We missed the overnight train that was going to take us to Xi'an because a few of us who got food poisoning including me. The high speed train was comfortable and it gave us a chance to see the countryside. What we did see was mostly farm land and a what appeared to be a mix of fog and smog. It seemed to I suspect it was mostly smog because it was like that for most of the five-hour train ride.  We also say ghost city. A ghost is like any other city with large buildings and sky scrapers but in completely rural areas. But because they are in rural areas all these building are completely empty. This is something that is unique to China.