Xian has been an extremely nice change from Beijing. It's still loud, busy and a tad smelly. The local people that inhabit Xian are still for the most part rude but everything is a lot less so than Beijing. It seems quite relaxed in comparison. Xian has been the location of two of my favorite things of the trip: the Muslim quarters and the terra-cotta warriors.

I can guarantee that the warriors will be nothing like you expect it to be. Unfortunately like everything else in china it is touristy, think Disney and your not far off. Despite this seeing the 2000 warriors is no less impressive. Although the 360 movie was unnecessary and it was out of doubt by 50 years. I even saw the farmer who discovered the first warrior. He charged £2.00 for a photo of him, I got one covertly.

For food there was no place better than the muslin quarters. Noodles, quail eggs, meat on sticks, soup filled dumplings - everything you could get there. It tasted good and a bowl of beef noodles cost about £1.00. Also the place for knockoff gear and miniature terra-cotta warriors.

Met two amerians at the hostel who have since left. In Chongqing I will be meeting up with them and going on a 4 day cruise along the yantzi river.