Fountain Show and Hostel

I meet a lovely lady 'Lynne' at the youth hostel who would like to see the fountain show. Well, I am always on the look out for things to do and experience so with a little preparation and a few questions of the front desk we are soon underway to catch the performance using the local transport (Bus 609) goes from the South Gate to the Big Goose Pagoda where the performance is held - we had a little mishap not having the correct change ready for the bus and this led to a little tetchiness from locals wanting to be under way, but at 2Y/20p a trip it is very good value, clean, quick and reliable. We arrive at the Pagoda and dismount with enough time to find a good viewing spot for the show. My recommendation would be to AVOID the viewing platform where you are held back from the railings and so miss part of the fountain show!! And instead line up along the sides or down the bottom - the show starts to the melodic sounds of classical music and the fountains seem to dance to the tune with spot lights providing a backlighting with the background glow from the Big Goose Pagoda - Simply wonderful. As we stand there, wrapped up against the cold - the show goes on for 30mins (8.30pm-9.00pm) and is completely FREE. If you are in Xian it is a must see and avoid taking taxis!! You can catch the 609 bus back to the south gate or onto the bell tower for the flat rate of 2Y. Be like the locals and make full use of the excellent public transport :)

My Hostel in Xian (Shuyuan - Mixed dorm room 50Y/£5 per night)
Deserves special mention as it is a classic youth hostel but with outstanding staff - it really is like being given the 5* treatment - You are warmly welcomed and given every assistance before settling in. the dorm rooms are clean with bunk beds and lockers, the showers are glorious and hot ;) (Although you do need to walk to them along a short corridor and courtyard), the hostel also provides you a welcome coffee and a FREE beer every night at the bar ;) The whole building is set around two courtyards and is a hidden gem within the city, the best Hostel that I have stayed at so far on my journey.
The hostel is located 20m West of the southern city gate so is ideally located to get to all the major attractions and you can organise visits to the surrounding sites through the ever helpful reception staff - I also got some simply AMAZING flight deals through them as well! (Worth checking as it was cheaper than I could get over the Internet!!!).
Breakfast (I recommend the banana porridge and French toast) and Dinner can be ordered at the café on site and this once again adds to the already outstanding quality of the hostel. The food is delicious, cheap and there is a selection of Chinese and western dishes. Try the 20’ Pizza (100Y) if you are really hungry ;) Beer is 8Y for 500ml while wine is available from 98Y/bottle. All in all I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND this hostel and If I return to Xian I will be staying here again. Thank you to all the staff who made my stay a real pleasure.
A word on the SMOG
Yep - Xian has a smog issue, due in part to its rampant expansion and modernisation with heavy traffic flows occasionally leading to gridlock. The smog is visible on this visit and I can smell the difference in air quality as soon as I leave my hostel room. It is visible as a grey haze which obscures the views to the end of the streets and makes the sunlight difuse. Walking around the city you soon discover why so many of its people wear a face mask (many with patterns and characters on - like the new fashion accessory, I cannot imagine how this would be viewed in the UK with its hoodie-phobia mentality!) Anyway, after walking around for the day you can feel it on your chest, so I leave you with the message that Xian is a great city with ancient sites and modern amenities but it also has a high level of pollution.