Hi All, Went to see the Terracotta Army today. An hours bus ride out of Xian. Took the local bus as it was all of Y1 being about 12 pence! Once again it was absolutely freezing with temperature outside hovering between minus 4 and minus 8. Got to the site, which is wuite smart by Chinese standards and well run by the local geverment. When going in was told that as it was effectively New Years Day that a Mr Yuan (I think) was in the reception hall signing books....

Hi Everyone, Well today is the 6th February - Chinese New Year

Hi All, Another tour today and a few more on the bus! I know this sounds a lazy approach, but its so cold, the door to door coaches, really appeal to me! Today it was the big city tour, meaning the forbidden city, the summer palace and Tienamen square. I got a wake up call at 6.10am! it said the bus was not going to pick me up outside my hotel at 8am,, but I had to get to another hotel at 7.15am, which was 20 mins away....what a start to the day! Got there j...

Hi All, Another tour today and a few more on the bus! I know this sounds a lazy approach, but its so cold, the door to door coaches, really appeal to me! Today it was the big city tour, meaning the forbidden city, the summer palace and Tienamen square. I got a wake up call at 6.10am! it said the bus was not going to pick me up outside my hotel at 8am,, but I had to get to another hotel at 7.15am, which was 20 mins away....what a start to the day! Got there j...

BEIJING - SUNDAY 3rd FEBRUARY 2007 Today I took a guided tour to the Great Wall and also Mings Tombs. An early start at around 8am and got told off for being 2 minutes late for the bus. they like punctuality do these Chinese. First was the Mings Tombs which were quite interesting and the guides english was really very good. Lots of history and he explained how so many of the other tombs around the country had been raided of all their valuables. Its still was re...