Are you one of those people who are bit fearful around airports?
Some people are afraid of flying and deal with it by getting a lot drunk and a bit fighty. Some people are oddly specifically afraid of just the take off and landing, like theres a better way if getting 36000 feet high.
Some people are secretly just a little bit worried that their suitcase will inexplicably burst open in transit and that their belongings will arrive along the luggage ... ...Pants. Tears.
Im one of the latter.
In Xian airport, after a 2 hour 40 minute flight from Beijing with the surprisingly comfortable but ambiguously named Dragon Air, I came desperately close to catatonic shock as one of our two suitcases jerked along the fairly antiquated luggage belt, Wide. Open.
Holy Pantsonthebeltophobia Batman!
Luckily, you can take the boy out of Manchester, but you cant stop the man nicking a blanket from the Heathrow ...
Muffin_the_Mule 03.06.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: XiŽan
Advantages: The terra-cotta warriors, the city wall around Xi'an itself Disadvantages: Cabs like to use fixed price, people don't speak English
A short summary This is a travelogue about the trip that my wife, Nikki, and I took to China (Beijing, Xian and Hong Kong) in the period from March 15th to March 29th 2003. We first spent 7 days in Beijing and we got to see the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and so on. From Beijing we took an overnight train to Xian and our main goal there was to see the Terra-Cotta Warriors but we also got to see a few other ... ...Shenzhen and from there we took the boat to Hong Kong (HK), where we stayed for about 5 days. In HK we visited Ocean Park, Victoria Peak, the Space Museum and so on. We first stayed in Beijing for a few days (see seperate review). But time went fast in Beijing and all of a sudden we had reached Saturday March 22nd. We had decided to take the train to get to our destination and we bought our train tickets at the hotel for 417 RMB each (+ 40 RMB fee ...
gard 27.06.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: XiŽan
Advantages: Authentic and loads to do Disadvantages: Easy to get lost
Xi'an is the capital of the Shaanxi province and one of China's major cities (being the country's capital at one point). It's an old city which hasn't developed quite as quickly as many other major cities. There is plenty to do in Xi'an and you're unlikely to find a day with nothing to do. I have given a list of some of the major attractions, but there are many more to be found; just by exploring. City Wall Xi'an is one of the few cities in China ... ...most complete surviving city wall in China. The wall is 8.5 miles long and you can walk round the wall (taking roughly 2 hours) or for far more fun you can hire a bike (or Tandem) and cycle round. The wall is full of pot holes so be careful if you cycle. Muslim Quarter The Muslim Quarter is a great little tourist trap. Located by the Drum Tower is a maze of street venders selling everything from tacky tourist merchandise to authentic Chinese handicraft. ...
puddingmancan 07.11.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: XiŽan
Advantages: history, food, atmosphere Disadvantages: can be unfriendly and unhelpful
I was in Xi'an around 4 years ago as part of the Trans-Siberian trip that I did. It was the best place that we went to in China out of the three cities that we visited, certainly in terms of culture and only a marginal western influence.
The city itself is the ancient capital and a fortress town originally. You can still enter the 'gates' as it were and explore through all the back streets where there are some great market stalls which are cheaper ... ...language material, or would like some assistance in looking for something specific (I bought a Steamboat from the department store) then it's best to go to the State Department store. Otherwise you can pick up some great niknaks in the markets such as stone carvings, silk paintings (which are gorgeous), mini terracota warriors etc.
We didn't eat at any restaurants there, outside our hotel every evening a mobile feast would appear with loads of food ...
corman 26.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of General: XiŽan
Advantages: Rich Chinese Heritage & Great Food! Disadvantages: Dusty & Many People Smoke
If you are in search of Chinese heritage, Xian is a good place to visit.
We start off by riding the bus from hong kong to shenzhen airport. There is a restaurant next to KFC. So we walked in to order some drinks before the flight took off. We were surprised to find out that the price for a cold drink is $38 RMB! It is even more expensive than starbucks. it is ridiculous. During the journey on the flight, we were amused by the aeroplane meal. They ... ...wrapped box. The paper box contained a couple of longan fruits, a piece of cake, a bag of biscuit, a bag of salty veggie, the aluminium foil wrapped box was beef stew with rice. The plastic utensil is with sharp edges. This meal set was a very good example of "what not to have in the aeroplane meal". Longan has seeds, utensil has sharp edges, the rice box is hot, the cake package is filled with a lot of air. I have a hard time trying to figure out ...
heeheehaahaa 26.04.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of General: XiŽan
Advantages: Terracotta Warriors, fast food, pagodas Disadvantages: Climate, smell, taxis
Xi'an is the city nearest to the fabulous Terracotta Warriors, which are well worth a visit, as the scale of them is larger than you will have imagined. We took a tour out to see them and the other 'Eastern sights' which we booked at Mum's Home Cooking - one of the cafes listed in the LP. In China its worth going to some of the places the LP recommends because literally noone speaks English. In Xi'an we stayed in a hotel in the centre of the city, ... ...desserts! The city wall makes quite a good walk, and there are some nice pagodas. We also enjoyed the market, and one of the temples. We had a strange muslim chinese dinner - mutton stew with unleavened bread...not that nice. All in all, Xi'an wasn't bad. ...
Suse 11.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of General: XiŽan
Advantages: Has to be seen to be appreciated Disadvantages: Commercialized, lots of tourists, lots of touts selling rubbishy nick-nacks
We in Great Britain tend to call these the Terroccotta Army, the Chineses however call them the Terrocotta Soldiers and Horses.
This is one sight that should not be missed when in China, if at all possible. You will probably have to stay in Xi'an.
The Army is almost beyond words to describe, and it has to be seen to be beleived. I was taken aback when I walked into the first building and looked down into the pit that has been excavated. It is totally ... ...No pictures that I have ever seen have convayed the size, scope, and majesty of the real thing. The statues are bigger, and grander than I expected.
The visit starts off with a short introductory film (a 360 degree film, with the viewer in the middle), about how, when and why the army was constructed. Before seeing the "Army" for the first time, visitors are taken to see a bronze carriage that was excavated near-by. All leading up to the moment ...
junta 06.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of General: XiŽan
Advantages: touch and sense the special taste of its culture Disadvantages: not so easy for traffic
as the capital of the most strongy empire, xi'an has a very special meaning in Chinese people --both for the ancient Chinese and the Chinese people nowadays. more than 1000years ago, every man was hunger to xi'an looking for opportunities to be a dignitery. And now in chinese people's heart, this city xi'an are their painful touch, because it was the center of the world long time ago.
maybe it is main reason that there are so many domestic and aboard ... ...there. we can easy feel the glory it had have. but just like a fading flower, not fresh,but can easily touch sensitive human being's nostalgia.
so, the best time to visit there is during the end of September to the begining of Dec. The fall season in xi'an is really beatiful. ...
fadeflower 18.04.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of General: XiŽan
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