Did you ever drive around the Arc de Triomphe at night, going against the traffic, with no lights? That's about the same as the experience getting from the bus station in Xian to the hotel last night. Not a taxi to be had, so we settled for a tuk tuk, two of us with suitcases. We obviously made it, but there were moments when I was wondering if my travel insurance covered the circumstances.
But it was worth it, as was the 90-minute taxi ride and the furnace-like temperatures outside (40°C) to go to see Emperor Qin's Terracotta Warriors. I had seen many photos and reports, but to see the scene firsthand was special. The site is in three parts, each covering a pit where the infantrymen, charioteers, officers, along and their horses and weapons, were discovered. Pit 1 is truly a spectacular site; they are still excavating pits 2 and 3. The visitirs' centre shows an explnatory film which is a good introduction.
There is more to see in Xian that the Terracotta Warriors. The Mslim Quarter is a delightful web of narrow lanes packed with stalls selling food, Mao's Little Red Book, and genuine Ralph Lauren polo shirts at under €10! I wasn't tempted. The old city is surrounded impressive 14th-century walls which contain within them the Bell tower and the Drum. No time to discover the other sites, I'm afraid.
Qingdao tomorrow, home of the famous Tsingtao brewery (old spelling of the city's name).
But it was worth it, as was the 90-minute taxi ride and the furnace-like temperatures outside (40°C) to go to see Emperor Qin's Terracotta Warriors. I had seen many photos and reports, but to see the scene firsthand was special. The site is in three parts, each covering a pit where the infantrymen, charioteers, officers, along and their horses and weapons, were discovered. Pit 1 is truly a spectacular site; they are still excavating pits 2 and 3. The visitirs' centre shows an explnatory film which is a good introduction.
There is more to see in Xian that the Terracotta Warriors. The Mslim Quarter is a delightful web of narrow lanes packed with stalls selling food, Mao's Little Red Book, and genuine Ralph Lauren polo shirts at under €10! I wasn't tempted. The old city is surrounded impressive 14th-century walls which contain within them the Bell tower and the Drum. No time to discover the other sites, I'm afraid.
Qingdao tomorrow, home of the famous Tsingtao brewery (old spelling of the city's name).
