I didn't spend all my time in Xian working on the farm. I also left and saw some of the attractions of the city. To get to the center, I took bus 226, which was actually not usually ba bus but a van, crammed with people. Three or four in the back, another two or three in three middle, another one or two in the front with the driver and yet another on a wooden stool by the sliding door, who had to keep jumping up to let the other passengers out at their stop. The "bus" made its way down the main street leading to Xian, stopping often so trucks could squeeze by, or because another electric bicycle cut it off.
In Xian, I sat and drew the drum tower, walked down the Muslim food street, with overwhelming array of delicious food sold from vendors and at small restaurants. Beef and lamb are both popular here, as well as a famous soup consisting of torn up bread and beef broth.
In Xian, I sat and drew the drum tower, walked down the Muslim food street, with overwhelming array of delicious food sold from vendors and at small restaurants. Beef and lamb are both popular here, as well as a famous soup consisting of torn up bread and beef broth.
The people on the farm told me I shouldn't go to see the Terracotta soldiers, just outside the city, because the ticket was unreasonably expensive and because there were far too many tourists, especially in this season. So instead I went to the Shanxi history museum where they had a few of the soldiers on display. (Though I was later told these are just replicas).
And I walked along the wall encircling the city center, stopping along it to draw, of course.
And I walked along the wall encircling the city center, stopping along it to draw, of course.
Wang Zhengrong and her husband also took me and an Isreali workaway volunteer (who stayed for two nights on his trip hitch hiking through China), to a small village north of Xian. The houses there are built in a traditional Shanxi style with grey brick and the village is relaxed and beautiful.