Top 10

This post is somewhat overdue as our Spring Break was more than three weeks ago, but as finals are fast approaching, I need a reminder of the good ole vacation days. To start the trip, Christa Lee ’15 and I went to visit last year’s Chinese language assistant in Xi’an! Catherine was the best host and it was so fun to see her again as Christa and I had both lived with her in the Asian Studies House.

Rachel Palfini '15, Catherine Qu (last year's Chinese Language Assistant) and Christa Lee '15 at Catherine's university campus in Xi'an. — Rachel Palfini ’15, Catherine Qu and Christa Lee ’15

Atop Xi'an's City Wall. Xi'an has one of the best preserved city walls in China. Christa and I rode a tandem bike on top of the entire wall in 2 hours (average time). — View from atop Xi’an’s City Wall. Xi’an has one of the best preserved city walls in China. Christa and I rode a tandem bicycle on top of the entire wall in just under 2 hours.

Xi'an's Small Goose Pagoda. We climbed to the top (only 15 yuan with a student card!). We were the only vistors a top though and it could probably only a maximum of 15 people. — Xi’an’s Small Goose Pagoda. We climbed to the top (only 15 yuan with a student card!). We were the only visitors though and it could probably only a maximum of 15 people.

After spending 3 1/2 days in Xi’an, we took an overnight train to spend the day in Pingyao before taking another overnight train to Qingdao. It was a 20+ hour train ride so we decided to break it up over two days and see the Zhangbi Underground Castle!