Hi All

After Chengdu we got the train to Xian, this was another overnight train of about 15 hours in a 4 berth cabin sharing with 5 people and a new born baby!. One guy had his own bunk and then there was a couple with the baby. When we got on the train we had 2 tickets for the same cabin on the two top bunks but when the conductor came around she of course did not speak any english and wanted to kick one of us out of the cabin - but we stood our ground and told her no and we showed our tickets for the numbered beds. She just made a sound and walked of. So no friends with the conductors.

We finally arrived in Xian. Luckily the hostel sent someone to pick us up, and by pickup we mean met us at the train station and helped us on a bus to the hostel which was ok because we did not expect anything else. The hostel itself is very nice, clean and cool. It was so cheap we managed to get a private room with en-suite toilet and shower. Now that is luxury. We had a look around town and then visited the ancient drum tower and bell tower. There is also an original city wall around the town which is very impressive. The following day we made our way on the buss to the Terracotta armies. I was really looking forward to the museum. We got there nice and early before most of the other tourist arrived and had a good look around. There is three dug out pits numbered one to three but number one is the most impressive and largest. The warriors are really awesome and also one of the highlights of the trip. Unfortunately there is not as many terracotta warriors as imagined. I think all the advertising hype shows it more then what there is but still a great day out and very happy to have seen the warriors. Check out the pics.

We wondered around the muslim area which is amazing for food, we had the best dumplings ever, some bread rolls and a pancake type thing with pork and cabbage a coke and a beer for £2.00!
We also saw the Little goose pagoda (Jianfu temple) which was built in 707AD we climbed the full 43m to the top which has a great view of the city on the way back we passed the most 80's roller skate park I have ever seen -think lycra outfits, head bands, leg warmers and Bros - it was hilarious!
The people in the town are also really friendly and it was a joy to visit Xian, there is plenty else to see and lots outside of town but we did not have enough time to explore as we must move on before our visa expires.
There was some very obnoxious people in the bar of our hostel, they have been everywhere, seen everything and know everything about where people are going, they where so loud too they would just join people and start going on and on and on and then people would make a swift exit! We where lucky because we are still having problems with Barclays I was shouting at them on the phone most of the time they never tried to sit just a quick chat!!

Herman and Christina