Xi'An: Night Train to Pittsburgh

If you have never taken a night train before, it may be best to ask yourself if that really matters to you.

Although Josh wanted to take said 12 hour ride (and still claims no recollection of this), I did so knowing the journey would be long and at times aimless.

Nonetheless, we arrived in one piece, braved the train station and immersed ourselves in the cultural history of Xi'An (as the rain immersed us in all its sooty glory).


Xi'An is known mainly for its Terracotta Army and to borrow from Wikipedia:


"The terracotta figures, dating from 210 BCE, were discovered in 1974 by some local farmers near Xi'an, Shaanxi province, China near the Mausouleum of the First Qin Emperor.

The figures vary in height (183–195 cm - 6ft–6ft 5in), according to their role, the tallest being the generals. The figures include strong warriors, chariots, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians.

Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which are still buried in the pits"






























































































Other sites in Xi'An include: the 14km wall which rings the old quarter of the city, the Wild Goose Pagoda, a Budhist temple built in the year 652 and the Great Mosque of Xian dating back
1, 360 years.