Day 6 - The Terracotta Warriors

Today I went to see the Terracotta Warriors. There were various ways to go and see them, but obviously, all expensive. There was various methods of getting there booking a tour, which would involve with many stops to the “factories”, get a taxi where I would be ripped off for being a foreigner, or as my cousin suggested and gave the tips, take the local bus!

I went for the local bus as a ticket was only 7RMB, so I headed down to the station this morning and jumped on the bus. As you can see, VERY, local! But I got my ticket and headed off.

The issue with taking local transport is, its not catered four tourists, I read the info and it said there would be a few stops before, but when everyone gets off, you will be at the museum. So I relaxed and just watched the world go by, then the bus stopped at a completely new mall area with old buildings behind. I thought I must be close, then I noticed everyone got off the bus, so I must be here, I checked with the conductor, me saying Terracotta and him nodding! Well it was wrong, I was at one of the other ancient palaces, that didn’t cater to foreigners, only locals.

However I still went in, had a wander around and the place was beautiful, I cant tell you much info as it was all in Chinese, the only info I can say was, that there was 5 spas, for the emperor to swim in.

The Terracotta Army

After my “diversion” I again found a local bus and made my way to the Terracotta Army. The army was created in 246BC and was finished, at its point in 209BC, when Emperor Qian died, the first Chinese emperor.

The reason the army was built, was that in Chinese culture, it is believed that when you die, you don’t actually die but you start your new, eternal life. This meant that the people would take with them everything they wanted to take to the afterlife with them, so his army was rebuilt as statues, each statue is the actual representation of each individual person, no statue is the same. They were then laid out in the precise military formation of rank and duties.

When emperor Qian died, this meant to take this army with him, all the slaves, soldiers, officers and generals who were “given eternal life” as a statue, this also meant, when he died, they all had to die too. This also included his 2000 concubines, less the ones that has this children (dirty chap!) but they were not turned into statues.

Digs are still taking place!

When he was buried, the area was covered over and left, it was not found again until 29^th March 1974, by a local farmer (this is him below, he was there today). He was digging a well and found some terracotta pieces, which were very colourful, after more digging he found more and more, then called in the archaeologists who discovered the site.

The issue was, when they were found, each statue was very colourful, but as they had not come across air for 2200 years, once exposes they would peel in seconds and be completely destroyed in 15 minutes!! To preserve many of the areas, they have left them underground until they have the technology to preserve these, then the rest will be unearthed. 

One of the few statues where you can still see colour on the soldiers face!

The site was amazing and I would recommend anyone to go there but in the winter months, as there were pictures of the summer, and I wouldn’t dare go then.

And of course, yes I did buy a small Warrior for myself!

After this, I went back to the hotel, for some unwind time at the pool, but I didn’t realise how tired I was, I lay down, and that was me gone, the reason why we have the morning update on here.

Today will be a taking it easy day, exploring the city and the famous Muslim quarter, with the best restaurant there too, according to my cousin. 

Day 5 - Travel and not reading maps

Today's Blog is a nice short one, as it's been a travel day for me!

Travel to Xi'an

My time in Beijing is now over... so its my time to travel to Xi'an, taking the Chinese local trains, I knew it would be better than the trains i took in Vietnam, but i was very very surprised!

I made my way to the train station today, for the big trip, the journey was 1,180km and the journey was only 4:25 as i was taking the high speed train.

Upon arrival at the station, I came across the usual craziness, to pickup my tickets, I had to go through the usual airport style security. Once through join the massive que, i was worried then, as there wasn't a single latin letter in the room all the text was in Mandarin! But i did the classic Brit abroad, got to the front and passed my passport to the women (my ticket was pre booked by my cousin, so i didn't have to endure that part!). They needed the passport as you need ID to pretty much do anything here. The women did her work, and i got my ticket!! 

The next step was, of course another ID check and another airport style security! Finally through, i went to the lounge, which was "quiet"!

Luckily i have learnt like the locals here, so it was a good pushing session to get on the train! Once on, everything became civilized again! 

We set off, got the usual announcements, then I noticed a speedometer on the wall, building up very quickly, so i had to take a snap at the cruising speed!

A few hours in, time for a drink and a snack, a German Black beer and peanuts and Chili, a LOT of chili, good job i had the beer!

A 4 hour train journey for £55, you would expect it to be pretty grotty, but as you can see, its more like an airline!

A few snaps of the Chinese countryside!

4:25 later I arrived in Xi'an!!

This part was easy, I booked my hotel and it was only 1.2km away from Xi'an railway station, so i thought perfect, i could save some money (no shock there) and walk, I started walking and it looked differently to my map, e.g the roads looked like motorways!! I carried on walking where i could, but gave up after 2km and saw a taxi! 

I showed him my hotel name (as most taxi drivers don't speak English or cannot read our letters, so you have to write it down in Chinese), and he took me... I carried on driving straight down the road i was on, then after about about 10km, we drove past Xi'an station, I took the train into Xi'an north!! Grrrr!! So i eventually got to my hotel, the taxi was the equivalent of £3, and he even refused to accept a tip! 

