Arriving in Xi'an

After the not-too-bad sleeper-coach trip, we arrived in Xi'an on the morning of May 26. Not spotting any bus stop nearby, and being to lazy to look around, we took a taxi to Xi'an Jiaotong Daxue, or Jiaoda, as people call it around here (there are a number of Jiaotong (Communications) universities around China, but since there's only one in Xi'an, it's pretty obvious which one Jiaoda refers to.

Having walked around campus on random for twenty minutes or so, we stumbled on 汉语进修学院 (Chinese Language Advanced - or, more like short term and a bit intensive - Studies College, and figured this was the place where we were supposed to be. A helpful man at the door helped us fill out our residence forms and we got our room key. It also turned out that the air conditioning in our room actually worked - a good thing given that July temperatures tend to hit the 40C range more often than not.



The foreign students' dormitory and the school are located in the same building: this is very well thought out, since this means that even the sleepiest foreign students will have the chance to crawl out of bed and get in time for class when an irritatingly high bell rings at 7.55am. The dormitory is quite well equipped, with most things you would have wished for, including fridge, microwave oven, hot water boiler, washing machine and the like. More importantly, there is a 留学生建议箱 (Foreign Students' Suggestions Box) above the washing machine: an excellent example of the high level of direct democracy practised in the People's Republic. I have not yet put this tool of democracy into practise, but one possible suggestion would be to let the hot water run until 11pm as stated, rather than cutting it off at 10.45 when I'm in the shower and still need to rinse my hair.





Having caught a glimpse of the Korean students' rooms from the corridor, often equipped with mobile wooden floors and a lot of nice decorations, we decided that the easiest way to make our room a bit more like a home would be to exchange the hospital-like white-yellowish bedsheets with something more colourful. We made a trip to a larger supermarket nearby (more like a Walmart or the like - you can buy everything there), and invested in new and rosy bedsheets, only to realise that the beds in the Foreign Students' Dormitory are substantially longer than the Chinese standard (by 30 cm or so). So, not a perfect fit, but they work.



Chinese Supermarket

There is a substantial number of Muslim Chinese around (the Hui "nationality" are Han Chinese practising Islam). Most Chinese Mosques are built in Middle-Eastern style (with domed roofs, etc.), but the most famous Mosque in Xi'an is indistinguishable from any other Chinese temple. Nonetheless, it's pretty and quite peaceful.


Chinese Style Mosque


Chinese Muslim Quarter (away from the main tourist street)


我最喜欢的小吃 (favourite rice snack: sweet and colourful!)


钟楼 (Bell tower, downtown Xi'an…… 这个地方的外国人许多，都穿得很难看的衣服，真让人累死了……）