Second Day in Xi'an (7/20/2011)

Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Our flight from Chengdu to Chongqing later in the week was cancelled. No other flights available, so we had to stand in a line at a window to buy train tickets:

Another hazy gray day.

Walked to the Yongning Men/South Gate of the Ancient City Walls:

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This guy had a unique broom for sweeping up flower petals:

Ancient trash can:

City Wall on the south side towards the west:

Bronze bell:

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Forecourt of South Gate:

South wall looking east, with the moat:

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 South Gate:

The roller blader didn't look like he would make it very far.
View up South Street towards the Bell Tower:

Retail complex:

We are on the City Wall:

Where we rented bikes to ride around the 8.5 miles of the wall.
Plastering:

Rooftops:

Brynne and Tamiko:

Brynne and Kent:

The City Walls were built in the 14th century. They are 12m tall and 12-14m wide. Brynne wasn't too sure about trying to balance a bicycle on top of a wall, but she didn't fall off this one!
Outside the City Wall at the SW corner:

Inside the City Wall at the SW corner:

Anding Men/West Gate:

Guangren Lamasery:

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NW corner tower:

The Chinese know how to build defensive walls:

Table tennis players:

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Anyuan Men/North Gate:

Busy plaza:

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North Railway Station from the City Wall:

Bus station:

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Tamiko:

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Pavilion on the City Wall:

We made the full circle, or rectangle, in about 90 minutes, with lots of stops for photos.
Drawbridge at the South Gate:

Lunch at a place offering frog's oviduct with a nice wine pairing:

We had great spicy cauliflower, kept warm by a sterno burner:

Next, to the airport and off to Chengdu.