- carvings are more sophisticated, and bright colors are introduced. Perhaps the most startling exhibits are the frescoes (bihua) relocated from the Tang tumuli around ...