This Pagoda was originally built in 652 AD by the Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty. He built it for a famous Buddhist monk called Xuanzang. Xuanzang was dedicated to having a better understanding of the scriptures that had come to China from India and to find out more took a 17 year journey to India and back. 50 years later it was extended and made more robust by the Tang Empress Wu Zetian. As we walked through the main gate, the first thing that struck me w...

We arrived in Xi'an Today, just after lunch. Flights all on time and Karron got away with her over weight baggage - phew.We were met by our guide Holly and our driver 'Mr T', he was actually called 'Mr Tau', or something like that, but each time I tried to pronounce his name it made Holly chuckle so we settled for 'Mr T' to make it easier.It took about 50 minutes to get to our hotel, right in the centre of the city. It's called 'The Bell Tower' hotel and the co...

The Forbidden City was the home of the Chinese Imperial Family for centuries the flag stones we walked over at the entrance date back to the 1400's. It is called the forbidden city because it was forbidden for the normal people of China to enter. This is because the imperial family were considered god like and only they and officials were allowed inside. There are 5 gates into the forbidden city, they are all very large. Each one has 81 gold roundels on, represe...

After the Temple of Heaven, Shirley walked us through one of Beijing's largest Hutongs to a local restaurant where we had hand made dumplings. This was a 'proper' local eating house, as opposed to a tourist restaurant and the dumplings were gorgeous, although I don't think I'd have wanted to visit the kitchen! After tea we went to The Red Theatre to watch a show called 'The Legend of Kung Fu'. A high energy show that told the story of a small boy called 'Chung ...

First impressions are 'what a huge, and mixed up city'. Very impressive newly built skyscrapers and 5 star hotels line the main streets but behind them lay the ancient and very poor alleyways that some of the city people live in called Hutongs. All are by the side of some the most impressive buildings in the world! The Forbidden City was only actually built to allow the emperors of China a lavish existence, so lush that they didn't even need to walk anywhere! As...