Oh, no, I’m not even close with being done with Xi’an. In fact, I just checked plane tickets back to this city a few days ago, since I’m still thinking about all the food I didn’t have a chance to try. Yes, it was that good, and yes, I know what’s important in life.
Being the scheduler-in-chief, I also recognize the importance of scheduling down days in the midst of sightseeing frenzies. So, today we had leisurely café time slated for the morning and a relaxing bike ride along the ancient Xi’an city walls planned for the afternoon.
The Xi’an city wall is the most complete city wall that has survived in China, started in about 600 AD in the Tang dynasty. Walled cities were built in the past to protect the inhabitants inside, but most walls have fallen into ruin. The fact that the Xi’an city wall has remained so well preserved makes it incredibly special. The perimeter of the wall runs for about 8 1/2 miles or 2 hours by bike at an 8 year old’s pace. The weather was ideal, slightly overcast and cool. I was in absolute heaven, riding around these ancient city walls looking down at Buddhist temples and modern buildings, watching my two guys enjoying themselves thoroughly.
We certainly worked up an appetite after our bike ride, catching whiffs of food deliciousness as our ride brought us closer to the famous Muslim Quarter in Xi’an. My heart beats a little faster as I reminisce about the first time I took in the view of this most magnificent night market. Even amongst Chinese standards, my tastes tend to run more old school. I will take the traditional shaved ice with soft tofu, peanuts and mung beans over the new fangled fresh mango with mango ice cream over shaved ice any day. I will take the quince, red date, white fungus and goji berry juice over bubble tea any day. Therefore, the Xi’an Muslim Quarter and I were made for each other. Not that Philip and Jules didn’t enjoy it, too. Between the lamb/beef hamburgers (肉夹馍) and the Xi’an famous biang biang mian noodles, they were more than satisfied. Xi’an also makes some mean potstickers.
