10/15 Leaving on a fast train, don't know when I'll be back to Beijing again

October 15th

Today was our last morning in Beijing. I was able to email my last two posts (they may have been out of order - it should have been dinner and then Great Wall). The router was removed from the lobby and placed on the third floor of the hotel so I didn't have wifi available until Leon found out last night where it was. I guess they were having an important conference in the hotel.  I also had some videos that I tried to upload that were too big so I will post when I am home.

Mr Shi and his wife picked us up from the hotel with Leon's mom in tow. We also ordered a taxi but it didn't show so we all piled in the van along with our luggage.  We dealt with our last Beijing traffic jam and made it to the train station. One thing about most roads in Beijing, they often have rose bushes in the median. It is a strange yet beautiful thing.

We found the train gate.  Mr. Shi and his wife were able to help us get onboard and luggage all stowed.  We said our good byes and then we were off.

Train ticket

The train ride was excellent. We were able to see much of the countryside and the large cities and towns from Beijing to Xi'an. There were more high rise apartments going up than we could count.  We saw many farms that ranged from grapes to corn to soybeans to fish to lotus.  The train traveled at around 300 km/hour. We made it from Beijing to Xi'an in just under 6 hours. We enjoyed train food for lunch - we got a beef plate and a chicken plate and shared it between the five of us.

The taxi ride from the train station to the hotel made me think we were back in crazy Beijing traffic again. Organized chaos. Actually I have determined that it is a constant game of chicken. Whoever flinches first lets the other person go. This applies to pedestrians, bicyclists, Taxis, and motorists. The taxi ride which was close to 30 minutes only cost us 36 RMB ($6). We did need 2 taxis to fit us and our luggage!

Also all of their lights have countdowns to tell you how long it will be that color. This is a picture from the taxi.

Our Xi'an hotel is okay. I think I got a smoking room. Oh wait, pretty much all rooms in China are smoking rooms!!!  Pollution in the air is back - the levels are high again and you can barely see out the window. Maybe another strong wind will come and blow it all away. Wendy told me we were very lucky with our nice weather while we were in Beijing. The weather we got was not the normal.  I had to buy some Claritin while here because my allergies are being affected by the pollution and especially people smoking.

I will update about old Xi'an in the morning or your evening!