It's raining in xi'an. And our 4kg of laundry will only be ready by this afternoon "depending on the weather". Let's hope that it brightens up or neither of us have any clean clothes!

Terracotta tour today and within te first 10 minutes we reasiled how glad we are we have not been on a tour for anythig else. After introducing ourselves in a cilla-black-esque what's your name and where do you come from method, we are told about all 4 types of warrior(archer, horseman, officer, general), the number of pits (3 pits. First one found 1974 by a farmer digging. Then more in 2000 and 2006. Now a total of 8000 warriors have been found but only 2000 restored for display. All of this knowledge was then tested with a quiz from the tour guide who scolded those who were 'not listening properly'. Personally i think the combination of Chinese and English words in every sentence would test even the bilingual.

So we eventually arrived at the tombs, where we were expected to follow Ja Ja (who from now on will be referred to as Lady Ja Ja Binks), while she waved a soft toy flower in the air to show us the way to go.

Here are some more fun facts that lady Ja Ja taught us about the terracotta warriors and horses (we know these well, as every tutorial was followed by a Pop quiz);

Chinese and German archeologists work after 6:30 every day to excavate more warriors from the ground- its the same group of archaeologists that excavated the pyramids. The excavation has taken 38 years so far and will take another 40, and that's only the pits of warriors that they have discovered so far! The magic archer was the first one discovered intact in 1974.

If the warriors are wearing flat shoes= low position,but if they turn up at the end =high position. Married = wife sticks nails in their shoes.

The faces of the warriors are thought to be the faces of the workers that made them. They signed their name on the warriors that they made. They were then all killed after working as slaves.

All the soldiers are tall as emperors thought this would make them more powerful. They were built to protect the emporer in death so its assumed that there must be more undiscovered pits of warriors closer to his tomb. But the mountain where he is buried is full of mercury so it's hard for them to find out!

There are Small holes in the side of the horses so that when the terracotta is baked they don't crack-the warriors were baked head an body separate.

Facts aside, it was pretty impressive....particularly as the warriors are all 6 foot tall (i ha imagined them to be much smaller).Can't wait to hear how many pits full of them they will eventually discover!

Had a very exciting surprise in the gift shop...the farmer who first discovered the warriors when digging his field was making a visit to sign copies of his new book! Even Lady Ja Ja was excited about seeing him, and she sees the warriors every day....so we had our first sighting of a bona fide Chinese celebrity!

Decided to try the tang dynasty dance show this evening- according to the ads, the "broadway" of china, so we thought worth trying. With hindsight, definitely questionable decision. Think our favourite "act" was the one in which the "emporer" played a trumpet which clearly had helium in, and then made a load of strange noises. Interesting lesson in Chinese etiquette though- apparently it is okay to talk, answer your mobile and move around during the show!

Excited about going to see the giant pandas tomorrow!!!

G x