China Discover Blog » Xian

Xian to Pingyao by train

Zoe — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 15:22:22 +0000

There are three train coming to xi an from Ping Yao .It would not be hard to get a hard sleeper as long as you ask the guesthouse to book it for you upon your arrival . The cost of train ticket is only about 90 Yuan . they would probably charge you a little bit money for service charge ( aroun 30 to 50 yuan depending on the high / shoulder season ) . Some of the guest house there offer free booking service of the train ticket provided that you stay in their place.

It takes overnight to get to xi’an from ping yao . Your chance to get a soft sleeper train ticket would be quite hard because there are only two such carriges on the train .

There are chartered public buses to xian from pin yao . The condition is pretty good in terms of road ..ect . but you got to watch your belonings . there are at least 3 to 5 bus lines coming to xian daily . the cost is higher than train travel by about 20 to 30 yuan.

Xi’an City Walls

Cindy — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:53:48 +0000

Today we walked the Xi’an city walls, which have been restored so you can walk all the way around the city. It took us 4 hours and it was pretty surreal because it was just me and Mark on our own for most of it, and you couldn’t really see the rest of the city because of the fog, so it was just long stretches of wall with red lanterns and the rest had simply disappeared! Occasionally figures would appear coming out of the fog, and I admit, after having watched The Mist, to being a little spooked!

We saw some fantastic kites, which make ours back home seem pitiful. They stretch miles into the sky, but then coming back down they get caught in the trees, so from above you can see how all the treetops are completely covered in them!

This will probably be the last entry for Xi’an, because tomorrow we’re having a lazy day, lying in, heading to a supermarket for the basics, doing a little shopping, etc. Probably even trying a Chinese Starbucks (I feel no shame). And then very very early the next morning we depart for our next destination!

Will hopefully get to update soon!

More informations of Xi’an City Wall…

Terra Cotta Warriors Museum in Xian

Zoe — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:05:16 +0000

Terra Cotta Warriors Museum is by far one of the most amazing sites to visit in China. The museum and displays in the pits are well maintained and despite the crowds, viewing is not a problem due to the size and number of pits excavated. If you have time, stop into the Tea House on the grounds and enjoy a traditional tea ceremony.

consider the craftsmanship, the detail work, not to mention the Feng Shui of the thousands of Terra Cotta Warriors designed to protect the Emperor of Qin ’s flank in the afterlife. His tomb was located underground, framed by mountains, river and desert on the other sides. These underground warriors also would help the Emperor rule another empire in the afterlife.

This was in 210 BC. More than 8-thousand life-sized warriors in huge rooms underground. They were found in 1974 by a local farmer who was digging a well. And it will blow you away.

More informations of Terra Cotta Warriors Museum, Xian