Day 32 20/10/2014

The weather hadn't improved and feeling rather disappointed we abandoned our plans to climb Hua Shan.  Plan B was to stretch our legs and cycle around the city walls - c14km.  We headed out for breakfast and by the time we'd finished the rain had started.  Plan C was to visit the Great Mosque in the Muslim quarter which has an interesting blend of Chinese and Islamic architecture although despite being a working prayer hall did appear to be a bit run down.  Still raining we then headed to the Bell Tower now marooned on a traffic island.  We spend nearly half an hour mesmerised watching the chaotic traffic scenes below and amazed that we didn't  witness any accidents.  Going round the island in the same direction even seemed to be a challenge for some vehicles!  Despite the  forecast saying the weather was due to clear it still kept raining so we treated ourselves to a pizza in a French bakery and headed back to the hostel to chill out and also catch up with Paul before he headed off to Chengdu, home of the Giant Panda reserve.  We went out to a local restaurant recommended by one of the hostel staff in the evening.  The guy had kindly written the name down for us (no English sign).  It was three characters and despite wandering up and down the street it was on we couldn't find it.  The nearest we could find was a wedding shop.  Just a small example of the challenge the language brings for those who have no Mandarin.  All in all it's difficult to find much to recommend Xi'an for but it is the closest place to stay to visit the Warriors and had the weather been better Hua Shan is apparently more than worth the effort.  After spending three full days here we were ready to head off the following morning.