Showing up at the train station Saturday at 7am. Gorgeous crisp winter weather, and beautiful views of the city wall.
Train station!
First stop, to see the TerraCotta warriors, and investigate whether they've gotten more interesting in the last few years.
You have to walk through a maze of parks and shops to get to the gate now, though ....
ALl selling the same junk, of course.
I love these characters. I can figure out two (the easy ones).
Nope, the Terracotta Warriors aren't that much more interesting this time around.
Indeed, exactly the same as 7 years ago.
Still, I've never been here before with a cool camera, so it was still kinda worth it !!
This is some sort of friendship / history piece.
But up close, the giant warrior is simply terrifying!
Despite being drab and gray, the city has its charming colourful way about it, and I've always loved it for that.
Sunday morning was time to go visit the Wild Goose Pagoda and huge outdoor fair they have there too.
Massive crowds with their kids and all.
Apparently there's a reason you don't give kids this age driver's licenses. Just terrible, terrible driving guys.
Singaporian girl was totally taking her photography seriously.
This kid's cotton candy was nearly as big as she was.
What resulted was some serious entertainment as she tried to eat it.
Oh my, that's not quite what I expected at an outdoor bazaar / market
First views of the pagoda from just outside the temple walls.
This kid was awesome. "Don't even THINK about touching my giant-ass bottle of sugar water!"
First views inside the Wild Goose Pagoda temple complex.
Along with boring desk guy.
World's biggest incense burner? Nearly!
Everybody's really nice to the monks.
Candle offering place. I was completely mesmerised by the flames.
I love this picture. Bein' a monk ain't easy man.
Gorgeous wood carvings all around one of the halls.
And a nice pagoda outside in which you can sit and relax.
Back to the big park area, where there's a giant water fountain show, which bee-girl really wanted to see.
"Work it honey!"
"Oh yah, those turned out great."
"I'm hawt. And 6."
"I'm hawt too!! And almost 5!"
"Denied. I'm hotter." "Awww."
Gangsta kid with dad.
It really was a serious, 45 minute long water fountain show. There was a series of fountains spanning about 150m x 50m
Okay, enough of that, time to walk some more.
Or not.