Hello from Xi'an!

We've made it to our next stop in China after nearly 6 hours on a train although it wasn't as bad as it sounds! After an early start and a breakfast pack in our hands, we got a taxi to the train station in Beijing and made it to our waiting room smoothly without any hitches. We were advised to get there early, hence the early start but really didn't need to be as we'd already booked the tickets and there were no queues. It was quite a nice morning anyway, the sun must rise really early here as it was beautiful blue skies when we left the hotel and the train station was more like an airport - including all the security checks! That is one thing that has put our minds at ease everywhere we have been so far - you can't walk further than 500m without seeing a security guard (usually standing under an umbrella!) and you have to put your bags through scanners at all stations and tourist attractions!

The train arrived on time and we bundled our way down the the platform with our backpacks on our backs and rucksacks on our front. We found carriage number 3 and were surprised to see that the seats we had been given were in a private little section of the train! We had bought 'superior tickets' as it was a long journey but hadn't expected that or the free snacks and water! We were joined by 3 other Chinese men and a stroppy female teenager who had all got off by the second stop so we enjoyed the rest of the journey to ourselves playing Monopoly Deal, Tara reading her book and gazing at the views outside the window of which were lots of high rise buildings and greenery.

We attempted the 'subway' for the first time after getting off the train which was really cheap and easy to use! Just like the London Underground but with less stops and lines! Using Tom's very clear instructions from the hostel, we jumped off after the 10th stop and made our way down a few streets to the hostel - Han Tang House!

We dropped our bags off and headed straight out towards the city walls to explore and make the most of the rest of the day. It was only a 20 minute walk down the main street of Xi'an, designer shops on both sides of the roads and a much more modern feel. We stopped off at a cafe for a quick lunch and continued to the South Gate of the city walls where we bought tickets to enter and headed up a steep set of steps until it felt like we were above the city. We managed to hire a tandem, a first for us both and cycled the whole way round the city on the city walls for 14km! The sun was burning brightly and we ached all over by the end but neither of had experienced a tandem before, it was great fun and allowed us some great views as well as a good perspective of the city we would be spending the next 2 days in.

On our return to the hostel we stopped off to take photos of the centre piece of the town - the Bell Tower and then headed towards a recommended part of town, 'The Muslim Quarter'. We knew we had reached the right alley when suddenly our senses were overwhelmed with hundreds of market stalls either side of a small street, mostly selling food including meat being cut straight off the dead animal laying above the stall and being put straight on to a stick for cooking! Apparently it was good to eat here but we headed straight out of the swarming crowds to the other end of the road and made our way home. It wasn't for us!

We decided to eat locally for dinner and headed down to a local noodle restaurant that had been recommended by the hostel staff. It was empty inside and 2 yappy dogs started pulling at Tara's trousers so we quickly exited and ate some yummy food at the hostel over the road. Tom found a guitar and was adamant to serenade Tara with all the songs he could possibly remember to play! After another amazing, energetic and fun-filled day of exploring we are now heading to bed ready to find the Terracotta Warriors tomorrow. Tara's first experience of a hostel is going well so far...! (Phew! - Tom) (#i'llignorethedirtyblindinthebathroom - Tara)

T&T x