Overnight Train from Beijing to Xian

Before dinner, we explore and enjoy a shopping mall ~

Boats on the lake seem peaceful catch the camera's eye.


Interesting to see store windows ~

Styles, hairstyles on mannequins catch my eye.


Outdoor dinning is appealing ~We walked by many that were indoor with large windows which show tables elaborately set in tasteful colors ~ too much to share here~
We end this interesting day with dinner at a local restaurant

before our transfer to the railroad station

where we board the train that takes us from Beijing to Xian.

Our train~

Each of our compartments slept four. We partied from compartment to compartment until the train started moving ~ then we realized we had a full day ahead in Xian. The guys bunked on top and we girls took the bottom ~ We slept in our travel clothes that we would wear the following day. Fell asleep immediately while the train shot through the night at speeds well exceeding 100 mph. Coffee was available upon waking, however, we had little time as we had arrived in Xian.

Beijing Hutong Area ~ Ordinary Chinese Life

Here, we have a glimpse into ordinary Chinese life. These old residential neighborhoods, called hutongs, consist of acres of low, flat-roofed buildings crisscrossed by narrow lanes. On a walking tour, we put aside from our minds the grandiose palaces and monuments. We shift our focus to today's China's humanity. We walked the narrow lanes to intermingle and see their everyday life ~ proceeding unconcerned with the great events of nations.

Children Playing...the sounds and smells of food being perpared...construction...

older people sitting outside.

With this shift in focus ~

we soon realize we are beyond the experiences of most tourists.

This is how street names are posted.


My camera wants to photograph only the most beautiful ~


We didn't see toys for the children, however, they are clean, healthy, nicely dressed and obviously well cared for as well as seemingly happy.

Our tour included lunch

in one of the homes...

photo on left,

I am standing in the doorway of the home of our host for lunch on this day.

We are welcomed by the hostess.



Entrance way~

Their kitchen~

Hostess demonstrates how to make dumplings.

Daughter is a painter ~ her craft is painting inside

tiny bottles~ Small, small brushes

create beautiful scenes.

We got to try our dumpling making skills~

Before we went on our way, we sat with our hostess and she talked about her life. Click on play button. Michael interpreted for her.