Hello from Xi'an!

We finally left beijing after a crazy week. It is really difficult to get train tickets at the moment as its peak tourist seasona dn the scholls and uni's in China ahve broken up for thier summer hols, so the world and his wife are tyring to get trains around china! Its mental! The train was nice though and our beds were quite comfy despite being very thin! We were on the train for about 12 hours and it was overnight so slept through most of it.

We arrived in Xi'an at 8am and were met by our hostel at the station which was really cool as it saved us having to work out where the hell to go! The hostel was right in the centre of town and our room was really good. We spent the first day sleeping and catching up with stuff we had to do, we went for dinner in this crazy dumpling place where people were chasing the dumplings around the restaurant as nobody could wait their turn! It was hilarious and the food was amazing! We looked round the market and shops in the muslim quater after dinner which was really nice.

We spent the second day looking round the city including the Bell tower, the Drum tower and the great Mosque, all of which were very pretty. I went to a tea ceremony in an old folk house which was cool although they tried to make me buy some tea and then got annoyed at me when i didnt, so i had to run away, i was actually quite scared! That evening we met up with naomi, who has been travelling with her mumfor 2 weeks which was realy nice and we were going to explore the nightlife of Xi'an once it stopped raining but the rain ever ended so we got drunk in the hostel instead! The rain was really intense and there have been floods across parts of China, but luickily we have missed them all so far!

We went on a tour onour last day in Xi'an to see an old village thing which was odd and the terracotta warriors! The tour was actually rubbish as it was so touristy but seeing the terracotta warriors was brilliant! It was so amazing to see them all preserved in the ground and despite loosing thir colour, they were in very good condition. I took loads of pictures so check them out.

We chilled out on our last night in Xi'an and then got the train to Chengdu on saturday afternoon. Xi'an was a reeally lovely city with lots to see and do. It would ahve been good to spend a couple more daysthere but we had to press on as time is running out (its going too quickly!)

Also i forgot to tell you that i ate sauteed dog and donkey stew whilst i was in Beijing iot was really odd! The dog tatsed like really over slaty bacon and the donkey stew tasted just like beef! Well i had to try it while i was here!! ha ha

hope everyone back home is well and the rain has stopped for you! Its bloody boiling over here and we have had a bit of rain but its a welcome break from all the humidity!

Lots of love Sarah x x x xx x