Then driven to Pingyao station to catch the 10:55 train to Xian. Pingyao station is very different from Beijing. The train was a different model with wider seats and a bit slower - only 240 km/h.
Three hours later we arrived in Xian - the start of the silk road. Compared to Beijing Xian is small - 8 million people as opposed to 23 million. But the station is HUGE - the largest in Asia.
Met by our new guide, Aria, and driven for 1 hour to the Sofitel Hotel. On arrival they offered us an upgrade to a club room for £40 per night for the room. We did this as you get a bigger room but more importantly between 17:30 and 19:30 there's free food and drink served in the Club lounge. For what we have been paying for wine in restaurants, that's only 1.5 bottles before we are quids in. A no-brainer.
Initial impressions of Xian is that we like it a lot. Much calmer than Beijing with far less smog. The people seem much more relaxed and the driving is much more disciplined. The streets are also very wide.
But I wouldn't like to sort this lot out.
After dropping our stuff in the room we walked to the Muslim Quarter which is supposedly a good place to shop. The quarter itself was nice and there is a huge market but it seemed to be predominantly knock-off goods like Lacoste etc.
In the market we passed one of those caricature portrait places which (for some reason) we decided to do as it was £3.50 each. What we didn't realise that as it's charcoal the only way you can carry it away if to pay for some sticky back plastic to cover them. We bartered them down (!!) and ended up paying £6.50 each. Not sure if it was worth it but we'll let you be the judge of that.
We hadn't eaten since breakfast but Aria was very concerned that we shouldn't eat in the Muslim Quarter as she said it's not too hygienic.
However, we passed a stall with a huge queue and gave it a go. It was what they call a Chinese hamburger and nothing to write home about (which, ironically, is exactly what I'm doing now).
After that a whizz round the rest of the market and a quick yomp back to the hotel for the start of happy hour. I thought we would be the first there but everyone else had the same idea. After getting our money's worth we headed of to a restaurant recommended by our guide which had the biggest TV screen ever.
They even have cigarettes on the menu.
The food was OK except for the oysters. I ordered 2 but only managed to get one down - note the blue one on the right which I didn't eat. I really thought I was going to throw up - absolutely disgusting. And I love oysters.
On the way back we passed this guy cracking a whip very loudly......
......and a couple of groups of line dancers Chinese-stylee.
Back at the hotel and super-excited about our visit to the terracotta warriors tomorrow.
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