My day started early, up and out the door by 6am. My train left at 805am and I had to be at the train station one hour early. My guide Vivie showed me where to stand and that I could flag my own taxi down. She wrote directions on a card for me and the driver took me to the right train station! The high speed trains have different stations. I made it with lots of time to spare and was able to get a McDonalds coffee, first coffee since I got here. There are Starbucks everywhere though! I boarded my train, when I bought my ticket I was under the impression that seating was open so I got on the car that was at the bottom of the escalator. Once I sat down the train started to fill up and I could see people looking at seat numbers. I pulled my ticket back out and checked to see if I actually had a seat number. Sure enough I did AND I was sitting in that seat!! How crazy is that!

The trip is 5.5 hrs from Beijing to Xian. It was extremely smoggy and not much to see along the way so I ended up watching a few movies. Once arriving in Xian I hopped on the Metro and got off right in front of my hotel which also happens to be the center of the city. I got checked in and dropped my bags off, I was in need of food. After eating I hopped on a bus that took me the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. After I wandered around there I walked back to the city wall. I had wanted to bike the whole wall around the city. I started just after 5 and finished in the dark just before 7. It is 13.75 kms long. As it got dark all the buildings lit up and the lanterns as well. Was a bit tricky riding the bike in the dark on old bricks that were falling apart! I survived and so did my bike which I was sure was going to fall apart at any given moment!

After biking the wall I headed back to the center of the city to the Bell Tower which is the symbol for the city of Xian. It was built during the Tang Dynasty. It was dark so it was beautifully lit up. My hotel happens to be on the Square however my room faces the other way. I then made my way to the Drum Tower. The Drum Tower was built during the Ming Dynasty and got its name from the drum located within the building. It is also a symbol of the city and is beautifully lit up at night.

In behind the Drum Tower is the Muslim Quarters. There is a massive bazaar filled with street food and all kinds of stuff. It was CRAZY!! Music was blaring, food was being cooked everywhere... so many different smells! Pigs hanging and being cut up, raw sea food on sticks waiting to be fried up, all kinds of fruit and bread and so much more! People yelling and trying to get business. Was all quite overwhelming and it went on forever, I eventually had to turn back. I also was asked by 3 different people to have their picture taken with me?!?!? I get a lot of stares but this was the first time I was asked for pictures!!

I made my way back to my hotel, which again has an amazing location but not so amazing room!