The north is arid grasslands and desert. In fact, Harold sends me a link to the Times today that describes the forced evacuation of the nomadic tribes of the North.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/12/world/asia/china-fences-in-its-nomads-and-an-ancient-life-withers.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share
Trading their culture of sheparding animals and living in tents for the apartments, electricity and jobs that are creating these enormous urban centers. There are also lots of enormous apartment buildings going up in Xi’an for the workers that will leave the more rural areas to live and work closer to jobs that will bring income to send back home. The apartment buildings are huge blocks, reminds me a bit of Co-op City. Can you see the cranes busy at the top?
It is very hot in Beijing, but even hotter in Xi’an, home of the Terracotta Warriors. Tomorrow we head directly for the site.
