The view outside our hotel in Xi'an was pretty sobering.

What a contrast to the view of the inner courtyard and piano bar.

They are certainly catering to foreign investment to try to raise the standard of living. There is such a contrast between the country people and those working in the city. There are many unemployed "floaters" coming in from the country to look for work, mostly unsuccessfully. They do not have residence papers so are not entitled to benefits.

We had soft seat (not "hard seat") tickets for the train ride to Luoyang, therefore we sat in what was labeled the "Soft Seat Waiting Room."

Beautiful artwork in the waiting room