Ancient Xi'an

~~~ 1^st Day, 06-June-08 ~~~

A sunshine morning, we depart from Shanghai on FM9203, reach airport on time 10:30am. It was a nice sunny day, take a deep breath, and we start our free and easy Xi’an trip.

We took Airport Bus Line 1 instead of Line 3 as stated online, guess the info has out-dated. Bus ticket costs RMB26 each, include RMB1 fuel surcharge. Since when we have to pay fuel surcharge for bus riding, surprise! Airport Bus Line 1 takes us to Bell Tower（钟楼）where Lines 2 to railway station. We reached Bell Tower about 12 noon, found there are buildings with old Tang dynasty style and famous landmarks. There are many ah Gong ah Ma (the elderly) approach you to sell the city maps, very hard sell by keep shouting and following us along the way, scary.

Once we break away from the passion nanny, we took a taxi to 7 Days Inn Hotel, RMB6. It’s a nice and comfort hotel, receptions are friendly, we have good impression once step in the lobby. Hotel breakfast is quite cheap, you have option for Western or Chinese style breakfast buffet at RMB5. The breakfast only ready at 7.30am, it is pity we don’t have time for try it, as we have to leave hotel at 7am to catch the tour bus tomorrow morning.

We took our quick lunch at the restaurant next to the hotel. We ordered HuiGuo Rou（回锅肉）, Mushroom Vege（香菇青菜）and 8 pieces of local recommended Fried Pan Cake（煎饼）, very full and economic, only costs us RMB32.

After lunch, we check-in hotel and rush to our room. The room quite big and clean, is worth the value and impressed. This hotel becomes one of my favorite choices, and we will visit again next time at other city. I recommend it to you, 7 Days Inn http://www.7daysinn.cn/

After lunch, we start our first spot, Tang Paradise (大唐芙蓉园). It is a very big theme garden. Xi’an Qujiang River (西安曲江), as an aggregation of Chinese ancient garden and architecture art, is called one of the pioneers of Chinese classical gardens. Check it in http://www.tangparadise.cn/en/index.php. Tang Paradise compound is huge, you may spend a day in it. There are shows and performance in Tang Paradise, you may search online for the schedule and plan your trip, so that you don’t miss the show.

We took a light dinner in the garden with fried mee and fried sweet potato. It was a budget meal but soon we were regret when we saw a nice buffet dinner at RMB 25 per person. Oh no...

After dinner rush to other attraction point, there is a free ticket to Theme Park included with entrance ticket. The Theme Park located outside the park, the officers were not friendly when giving the direction, so we spent some times to find the entrance. There is a Fortune Temple (财神庙) at the exit, crews will pass you 3 joss sticks for praying and convince you to donate after praying. We know a fact, there’s no such thing as a free lunch, so we quick turn around after praying. Without realised the value of the free ticket only RMB 5, but the minimum fare for each ride is RMB 10, so you have to pay another RMB 5 or 10 to take the ride. Felt like cheated, moreover the rides are not interesting, so we left the park.

As the Theme Park located outside Tang Paradise, we need to use the ticket to re-enter the garden. They have a practical way to avoid others using our ticket entering the park. Before we went out from the garden, officer request us to present the ticket and take a shoot of us just like at the airport custom. Officer will counter check the ticket and our photo before allowing us re-enter the garden.

Continue walk around and taking many photos, we went to the Zi Yun Pavilion (紫云阁) to watch the most famous show is the Water Screen Movie (齐天大圣 - 水幕电影). There are 5 types of seats: Free for sitting on the blue mat on ground, RMB 30 for free seats at the staircase, RMB 50 for 2^nd & 3^rd floor seats and RMB 35 for 4^th floor seats. We don’t use to sit on the ground, so we bought the seat on the high floor with a good view, 2^nd floor center seats.

Before the Water Screen Movie starts, Float Parade (花车巡游) comes as the opening. When the Float Parade just started for 10min, the area suddenly black out. Checked with the crew, found out the power was cutoff. We were quite lucky that the parade remains after 20min rescue. The Water Screen Movie starts right after the Float Parade, the main attraction we were interested. Tang Paradise crew spent about 30 minutes to get the power back on. The Float Parade start over again afterwards and we have a wonderful night with the Water Screen Movie. The movie took about 15min and it is worth, impressed.

Basically the garden close after movie and all the visitors rush to the exit for buses and taxis. Due to the limited taxi and a large number of people waiting, also we don’t have good skill to fight for taxi, we decided to take bus. Luckily there is a bus passes through hotel area, 609 stop at South Gate (南门). We walked about 15min to reach hotel, so tired...

After taking bath and planning tomorrow trip, we date with Mr Zhou, good night zzz…

~~~ 2^nd Day, 08-June-08 ~~~

There is tourist bus No 3 (游3) departs from Train Station to Qian Tomb of Tang Empire (乾陵) everyday 8am. Luckily this morning we woke up early, we managed to grab 2 seats before the bus getting full. The bus departed 7.45am and took 1.5hrs to reach Qian Tomb. Qian Tomb entry fees cost RMB 45. Recommend you to ask for tour guide service, only RMB 20.

