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Xian - Shanghai - Nantong
So the last you guys heard we were on the overnight train which lasted 12 hours, actually it wasn't too bad, we had comfy beds and slept most of the way. We also met a Chinese guy who really helped us out with tips and took us in a taxi to a hotel, checked us in and checked our rooms and bought us a map...how nice AND he didn't expect anything back although we did try and invite him to dinner. Actually the Chinese people are really cool and accomodating and will do anything to help you out.
Xi'an is really pretty with an ancient city wall, we thought it may be remote but discovered that there are actually 5 million people living there, China has people everywhere it is mad. (And quite dangerous when crossing the road) There is shedloads of history in Xi'an from all of the chinese dynasty's but the one that everyone will know about is the Terracotta Army which was amazing and that alone was worth the visit to China let alone everything else we have seen.
We moved onto Shanghai after 3 days in Xi'an feeling pretty exhausted from walking for so many hours and so much sightseeing and arrived in SHanghai, again on an overnight train which was 16 hours this time. We weren't so lucky with the cabin buddy this time though, an old dude who smiled a lot but was very noisy when asleep and made some really strange noises.
Shanghai is a really great city, not as big as Beijing but with more people (20 million) It has shedloads of new really impressive buildings and have 2 of the tallest building in the world. There is much more of a western feel with a french influence in parts and you would be forgiven for thinking you were walking around Canary Wharf at times. There are loads of ex-pats here which makes you feel like less of an alien although people still do stare - especially at Matts legs bless him.
We went to an acrobat show which was cool and slightly scary, had a drink in the Hyatt with one of my cousins friends who lives here (speaks Chinese and is VERY handy ha ha) and did the river cruise which is definitely a must.
We moved onto Nantong on Friday - where Gilings dads family are from and had a ball. We visited his grandma who is 100 and adorable, she is still very sharp and still smokes! We were then treated like kings for the whole weekend staying in a lovely hotel and going to all of the local restaurants and eating really traditional food.
Matt and Giling (surprise surprise) did not say no to trying any of the local delicacies including Chicken heart, intestines (not sure of animal) and frogs...I escaped these but did really well and ate lots of meat dishes. Pretty good going seeing as I was veggie in January, I think I have come a long way tee hee.
It comes to no surprise that Matt has been ill, he got ill last week while staying in Shanghai but is still ill now, pity not mon amie's it has not stopped him from eating everything in sight inlcluding all of the above with extra chilli.
We are back in Shanghai tonight and getting ready to go to Macau and Hong Kong tomorrow and so the adventure goes on...we will be getting a converter for the camera in Hong Kong so you should see some good photos soon, my cousin has put some on facebook if you want to have a nose.
I had better go, Matt has to run if you get me ha ha.
Nat and Matt xxx
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