Xi'an to Emeishan....

We arrived in Xi'an early in the morning to rain and a high level of 'smog' almost at danger levels where you need a mask!!! Hard to believe London was like this 100 years ago, so not great but no problem as after quick shower we were off to see the Terracotta Warriors. This really was an eye opener, the whole site is permanently covered and it's amazing to realise there is so much more history still to unearth. I imagine that at night
it would be a scary place to stay, the figures are so lifelike and each one different. This was one of the few places you really felt the history of China, so much was destroyed in the Cultural revolution or has been rebuilt or revamped for the modern China.

As you can see by the photos (drum/bell tower) it was still raining for our walking tour of Xi'an at night but we enjoyed it anyway! Went to the markets in the Muslim Quarter too that night but with the rain & a scary lecture from Leon about how the stall holders get annoyed if you barter too hard, it was more of a route march than a stroll!

Just for Gail & Andrew, we must mention the 'celebrity' status - we may not be the Beckhams but the Chinese taking photos of us got even worse once we joined the group....a few brave ones ask and get their friends to take a photo of you with them, others pretend they are looking at their phone but are quite obviously taking a photo and some just openly snap away! The funniest time was at Xi'an railway station while we were waiting for an overnight train - the 'loading bay' or gate (just like an airport) was packed so we were standing in a circle around our luggage while Leon spoke to us about the next day etc. Gradually we all became aware that we'd drawn a crowd ...some taking pics, others just staring - very strange! In the group it gave us a laugh but I'm still not sure about one particular incident when Paul & I were in a taxi in Tianjin ......the driver stopped at traffic lights, turned round, looked at me and laughed out loud!!?? If only I spoke Chinese!

After another night on the train, (actually it was a long 17+ hours as the train itself was more noisy and with two babies in the same carriage, not much sleeping went on), we arrived in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, to sunshine, spicy food and a good hotel! Shame it was just one night, but we did manage to fit in a great night at a traditional Sichuan Opera - puppets, singing, 'changing faces' act and a great comedy sketch even though we couldn't understand a word!

The next morning we were up and off early for one of the real highlights - a visit to a panda reserve near Chengdu, it was raining (again) but apparently that's perfect panda weather. They are lazy...we just didn't realise how lazy. Their day consists of eating and sleeping and once in a blue moon when cajoled into it, some mating.....What a life, maybe it explains why there are so few of them. The reserve was massive, a bit like Jurasic Park especially in the rain and mist and the smaller Red Pandas ( I think more related to cats) wander freely throughout. Great to watch, I will try to add a video but enjoy the pictures....we have lots more!

Next stop was the grand Buddha ......the more energetic of the group 'hiked' up for a close up view - you won't believe it but we took the easy option - a boat trip taking in the full panarama! Added bonus, a snooze on the bus while we waited for the hikers to return.

Our next 'hotel' was a working Buddhist Monastery, very strange, particularly as we were dropped off from the bus in the dark, had to walk uphill in the rain arriving after the hot water for showers was finished! Woken at 5.45am in the faint light of sunrise, remote in the forest at the base of the mountain listening to the monks first chants of the day surrounded by five giant golden Buddhas and the smell of incense. As we were staying in the monastery it was strange when they opened the doors to the tourists/worshippers 99% Asian, who must have wondered what we were doing especially as we had run of the private areas, Europeans are an unusual sight to many Chinese especially in this part...wild China. It was peaceful but the basic communal sleeping,washing/toilets remined me of the army...I really felt like grasshopper in the Kung Fu films especially when we found the shaolin temple with the figures deep in the jungle. I won't need a chainsaw to chop trees when I get home....just bare hands.