After writing the last blog we had an afternoon nap (after all getting up at 7.30am is hard work for us now!) then we headed for Wuhou park and temple. It is nearby and only costs Y20, we had heard noise coming from it the night before and consulting the lonely planet discovered that there were nightly shows. We wandered round the park only to discover the temple had closed, 5 mins earlier! The park was beautiful... lit up at night by fairy lights and lanterns. T...

Arrived in Chengdu late on Monday night after a very bumpy flight. The plane smelt of China (incidentally so do our clothes after getting them washed, dried, folded and returned for 2 pounds at the hostel!) Chengdu is a beautiful city. Everything is much greener here (Jon reckons it is because of a higher level of rainfall!) The city is bustling with crazy car drivers and numerous bikes everywhere. Yesterday we went to the people's park which was really pretty. A...

Having mastered Chinese buses we ventured on one again yesterday in order to vist the "Big Goose Pagoda." The bus was a genius idea albeit cramped and smelly! (A bit like Friday night at Klute!) The Pagoda was set in a big park... theme park! THe rides were not evident but the smell of candy floss and pop corn filled the air. I tried some Chinese popcorn just to check that it didn't taste any different! (Jon stuck to the indescribable kebabs!) The park ...

On Thursday we decided to hire bicycles, and although I have recevied numerate lectures from my Dad about checking brakes etc. I simply couldn't be arsed! We made it to the West Gate of the city... neatly located on the centre of a roundabout... traversing it on a bike is close to insansity! Anywho, we were told that we couldn't take our bikes on the wall (even though you can hire them on it?!). We perservered with the crazy traffic at the base of the wall before...

Following a nearly 12 hour train journey from Beijing with China's rif raf we arrived in Xi'an in the cold dark of the morning. It is interesting to note at this point that they have hot water on trains in order to enjoy Pot Noodles... I however, decided not to have one for the first day since being here, as my last had caused some discomfort ( I wont go into the runny details) as it was such a fiery b******! Our hostel offered free lifts from the train station a...