A very late start today but at least we were awake enough to use our coffee vouchers instead of paying £1.50. The plan was to take a complementary bike from the hostel and cycle around to some sights, but being so late the bikes were all out. We settled for the bus to the ‘Big Goose Pagoda’. The pagoda itself is not much to look at but the surrounding musical fountains and parks are wonderful. We strolled around again baking in the sun watching kids (and an alarming number of adults) running through and playing in the fountains. Xi’an is really a beautiful city.

The fountains and the adjacent park all look fairly new. Probably built in the last 5 years or so would be my guess. There were no hawkers begging you to buy something and it was all very neat and tidy. We could have been in a park somewhere in Europe (apart from the obligatory loudspeaker presumably telling people in Chinese not to litter). It’s weird though cos if you go a block or so away there will be dozens of filthy chaotic alleyways which present the exact opposite picture of China. Such an interesting country and so like SA in many ways.

After an ice lolly to cool down the next stop for the day was the Shaanxi history museum. We were standing in a long que with lots of students to get tickets while a major argument was going on at the counter. Suddenly the que began to flow and we were presented with 2 tickets within seconds at no charge. No idea what was going on but I assume we got in as part of a school tour – excellent freebie. The museum was good although smaller than we expected with English everwhere (unlike Russia). My highlight was one of three Tiger Tallies in the world (a small tiger with a message enscribed in two parts. The Tiger would be separated and used to authenticate military messages. Very cool for 400 odd BC.

We set about walking back to the South gate of the city wall with the intention of renting a bike and cycling around it (on top of the wall), but it started raining so we headed for home. A couple hours later we decided to give it another go and headed by bus for the south gate once more. As we arrived the rains returned !! Calling it a day we decided to take a long walk back to the hostel stopping to savour the local cuisine on the way home (um… that is another one of the 4000 odd KFC branches in China) – highly recommended as value for money and for lack of consequences.

We are trying to get a tour arranged to a nearby tomb but there is a minimum number required. The staff at the hostel (who are amazing) have put up an ad in reception – no luck yet. We also got our train tickets today. Confirmed for Chengdu. Travelling 15hrs by overnight train ‘hard sleeper’ class (ie: open carriage. 3 bunks high) just to see some black and white bears ! They better be cute 🙂

[Pictures: V cooling down at the Pagoda]

– Posted from my iPhone via Wifi