Xi'an

Xi'an is definitely one of his favourite Chinese cities. The weather here is perfect: cool bordering on cold. So leaving the hostel is pleasant. He's not sure if this is because of its higher latitude or the early arrival of Autumn. It's also easy to get around with pedestrian-friendly streets and easily-navigable buses. Drivers here don't use the horn at all. This could possibly be because of separate bus roads but he doubts this because normal drivers don't use the horn either. Some major re-education effort must be at work here.


Xi'an is an affluent city to an extent (two Starbucks at last count within the city walls) without being too expensive. The people here are just as, if not more laidback than at Chengdu. Evenings are spent walking around parks, flying kites, or spinning tops with their children. The elderly enjoy their flasks of tea over mahjong, cards or Chinese chess.


The Muslim quarter is lively and filled with people every night: locals and tourists rub shoulders with each other. There's great food everywhere with so many stalls to choose from. But the people above all are cleaner (albeit slightly) (they don't spit as much for one) and most importantly, friendly.


Trains are pulling in and out of the station's many platforms. It's raining outside. Xi'an is sad that he's leaving her and so is he.