I figured this story was worth a post
For Christmas I decided to visit the ancient city of Xi'an with my girlfriend and see the Terracotta Soldiers (which were wonderful of course). We then decided to visit the ancient city walls which were built during the Ming Dynasty.
As you can see they are an impressive architectural feat built to keep undesireables out of the city.
And completely ineffective against Karajorma!
After getting onto to the city walls (entering at the south gate of the city) we decided to walk to the south east corner (about a 2km walk). We get there about 7pm to find the gates locked. So we walk northwards to the east gate only to find there are no stairs at the east gate. By the time we get to the north corner of the city walls at about 8pm (having walked over 5km) we find the gates there are also locked. The guard hut has no one in it apart from a dog who doesn't seem to appreciate us knocking on the windows much. I suggested that my girlfriend call the police and ask them how to get out. They give us the number for the people in charge of the city walls. She calls them and they tell us that the West gate is open. We are at the north east corner of the walls. The west gate is over 6km away.
At this point I channel the spirit of The Great Escape and decide to build my own way out. Spotting a lean-to with sacks of rubble from renovations of the wall I fashioned a ramp for my girlfriend and got over the wall of the city to some very strange looks from the people on the other side.
I only wish I could see the faces of the workers when they come back to the next morning to find that waiting for them. It took me over 15 minutes to move all the sacks full of stones there and pile them up.
