Our last to days in Beijing were quite lazy where we did nothing but eat, drink and explore the various hutongs around our area. The food is the most memorable as on the 27th we went to a restaurant where they put burning coalsin a hole in the table then brought out the meat and the herbs /spices raw so we cooked our own dinner. It was just what we wanted and we left stuffed for just 4 pounds each.

That evening we met up with everyone from the vodka train for one final meal (everybody wanted duck) and we thought we would try one suggested by the lonely planet book (it turned out to be more than 20 pounds per duck). Needless to say, we couldn't afford it so spent the next 2 hours searching for a place we could all afford, that did duck. The place we found was absolutely awful (and that is understating it!!!!!). The duck was all the neck so it was basically just bone and it went downhill from there.

We all decided to drown our sorrows with one last drink as a group, and one by one we went our separate ways.

We awoke yesterday with several hours to spare before we took our 10 hour train ride to Pingyao. We decided to go and try to find the illusive duck pancakes from the night before (failed again). Although we ended up finding something just as good. A restaurant which had a hot plate in the middle of the table and once you ordered your meal it was brought out and cooked in front of you. We ordered spicey beef and it was definately spicey. We spent the next hour trying to finish off the bowl (we failed but made a good attempt) and watching the waiter torture fish (by taking them out of the tank for a minute then throwing them back in).

After a pint it was time to get the train to Pingyao. As we got back to the hostel Nicola and Huw were leaving so again we said our goodbyes (only for the third time) and went to the train station.

The queue for the train was an experienc as anything goes! from just pushing to elbows in the ribs (or would be if i was the same height but the groin was more like it). Once on the train we became a tourist attraction ourselves, with everybody looking at the only white pople on the train (it was like they had never seen one before). After 10 hours and a very uncomfortable 30 minutes talking to one of the train conductors about a Japanese book, we arrived in Pingyao at 3:44 in the morning.

We were picked up by a guy on a vehicle (I don't know how to describe it but a motorbike with 4 seats behind it). He raced through the streets, which thankfully were empty, and entered the walled city. Here the streets were much narrower. Every corner was taken at full speed and when we hit one of the walls Sarah and me looked at each other and I (don't know about Sarah) thought that this was a bit crazy. Once at the hostel we were welcomed with a cup of tea by the owners son, who had waited up for us to arrive.

We were shown to our room (through 2 courtyards) which was up a very narrow staircase. As I had my bag on my back it took me three attempts to climb it (I just wouldn't fit).

Once we awoke I looked out of the window to see a city which has been untouched for 700 years. The streets look like they do in any Chinese film set in the past. Once out of the hostel it was even more impressive.

It is now our third night in Pingyao and have met 2 French people (who live in Beijing) and 4 Danish who have introduced us to Bai Jui. This is a spirit which in it's weakest form is 56% volume. We have also managed to make steamed dumplings (which were filled with mutton and carrot) with the women who owns the hostel.

The last two days have mainly consisted of walking around this small city and stopping for cheap drinks here and there. Including a hotel where the guy inside seemed to take offence at the fact that we were staying somewhere else in Pingyao. He wanted to show us the rooms to compare with where we are staying. Needless to say we finished our drinks and left quickly.

Other than that we have done nothing for the last 2 days and it has bee great, just strolling around without a care in the world (with all the local children saying hello and running away laughing, and the adults rying to jump into pictures while there friends take there picture of them with the whites).