Overnight Train to Xi’an
We are off on the night train to Xi’an in a few hours. A 13 hour journey. I managed to get us soft sleepers rather than hard sleepers or soft/hard seats [which don’t sound much fun!] There are many variables when travelling by train including train speed. Also, you can only book a one-way ticket, and you can only book up to 5 days in advance. As a foreigner it is extremely difficult to know how to book what you want, so you need to have local contacts who can book for you. Again Denise, who seems to be a font of wisdom, had this info.
Xi’an is where the terracotta army was discovered during the early 1970s, so it will be very interesting. I read a great review in the Guardian Online of the 20 or so terracotta soldiers that are currently on loan to the British Museum. http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/visualart/story/0,,2162551,00.html
Unfortunately I will be out of town for the Beijing Art Fair [20th-23rd Sept] and also the opening of the DIAF – Dangdai International Art Festival.
Cameron, Jake and I have just registered ourselves at the cop shop. Apparently, this is something we should have done within 24 hours of arrival, but we had no knowledge of it. Cathy [Busby] got spot-checked by the cops yesterday while walking along Tuanjiehu Lu, which I think was somewhat alarming for her. Anyway, the process was fairly informal in the end and now we are all legally ‘here’ so mei wenti [no problem].
