2025-12-10 Xi'an

 Last look at Chengdu and a long train ride to Xi'an

Our train to Xi'an was booked for 1228, giving us time to have a final wander around the Taikoo Li area near the hotel.  Pippa had a particular destination in mind; a hand-crafted icecream parlour, where she had a tofu and sichuan green pepper icecream, while Isaac had ice cream with black pearls.

The ice cream parlour was close to a couple of car showrooms (lots seem to be in the wider area - I saw a Zeekr, Xpeng and Audi on the way, but next us was a Li Auto and Nio - so I went over to have a closer look at a Nio Firefly, which might be a replacement for our aging Nissan Micra.

Aftewards it was time to get on the metro to the Chengdu East Railway Station, gor through security (where my scissors were picked up this time, having gone through numerous security checks) waited for the ticket check, and then the rush to get to our spot where our carriage was going to be on arrival so as to be able to put our bags up on the overhead luggage racks.  The ticket checks only start exactly 15 minutes before the train is due to leave, so it is a kind of mad scamble, as no one wants to have a big bag aound your feet. The trains leave and arrive to the second!

We were met at the Xi'an Railway Station by Charles, a friend of Toby's from Melbourne's gym fraternity, who had arranged for a mate of his to borrow a BYD Denza 7 seat hybrid vehicle, similar to this, a super luxurious car with masssaging seats and the works.

Just as well, as it was a long drive to our hotel near the southern edge of the walled city, taking around an hour.  All over the city is a pall of dust and smog; parked cars along the road had a thin layer of dust, and the forecast AQI for tomorrow is 150 - 'unhealthy', but that was better than a day ago in Chengdu where it was over 200 - 'very unhealthy'.  

Toby and Charles had booked a restaurant, but I begged off as I have a cold and had had a bad nights sleep, so Pippa, Toby and Isaac went out while Penny and I did a bit of fruit shopping and had an early night, as we have a big day planned (as all our days seemed to be packed with activities of one kind or another).

High rise, Chengdu

No idea what this sign represents

Taikoo Li, high end shopping precinct

Dior, Zara, etc etc abound here in Taikoo Li - the prices are international prices, no bargains or knock offs here!




High rise, Chengdu

High rise, Chengdu

Wallace and Gromit Christmas display at a Barbour shop

Christmas lights in the daytime not quite as spectacular

Li Auto showroom with mega casting 

Rear engine and drive train - lots of room for the rest of the car - the battery is the floor pan

Firefly

 
Frunk for your wetsuit or ice and beer- there is a removable plug for drainage

Clean simple interior 

Reasonable boot


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