2nd day in Pingyao

We tried sleeping late but my word the beds are hard . The pillow was filled with something similar feeling to rice and it all really hurts.

Our hotel entrance

We were woken by our hotel manager and realised a gentleman we had discussed doing a tour with had sat outside for an hour waiting incase we were interested, even though I'd said not likely. After he'd left we felt bad at how badly he needed business so called him back and said we'd pay half his days rate for just 2 hours. We agreed to meet at midday.

Around town

So we found a restaurant for breakfast. I ordered caramel coated sweet potatoes,  which you dipped in cold watewater to harden the caramel. They were delicious.

Caramel sweet potato

I also ordered Rose tea which was lovely, real little pink roses floating on the top.

Rose tea

I asked the lady where I could buy some and she pointed to a tea shop just over the road. They were the only shop in Pingyao selling tea so we bought some later in the day, along with some jasmine and white tea which the lady recommended. Tea is not cheap in China like I expected. It seems to be more of a delicacy although the lady did explain they drink cheaper teas at home and it's the quality which makes it expensive.

We met our guide at midday and he took us to anotheanother of the banks. These were the first banks in China. There was a vault underground where there would have been a samurai warrior protecting it.

We also saw the administration centre where the taxes were collected, judgements were passed as well as having the prison. I found the torture section macabre and unpleasant and something I'd rather not remember.

First ID books

Lastly we saw a temple, where we met a young Chinese girl who walked around with us. I'm a just so untrusting after the Beijing experience, that even though I could see she would have liked company further I didn't encourage it.

Sweet dogs around Pingyao

We did a little more shopping, had a bite to eat and then walked a section of the wall at sunset time.

Walking back to hotel

The pollution from coal fires is so bad in Pingyao that there wasn't a proper sunset and it was starting to get to us. It's no wonder that people are constantly hacking nasty noises and spitting. We rushed across the wall as we understood the gates to close at 5, but afterwards realised that was probably to let people on, not off.

Walking on the wall built 500 years before Christ

After having a light supper we got an lift to the station with our hotel manager for a small fee and caught up on this blog while waiting for the train.