Basically not much area to visit at Qian Tomb, we took photos on the statues n walk around. We didn't climb to the top of the small hill, the entrance of the tomb coz don’t think we could come back to car park on time to catch the only bus to FaMen Temple (法门寺). Personally felt that RMB 45 is too expensive as only famous spot is Wordless Memorial Tablet (无字碑).

As explained by Tour Guide, the head is where the entrance of Tomb on the north of Liang Hill, then the two hills on south of Liang Hill (梁山) being called the breast of Wu ZeTian (武则天), with the SiMa path (司马道) as the neck.

“乾陵修建于公元684年，经过23年的时间，工程才基本完工。气势雄伟壮观。梁山有三峰，北峰最高，在海拔1047.9米。南面两峰较低，东西对峙，中间为司马道，故而这两峰取名叫“乳峰”。”

The entrance was found but Qian Tomb is not being dredge up as China has no confidence they can protect the Tomb with the current technology once it’s open. Until then, we would not know for sure what precious things were hidden there.

We depart to FaMen Temple 10.30am from Qian Tomb, the journey took 1 hour to reach there. The entrance fees is RMB 28/p. The most important and must visit spot is the underground basement which keep Buddha Royal Item, SeLi (舍利子). These SeLi was kept in the basement over 1000 years ago. We were so unlucky there was electricity power cutoff that day, it’s too dark and SeLi can’t be seen clearly. The rest not much special, we spent about 1 hour to finish viewing around.

After that we quickly find a restaurant to please our stomach as we plan to take the 1st bus back to city. Ordered 2 local dishes, Vega fried egg, 黑木耳炒鲍鱼菇 ，and noodle 一口香臊子面. Wish to order cold drink but too bad they didn't serve it, strange. The lunch costs RMB 52, the price is reasonable, especially it’s tourist spot. We manage to get on 1.30pm bus direct go back 2 Xi'an, there is no bus go to Qian Tomb from FaMen Temple, so be aware and plan your trip well. Sleeping time again, the journey back to city took about 2 hours.

We visit Drum Tower (鼓楼), Bell Tower (钟楼) and managed to reach there for the last performance time with our speed 100km/hr. The next thing must visit is City Wall (城墙). We rent a two-man bicycle, plan to have a full view of City Wall. It is my first time ride on two-man bicycle, not as easy as I thought. Ah Boy manages it very well, so I’m the supporting at the back. The city look different when we view from above, strongly recommended for tourist. The bicycle is RMB40 rent for 1 hour. Believe the night view will be very beautiful, but we have one more place to go.

Cycling was too tired, it’s time to sit back and enjoy the music fountain at Square of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (雁塔广场). The fountain is big and you will have different view standing on different side. Choose a nice spot, don’t stay too close unless you don’t mind getting wet after the show.

It was a rush, tired day, we got into sleep easily after shower.

~~~ 3^rd Day, 09-June-08 ~~~

We reached Train Station by 8am and took the bus No 5 (游5) to Tomb Figure of Qi Military Forces (兵马俑). That was a normal mini bus, took 50min to reach there. China knows how to make money. The car park is quite far from the entrance, then another 1.5km path to reach the main area. If you are too tired or lazy, you may pay to have Golf Cart drives you in “near” to the main area, but you still have to walk some distance, so suggest you save the money.

Finally, we have seen it, the great Tomb Figure of Qing Military Forces, it is convulsed and impressed. There is a 360 degree full view projection screen of History Show, not bad. Audio guide is not recommended here, you may read the same description sign as the explanation from audio guide. We spent 3.5 hours viewing around, witness the great Qing Dynasty, then took the 1.30pm bus back to city.

We have the local snacks at Islamic street (回民街), tried the famous dumpling at贾三灌汤包子, various biscuits (黄桂柿子饼) and some souvenirs. Back to hotel, pick up our luggage and head towards Xi’an Airport for return flight to Shanghai.

Surprisingly we found Xi’an city very clean, far cleaner than Shanghai and Shenzhen. The sky is blue, free from haze, and chill too. We like Xi’an, we will come again.