Shanghai to Xian

1 may 2012

The coaches are the ultimate in reclined travel.

The 18 hour coach journey to Xian turned into an epic 25 hour trip with 7 extra hours spent stuck on the highway waiting for the road to reopen. These coaches are the ultimate in reclined travel, you get a bed not a seat... Now I know why?

All is right in the world again after finding a great room in the beautiful courtyard hostel, Shuyuan right next to the Southern gate of this old walled city of Xian. I have spent the afternoon getting to know the city traveling on various forms of transport; the back of a motorbike, in an autorickshaw, taxi and public bus -  getting to the planned destination is always a bit of a  gamble.

The goose pagoda is one of Xian's most famous landmarks. Built in 652AD, it houses  Buddhist sutras brought back from India by a monk called Xuan Zang. He travelled along some of the route I will take going west. There were fantastic views of the city from the top of the pagoda and an incredible music and fountain show finishing the evening off in true Chinese style.