Riding Around the City Wall

During Mid-Autumn festival holiday this last Thursday evening, just at dusk, we decided to do something that is unique to Xi’an so we went with Feng (John’s director) and the Dave and Julie Monson, another couple from BYU teaching at another Xi’an university, and rented bikes up on top of the city wall before riding around the entire perimeter of the city in that interesting way—some 13 kilometers. It was an amazing experience--rather like riding over German cobblestone streets so our teeth rattled by the time we finished but what an experience! The moon was full and lovely and the city sparkled the later it got as Xi'an turned on its night-time lights and lanterns. I am standing out in front of the South Gate of the wall with Feng and Dave Monson, just before going up to rent our bikes. John and Feng are riding along the east stretch of the wall and John looks very pictureque in his bright blue jacket against the tower guard house along the way.