We will be traveling from Beijing to Xian and can't choose between the train or plane. The train sounds fun as you may be able to meet some others and see part of the countryside. Is it better to visits the major sites in Xian by joining a tour or can it be done on your own? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Dick Black
Eugene, Oregon

Trains leave in the late afternoon and early evening in each direction, so you'll have around three hours to look at the countryside before it gets dark. Of course, there's not such a good night's sleep to be had on a train, but you do arrive in the early morning, and save a lot of time you'd waste in flying. If you have no other plans to take a train, I'd certainly take this opportunity.

The Terracotta Warriors can be reached very easily using buses which leave from next to the railway station. Using these allows you to spend exactly as much time as you want to at what is the area's principal sight. Tours often include the Qin shi Huangdi tomb (nothing more than a mound of earth covered in souvenir sellers) for instance, and you may will feel your time would have been better spent at the Warriors. Other elements on the Terracotta Warriors tour usually include the Banpo Neolithic Village, one of those sites which require some imagination to resurrect the life of those who lived there thousands of years ago, and the Huaqing Chi (hot springs and pools) which have been so heavily and heavy-handedly restrored, and are so commercialized that many find the visit not worthwhile.

Within the town, the Shanxi Lishi Bowuguan (history museum--one of China's best), the mosque, and the Forest of Stelae can all easily be reached on foot or by cab, as can the Great Goose Pagoda.

A tour might be worthwhile if you have yet more time, and want to see the Tang dynasty tombs and assorted temples outside the town. Just about any hotel offers in various levels of luxury and overcharging, or acts as a booking agent for one of the tour companies. There are four available routes, of which the two main ones (East and West) are offered year-round. An alternative might be to find your way by public bus to the rural and very quiet Xingjiao Si, to the south, where the remains of the expeditionary scholar-monk, Xuanzang lie beneath one of several pagodas.

Peter N-H
http://members.axion.net/~pnh/China.html

Thanks for the information Peter. It is very helpful. We generally like to travel on our own and find our way about, it is what makes traveling fun for us. We need to book a hotel in Xian, should we do it in advance (approx $60 US) or wait till we arrive? Any suggestions. After visiting Xian we are returning to Hong Kong. Will we save by flying to Guanghzou then by ground to HK or is it better to fly to HK.

Thanks Again!!!!!

Dick Black
Eugene, Oregon

You will always get a better rate by just showing up. I assume for the price mentioned you are looking at one of the joint-venture hotels, as you'll certainly pay less in a Chinese hotel. If a joint-venture, it's increasingly the case that best published rate will be on the company's own Web site. Rates given by supposedly discount Chinese hotel booking agents can always be beaten, and you should not use these people.

I haven't personally looked at the Xi'an hotels for a while, but a colleague who did a very thorough inspection recently, thought the Hyatt the best five-star option for a combination of facilities and location.

Buy your air ticket in Xi'an, from an agent not inside your hotel. The CAAC office, located at Laodong Lu 296 ([tel] 029/870-2299), will deliver airline tickets free of charge. An airport shuttle bus ([Yen]25/$3) leaves from the CAAC office on the hour from 5am to 5pm; aim to leave at least 2 hours before your flight. You can also book tickets through the Xi'an Hua!?an Airlines!? ticket office at Nan Dajie[li] 60 ([tel] 029/723-2210). In all cases bargain for discounts. A taxi to the airport costs about [Yen]80 ($10).

You will indeed save by flying to Guangzhou. You'll need to travel to Guangzhou East station to catch a train to Hong Kong. It's also cheaper and more convenient to fly to Shenzhen which has a jetfoil connection straight to Hong Kong.

Peter N-H
http://members.axion.net/~pnh/China.html

Hi

My wife and I went to China in March. We stayed a few days in Beijing before we moved on to Xi'an byt train. We took the afternoon train and had a couple of hours of daylight before it got dark and we arrived at Xi'an at about 7 am. From Xi'an we flew to Shenzhen which is near HK. This was a cheaper option than flying to HK itself. It was easy to get from Shenzhen to HK by boat by the way.

Well, I hope that this has been of some help. I have posted a long trip report with pictures and more detailed information on my own homepage www.gardkarlsen.com. Maybe you can find some useful information there.

Have a great trip

Regards
Gard
Stavanger, Norway