Xi'an City

I checked into my beautiful hotel, the Grand Mercure, which must of been something very important in the past, with how grand the buildings and area are! 

Once settled in the room, i thought i would have a wonder around town and a nice easy night, a few snaps were taken, and i was suprised about the city, i expected a small ancient town, not somewhere that would make me think of Hong Kong!

Tomorrow I go to see the Terracotta Army... I cannot wait! Night Guys

Day 4 – Temple of Heaven, Dodgy Markets, Duck and the Square at Night!

Well today was my last full day in Beijing, after the last 3 days of very early starts, I decided to have a sleep in, it was amazing! When I left (at 10!) it was a beautiful day, I haven’t seen a cloud all day and the pollution has been low too, to the extent I’ve actually tanned a bit

Temple Of Heaven

First stop of the day was to see the temple of heaven. It is called the temple of heaven, as the way it was built there were many little acoustic “issues” which made people think the echoes were the words of god, not an echo, and the name was then given.

The history, is varied in this please with its opening in 1420, being the exclusive property of the emperors, until 1900 when the British and French took control of it, as their base in the opium wars for one year, then it was returned to China. The emperor was shamed for losing the war, so he dd not enter his tablets into the temple.

The temple changed hands again in the war with the Japanese using sections of the temple to complete medical experiments. This history has now been deleted from the site.

The ground of the temple was surprising, it was 4 time bigger than the Forbidden City… they love making things huge in China, it’s a good job they had space!

Tradition says only got can walk in the centre line, hence why I am walking on it! ;)

You can see how beautiful the temple of heaving is, and it was confirmed by how many couples were having their wedding photos here, I saw some in traditional dress, so I took a sneak pick to see what the Chinese wear on a marriage.

Wander through the dodgy markets!

I thought I’d pay a visit to some of the dodgy markets, aiming to get some clothes, unfortunately I ended up in the electrical one, which was an experience.

I walked around and every stall pretty much had the same stuff, except for the random sniper rifle sights stall. However everyone else either sold (Fake) Samsung Galaxy S5s/S6s or (Fake) iPhone 6’s, (Fake) Beats Headphones, (Fake) Go Pros and lots of other stuff of the same style.

I was having a walk around having a little laugh to myself at how much they were trying to sell stuff for, so I thought I’d have a look, the first stall, I picked up the fake iPhone 6, I have to say the case and build quality was very very good, but you could see it was a fake when it was switched on and it was running on Android! They asked for the equivalent for £150, I just laughed and walked away.

The next stall had a fake Galaxy S6, again the build quality is amazing and it runs on Android (obviously), I was messing around with it and it seemed alright, again they asked for £150 for the phone, I laughed again and did a bit of haggling. They would not go below £50, I wasn’t paying £50 for a fake phone.

Finally I went to my 3^rd stall and took a look at the Galaxy S5, again the build quality was amazing, the operating system looks spot on, even deep in the settings it thinks it’s a real Galaxy. She asked for £120 for the phone, as you guessed, I laughed again, then haggled a bit. I got her down to £25, and to be honest even if the camera, is awful £25 is a good deal so I took it! I did check eBay when I got back and the only other open example of a fake S5 from China was bidding at £151, so quids in! Take a look for yourself at it!

After this I thought it was time for some food!

Peking Duck

You cannot go to Beijing (Peking) and not have Duck, so I started walking though the local areas to find a duck restaurant that seemed busy, after walking by literally hundreds, I saw one, which was extremely busy, then I saw around the door it had numerous awards (but for all I know it could be for how clean the toilet is, as it was all in mandarin!) but I thought what the hell try it out.

I ended up ordering the full Peking Duck and a beer, one word… heaven! The positive is that, it is exactly the same as how we eat it back at home, so the food isn’t as different as everyone makes at home, just that the ducks cooked differently, as it has a very different taste.

Wander through the shopping area

There are many links between old Beijing (below) and new Beijing (further below), Its amazing that the old Beijing street is off the new street but always a good experience to walk though them all and sample the life.

Old Shopping Street

Old Shopping Street

New Shopping Street

I have to also add this picture, the coolest Starbucks I have seen, they should all look like this!

Tienanmen Square

Now dusk has set in, I can go back to Tienanmen Square for some evening pictures of the sight lit up.

The best location to get the pictures is on the square itself, but as the military were training and having parades on there, no members of the public could get onto it.

I did however get some good snaps of the memorial to fallen heroes and the mausoleum.

The great hall (the equivalent of the Chinese Parliament building)

The Forbidden Palace rose room.

You can just see the military parades below too.

After this, I headed back to the hotel time to pack now, as tomorrow I’ll be taking the train, 5 hours which will be an experience in itself, to Xi’an to see the Terracotta Warriors!

Finally, a few people have asked me what a Chinese toilet is actually like, as people have seen TV programs (an idiot abroad) so were curious. I got a picture! A good ol squat toilet!