Day 3 Xian

We booked a tour to go and see the Panda's on the outskirts of Xian at a animal research centre/animal hospital. Typically the day we pick it decides to rain heavly we were worried that the pandas would be inside and we wouldn't get to see any, but luckily for us pandas seem to like rain!! One came really close as the guide had some bamboo to feed it with, so we've got some smahing pictures. We also got to see red pandas (they look similar to cats, but i was informed later that pandas are part of the cat family?). Also at the centre were golden monkeys, black bears, silk dear, takin (one of the rarest and most endangered animals in the world) and white peacocks. After we had finished at the centre we went to a local resturant for a typical chinese lunch the food was delicious some of the best food we've had since being here.

We returned to the hostel at 13.30pm and had a coffee then proceeded to sit there for 3hrs just talking to different people. One person we were talking to was April a chinese english teacher who we had a long conversation with and then a girl from Canada joined us called Anna. It was then decided that we would all go shopping before the dumpling party at night. We went to a market called the Turkish market it was full of different stalls selling near enough anything you needed I bought a top (What a surprise!!!) and Suzie some ear rings (although suzie ear rings lasted less than 24hrs as she lost one). We also gave fashion advice to April who was asking for our opinion of what she should wear with certain things. It was a proper girly shopping spree just what the doctor ordered!!!

After shopping we went back to the hostel to the dumpling party where we learnt to make chinese dumplings we were fairly rubbish at it but they tasted alot better than they looked which was surprising (And it was free, bargain!). After the party we had a few beers and a chat then bed.

Day 4 Xian

Up early this morning as we needed to go to book are train tickets for Shanghai at the ticket office. We made sure we were prepared and had asked April to write in chinese where we were going and which seats we wanted but luckily the lady spoke english anyway so it was fairly easy to do.

Quick bite of lunch and then we got the local bus to the Terrocta Army. It was pretty amazing how all of that could have been burried underground for thousands of years undiscovered until some local farmers found it in the 1970's. We stayed there for about 4 hrs with an audio guide, I was getting a little bored by this point but Suzie still found some signs to read wonder who she gets this from mum? It had started to rain heavily when we were leaving luckily i'd bought my hoodie but poor Suzie only had a vest top on all the chinese people were looking at her as if she was a looney!!

Back at the hostel we met April again who asked if we wanted to join her at one of her favourite local resturants it didn't look very desirable and i wondered what she'd brought us too but the food was very nice and we got to have some well needed vegetables!! We then went back to the hostel and played some very simple english number games with a group of chinese students bit strange to us but they seemed to enjoy themselves!! I decided to go to bed after this about 1am Suzie stayed up with the 2 German girls, one American lad and one Australian lad from our dorm and went to a club which she enjoyed. (Although very expensive! Thank god for bulk deals!)

Day 5 Xian

Checked out our room at noon and had a relaxed afternoon getting advice from an english couple about Australia, New Zealand and Fiji very helpfull. Left the hostel at 3.15pm and we decided to act like "proper backpackers" and get the local bus to the train station it was fine and we managed to sit down with our heavy bags which was a relief. We got to the station in good time so it was relaxed unlike are stressful experience in Beijing where we had four minutes to spare before the train left when we got on we managed to run with are bags how i don't know!!! The overnight train took thirteen hours from Xian to Shanghai although it sounds like hell you get a bed and it actually goes very quickly. We were on the top bunk again of three but this time there was no ladder so you had to climb up on the other beds to get to yours no wonder the top bunks are always left when we get tickets!!

Day 1 Shanghai

Arrived in Shanghai at about 7am this morning and again like "Proper backpackers" we got the subway from the station and then walked from the subway station. We had no idea where we were going but after asking a few people and walking for about 30 mins we eventually found it (We felt like we'd run a marathon after getting the subway and walking with are heavy bags when we arrived at the hostel, accordingly it gets easier, im not so sure!!). The hostel looks nice, were in a 4 bedded dorm room and we get a free breakfast every morning , just about to get a much needed shower then start exploring Shanghai.

Lots of love to you all hope you are wellxxxxxx