China (Xian, Shaanxi) May 2006 D-1

Map of Xian, Shaanxi, China

Our MAS flight departed KLIA at 9.00am and after 4 hours of flying, I arrived in Xian, (7 million people) Shaanxi Province. At 2.00pm. After collecting our backpacks, we walked to a airport shuttle bus (Rmb25) parked on the left hand side of the Xian airport exit. The bus ride to Xian city took around 50 mins (40km) and stopped in front of the Melody Hotel. We took a taxi (Rmb4) and checked into the Shuyuan Youth Hostel (Rmb72 per room for two), located on the west of the South Gate.

After the hostel check in, we spent our time exploring this ancient city, which was called Chang An, during the Sui and Tang dynasty.

As it was spring time, the day was short and by 5.00pm, the sky started to turn grey and dark.

For our first orientation, we passed and saw the Old City Wall, a pagoda, Drum Tower. Bell Tower, Forest of Steles Museum (exhibits of books, labels & tablets), The Great Mosque, Muslim Quarter.

1) Arrival at the Airport Bus Office / Terminal in front of Melody Hotel, Xian, Shaanxi 

2) Steles Museum, Xian, Shaanxi 

3) Muslim Quarter, Xian, Shaanxi - had our dinner here & savoured a bowl of yangrou paomo, a soup dish with shredded lamb stock with a piece of flat bread breaking into small chunks to absorb the broth. The restaurant is called Lao Sun Jia, with more than 100 years of history and served the best lamb dishes in town.

4) Drum & Bell Tower, Xian, Shaanxi

5) Pagoda, Xian, Shaanxi

6) Old City Wall, Xian, Shaanxi - near the Xian Train station 

7) Shu Yuan Men, Xian, Shaanxi

8) Parkson Departmental Store, Xian, Shaanxi - after a dinner, we took an evening stroll and took some night pictures of a brightly lit old Drum Tower and a Malaysian departmental store, Parkson.

9) Hostel Accommodation - Xian Shuyuan Youth Hostel, Xian - Rmb72 for a basic twin sharing room

" Xian or Chang An (ancient city name), the starting point of the Silk Road to India by a Chinese monk and today I am revisiting some of these places going back to the Tang Dynasty - lucky me travelling in modern transport and not on camels, horses or bare foot ! "