Today, I made plans with Ianaur and Shelly (from my class) to go to City Center and explore the City Wall, etc.
I met them at the gates of our school around 11am. Before they showed up, another (Chinese) student from my school approached me and started talking to me. I explained that my Chinese skills were minimal and he laughed, explaining his English was lousy. But, he kept on talking. I'm not sure exactly what he was going on about, but he was very friendly.
So, to down (up? mid?) town...but first, lunch.
Lunch (午饭). We had Korean.
My Lunch (我的午饭）. The menu claims "meat," but I found none...
Kimchi. ...although it did come with kimchi.
So, we hopped on bus 600 and we were off.
Ianuar and Shelly. On Bus 600.
After 20 minutes or so, the bus made its way inside the city wall and deposited us at a stop near the gates. The wall was marked by a number of signs celebrating the National Holiday, and this...
Wall Advertisement. It reminded me of the warden from Superjail! I'm not really sure what it's for, actually.
We fought our way through traffic (you know, maybe we should have used the crosswalk), and up to the ticket counter.
City Wall South Gate. This is inside the city wall, so technically this entrance is an exit.
City Wall South Gate - Drawbridge. The entrance actually looks like this, but, ironically, it was how we left the wall at the end of the day. Also, may I present the first in a series of classic vacation photos. Look! I stand in front of Chinese things! Oh!
We purchased tickets (40RMB), and went inside.
Xi'an City Wall. Our adventure begins.
I watched a Travel Channel special on Xi'an before I left home. In the special, the host visited the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (please see Day 8 and Day 44) and the City Wall, among other places. While visiting the wall, the host rented a bicycle and road it around. I decided that day that at some point in my trip I would do just that! As it turns out, today was that day.
Riding Bike's on the Xi'an City Wall. Not for those with motion sickness.
The weather, in my opinion was just right: Slightly cool, cloudless, a little breezy. Bike riding made it all the more cool, of course, despite the fact that it's, like 14km all the way around the wall!
Ianuar and Shelly. Tandem-biking it!
The ride gave us occasion to snap a bunch of photos of ourselves in front of things. I began the day by taking photos of the sights, leaving myself out, as I am want to do.
South Gate Pavilion. The roof's edge of the South Gate's Pavilion.
City Wall Expanse. Looking down the wall from one of the corners.
Buddhist Temple. A Buddhist temple spotted from the wall.
Rickshaws. And here we are doing the peddling for ourselves, like suckers!
Construction. 3000 years later, this job still ain't done. Typical!
Terracotta Soldier. Real? I doubt it. But I'll see real ones for sure in a few weeks...
The Neighborhood. Some of the buildings around the wall are just beautiful.
But, Shelly insisted on taking my picture, too, so here's some photographic proof that I AM in China. And, that I know how to stand in front of old things:
City Wall South Gate Take 2. There I am! Also, I'd like you to notice those parked cars. You can park ANYWHERE you want in China, apparently.
Inside the South Gate. I claim this South Gate in the name of China!
Inside the South Gate 2. Wait! Some one already did? Oh, well. Nevermind.
Look! I'm smaller and less-ornate than this building!
Look 2! I'm closer to the camera than this building!
Anyway. We were having a great time. The weather was good, the bikes were fun, the wall was...let's say bumpy. But, we were only HALF way 'round! What did the other half have in store for us? Well, let's just say it was more COLORFUL...
To be continued...
Hayden
Bring me back a teracotta soldier! Also, make sure you take at least one Duckface picture for Craig. Also also, that girl in the background of the bus picture looks SO put out. Also also also, I saw the Moff's Sherlock Holmes and it's awesome; you should find it-- only three eps, but brilliant.
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