Xi'an, or rather Chang'an as it was known hundreds of years ago as weary travellers would pull into it's walled city, is commonly referred to as the end point of the Silk Road coming from the West. It was where the wrold's goods would accumulate in China and where Chinese goods would start their long journey westward. As we arrived by train in the morning mist, obscuring the rising sun, I too was weary and not just from the train journey. It has been 134 days of travelling along the Silk Road, studying it's heritage and culture, meeting its people, dealing with officialdom and watching landscapes come and go. Admittedly there was a small detour along the way so it wasn't continuous travel, but to arrive after over 10,000 miles or rather 352 hours of bus, train, horse, and boat rides among other more unusual forms of transport through deserts, accross seas and over mountains, was a huge relief. It was more than just a tick in the box, Silk Road - done. It has been a journey of highs and lows. There have been some truly amazing moments and also incredibly frustrating times. It's been a real lesson in the world, its inhabitants and their customs and traditions. I've seen so many faces change along the way. I've  met and been helped by an incredible number of people of all races, religions, status, wealth and beliefs. In short, I know I've been incredibly lucky to have travelled to so many places when for most of the people I've met, to travel to a neighbouring country or even the next major city, is only a dream.

Nevertheless, my arrival in Xi'an was as much of a relief as a triumph. It's been the city that I've been heading to all this time and whilst arriving was a pleasing outcome, it's been a trying time travelling in China! I still don't know whether to love or hate it as a country, but its energetic and fast moving pace, combined with frustrations have had their toll on me! Still I wouldn't change a thing and as a country it's been phenominally interesting and enjoyable for the most part. Xi'an didn't diappoint either as the blend of old and new retains the pride of its past whilst looking forward to its future. There was one last thing to be done however, and that was to make it to the superb Terracotta warriors and then head to the monumnet that determined the start and the end of the SIlk Road - indeed there was one last chance for a photograph marking the end of the trip.

Fortunately, and unlike traders of the past, my return journey starts in Beijing and will take just 10 hours. I suppose I should really return back along the SIlk Road home and if I had the time, and after a decent rest, I probably would be tempted to return and re-explore the route whilst uncovering new parts, but alas it has come to and end and I have just a few more days in Beijing before coming back for good. Now the write-up of my studies begins!

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Silk Road Statistics to follow...