Checking out the Terracotta Army

(Em here)

And they're off!

Spent another couple of days in Beijing - basically spent walking, visiting street markets and doing boring things like internet, posting stuff home, etc. It was actually warm enough to wear a t-shirt yesterday and it is really quite sad how happy I was about that!

Valentine's day yesterday and the whole of Beijing seemed to be walking round with a red rose. They are really into it for some reason! I almost felt left out. We however spent a romantic evening on the train eating chinese style pot noodle from our top bunk (much to the chinese's amusement) on a hard sleeper from Beijing West train station (absolutely massive makes Kings Cross look like a toy station) tickets cost 256RMB each (about 18 quid). Had overnight journey and arrived a bit late this morning (7.50am) in Xian.

The Toon Army getting ready for an Away Match

Today have spent day going to Terracotta army by local minibus - sharing the bus with people carrying a variety of car parts including a bumper, staring school girls, etc. Spent a couple of hours at the army which was pretty amazing but not quite sure if it lived up to my expectations (which were probably unrealistic). They are still discovering loads of similar other sights in the area with different 'types' of army e.g. acrobatic. All I can say was Emperor Xin (who ordered the armies to be built to 'protect' his tomb) must have been an incredibly arrogant guy.

Unfortunately we are experiencing British weather today (rain and cold) so have limited our walk around the Muslim area (next to our hostel - the Han Tang Inn) to look at markets and have more street food. Are staying here with a guy we met on the train from UB, Tom, who is from Berwick-upon-Tweed - small world.

You can buy replicas of these!

Are off tomorrow to Chongqing for a frantic few days hoping to fit a lot (Chengdu - pandas, Leshan - standing Buddha and then a cruise down the Yangtze through the 3 Gorges) in before we leave China. Hopefully the weather will get better and we won't be too tired to appreciate it (am actually qute knackered from doing very little!)