Tong Tai Mao Folk Hotel Pingyao

Pingyao has something distinctive: it's an old city which is alive. Most other historic cities visited in the country have been turned into touristy spots with shops and tea houses. Here it is touristy but at least people still live within the walls of the old city.<br>The 1st Chinese banks were created here to deal with big amount of silver ...

... some noodles. The Olympic Stadium was a pretty cool day out. We met a Chinese mother and daughter who were overwhelmed with excitement to be talking to 2 English people. They wanted photos with us and to practice their English. They were very sweet until they asked if they could spend the rest of the day with us......we made a sharp exit! It's weird over here. People stare at you all the time and shout hello. Had quite a few photo ...

... get out and run faster than the cart!<br><br>Chinese men are regularily found playing this crazy card game where they slam down the cards quite animatedly... it has something to do with Tens and Kings but that's all I know! In spite of not knowing what's going on, it is fun to watch and while I waited for the bus (it was late!) I watched the electric cart drivers playing... often they'd get awfully worked up which was also quite humorous!

... angenehmer als in den bisherigen Staedten, weil hier Autoverbot herrschte (obwohl die Elektromobile auch schon recht anstrengend waren). Man haette auch noch ein paar Ausfluege in die Umgebung machen koennen, aber so langsam ist die Energie am Ende und es steht ja auch noch Peking an. Wir haben dann einfach auch mal einige Zeit am Computer oder Fernseher im Hostel verbracht (die ein 2 Monate altes Katzenjunges hatten!!), uns von den anstrengenden Tagen in Xi`An erholt und ...

... the least. We've chilled and enjoyed being in such a pretty place, we walked around the walls a bit, saw a couple of temples. We also kept happening upon a film crew making an ye olde style film, well not that old as there were army guys with guns, no idea what its about or indeed what sort of budget its on, we reckon not much as theres only the one camera. We also did quite a bit of souvenir shopping ...

... that there was a northern gate but when I went to find it all I found were brick walls. I even asked how to find it and I was told that there wasn't a north gate and that I had to leave by the main gate in the south. For those that know me you would know that that is not good enough. If there was once a north gate then there would still be a north gate and I would leave by that gate and no one ...

... of the stadium had been turned into a building site for some flats and shops. This made me think that this was a view into the future of Field Mill and the demise of the Stags! Sorry Dan & Webby. As mentioned earlier, we went back to the Sukara Café for the eveningg and had a really goid night, but I did endure a surreal moment in a local shop. I had decided that in my chilled state, and whilst listening to No Woman No Cry, I would ...

Pingyao was a small walled city, we only stayed here for one night, but still had time to cycle round the whole wall and then go for a lunch cooked by a local family. Apart from that we didnt do much else! The inner city itself was devoid of anything green and extremely dusty so in all honesty we were quite glad to leave!

... s attractions: The Terracotta Warriors. We are really enjoying our time in China and our travels are just flying by. The countdown is on; we have our flights already booked to Brisbane, Australia on January 10, which leaves us with just under two months left to see more of China and parts of Southeast Asia. There is never enough time. Wherever we go, we find ourselves constantly saying "we have to come back!" Oh well, such is life!

... pretty and really bloody cold!!! :( Acording to our hostel its -15c!!!!! We are now having to wear even more clothes than we were in beijing :( hello, Gail here, so far i must say ive really enjoyed China! the history here is amazing and the people have been far more friendly and hospitable than the lonely planet would suggest. You do encounter the odd person who is apparently so utterly shocked by seeing a foreigner that they almost give ...