Hey Hey and a Big G'Day toya,
 
I was woken by the alarm around nine and felt sad at the reality that I would be leaving beautiful little Pingyao sometime this day. It made me remember nearly nine years ago when I tried so hard to leave Yangshuo but failed on many occasions.
 
The Harmony Hostel and its staff were a dream come true.
Most people I met all felt the same, they all felt like they were at home.
 
I packed my bags and after a shower headed down stairs to meet the lovely Jiang Ni (Jane). After checking our emails and filling our stomachs we hired bikes and spent a few hours slowly riding around the city walls. Being around six kilometers long and us both acting like silly children we filled those hours in with a heap of fun.
 
The funniest thing was actually watching Jiang Ni riding her bike.
It was only the second time in her life she had ridden a bike.
Add to that her bike had tiny wheels....it was a heap of fun.
 
Around two thirty we headed back to the hostel and said our sad good byes and then headed to the north gate where we were supposed to be able to catch bus to Taiyuan. In the end we were mobbed by greedy van drivers to we caught a Tuk Tuk to the bus station and caught a bus instead.
 
The bus journey took nearly two hours due to some road works and cost only 25 Yuan.
 
When we arrived at Taiyaun we began the Hotel Bop and didn't find a single hotel with happy staff. They all seemed to be either angry or so bored that your actual existence was too much work. No hotel came down in price for a double room and as we both only wanted so spent around 100 Yuan for a room with a bath room all rooms we looked at were above what we were willing to spend.
 
In the end we found a hotel that not only suited our price but was twenty Yuan less.
All seemed well until after we paid and unpacked.
 
Then there came a loud noise of rushing water through the pipes in the bathroom. We got the fat smelly Hotel guy to come and have a look. His only answer to everything we said (such as, how can we sleep with that noise!) was, It is ok, it is supposed to be that way! We then found that there was only a trickle of water coming through the shower and once again his answer was; it is ok, it is suppose to be that way.
 
He then offered us the use of the filthy family bathroom.
We declined this offer very fast and then grabbed our bags to leave.
Only then did he think to offer us another room
 
We changed rooms to then find that the air conditioner didn't work. But not only did it not work but the cord didn't reach the power point. He then spent the next forty or so minutes with an old extension lead trying to make it stay in the wall. I was secretly hoping that it wouldn't and that we got a free performance of him being zapped.
 
Sadly no zapping, it finally worked and we stayed in the shitty hotel.
 
We spent the next five hours walking around the city in search of the shopping streets and something exciting to do. We went to a food court for dinner that Jiang Ni had visited before. She had only ever been to one part of the city and that was around the train station area so we were both at a loss for what to do.
 
The food we were served made us even unhappier than the hotel had.
It was cold and gluggy so all in all, it wasn't the best day of travel I've ever had!
 
When we returned to the hotel things became even glummer. The power kept going out and I am serious when I say every ten minutes. When it came back on a different part of the room had power. Sometimes it was the TV and other times it was the bathroom and if we were lucky it was the rooms big light and the TV.
 
When Jiang Ni questioned the big fat smelly lazy hotel man as to why it was doing so,
You can guess his reply...yes it was 'It is ok. It is supposed to do that!'
 
Beers N Noodles toya.....shane
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The soundtrack to this entry was The Dandy Warholes
The album was 'The Monkey House'
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Taiyuan City
 
Taiyuan is the capital city of Shanxi Province. Located in the center of the province, it is also the political, economic and cultural center of Shanxi.
 
Taiyuan is a city bounded on three sides by mountains. It has a long history and in ancient times was an important military town. At present, Taiyuan is one of China's heavy industrial cities and account for more than half the national coal mining output.

Taiyuan also has a wealth of tourist attractions and notably among these is the Jinci Temple. This is the city's most attractive temple although the Shuangta Si (Twin-Pagoda Temple) has become a symbol of Taiyuan on account of its unique architecture. Another major attraction is the Tianlong Shan Stone Caves where magnificent sculptures dating from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) may be seen.
 
Taiyuan benefits from convenient public transport systems as the city is the provincial transportation hub. Accommodation facilities have become more and more advanced over recent years and range from 5-star hotels to a selection of comfortable guest houses.
 
The gourmand should be aware that Shanxi noodles are highly reputed all over China, as well as the local vinegar. Other local delicacies are the Tou Nao, the Steamed Dumpling, Sausages and Mutton Soup. To accompany these wholesome foods there are Fen Jiu (Fen Wine) and Zhuye Qing (Zhuye Qing Wine). As well as its cuisine the city is noted for products such as finely crafted lacquer ware.
 
While the local emphasis is upon heavy industry certain aspects of city life such as cultural development has suffered from some neglect. This could be a problem and needs action to be taken.