Xi'an - Top 10 List

*** Disclaimer ***

Craig and I only did about 10 things in Xi'an, so there are probably other things to do that belong on our list, but we didn't experience them.

Our hostel lined us up with a one day trip to the Terra Cotta Army with an English guide, but most of the sites we were easily able to figure out on our own.

10. The Terra-Cotta Warrior Factory

We didn't sign-up for this one, our guide just dropped us off. I guess it is kind of interesting to see how they make the replicas but then your tour guide brings you to the store in hopes you might want to fork out 100 000 rmb for a full size replica or if not, a smaller version 10 times the price you can get it for on the street. On the other hand, the tour is free if you can escape the gift shop.

9. Hot Springs Resort

We did sign up for this one. It is kind of interesting. It was the emperor's bathing grounds and lots of important people have come by to use the place in more recent history including Empress Cixi after the Boxer Rebellions and Chiang Kai-Shek during the 2nd Sino-Japanese War. In fact one building is labelled Chiang Kai-Shek's bathroom, which I found kind of amusing. Our guide had us on a strictly timed tour, and we were informed there was not time to cable car it up the mountain. There is also supposed to be a big fanfare evening production with singing and dancing in the pools in the evening. There were even guide wires so that girls could fly in from above. So maybe it would be more interesting at that time of day.

8. The Big Goose Pagoda

The Pagoda is pretty cool and a decent work out to climb the seven stories. You get really good views of the city at each level. The temple that it sits within was a pleasant and quieter place. Many buildings housed beautiful jade murals. Surrounding the temple walls it is really built up. There is a huge fountain complex that from time to time synchronizes the fountain to classical music which was kind of cool. But then its KFC and everything else and so incredibly busy and hot. It was just OK.

7. The Shaanxi Museum

The museum is really cool. The Chinese government recently decided all museums (not historical sites) should be free admission, so that Chinese people are well read on their history. So, because Xi'an has some 7 million people and because history is still highly valued here, the line-up stretches around the block. They only release so many tickets an hour. It took us 2 hours in line to get in, and a little less than that to tour the site. Nonetheless the collection is impressive, the English write-ups are very well done and you get to see some of the Terra-Cotta Warriors up close. It helps in the appreciation of the finer details of their construction. So, had we not had to spend 2 hours waiting to get in, it surely would have rated higher.

6. The Bampa Museum

This is cool. They unearthed a neolithic village. You can walk around the excavated foundations on a balcony. They have unearthed graves with skeletons, and kilns for pottery. It is a smaller site, which is nice, and if you have an interest in archaeology I am sure you would find it as fascinating as I did.

5. Muslim Street

The area behind the Drum Tower houses the Muslim District of Xi'an. Xi'an has had a Muslim population since its time as the beginning of the Silk Road. This is a place to try lots of tasty and cheap snacks. Cold noodles with hot sauce, beef and bread in broth and kebobs galore. It is also fun to read an English menu to at least consider trying sheep intestine or something of the sort. We didn't, but we considered it! One of the cooler moments was in a small stall selling beautiful woodcut prints. It was our 2nd visit, we had decided to invest, and the artist himself was there! He showed us his art that had been featured in Magazines, on postcards and postage stamps. We asked him how long it took to create a new image for print, and he said 6 months!!! Anyway, we got our picture with him, bought some art, and he gave us a set of his postcards and asked us to keep in touch. We love Muslim Street.

Sadly, I lost track of our box of paintings on route

Big Goose Pagoda

to Zhanjiajie. We have his business card and are hoping to be able to order replacements. Sigh, I need to remember not to book late night travel, I have a hard time keeping everything straight.

4. The Great Mosque

It is just fun trying to find this place. It is nestled between alleyways in behind Muslim Street, and wandering these alleyways is interesting in of itself. But my goodness if this isn't the most beautiful and peaceful place in the middle of a busy and bustling city. It feels old, it feels important and it doesn't feel so "cleaned up for the tourists" like most of Xi'an. You can't spot 3 Starbucks just standing at the entrace The mosque is a great place to spend 30-60 minutes, or even longer with a good book. It was originally set up in 742 but was rebuilt in 1384. It has four courtyards, the last one has the hall of worship into which the Koran is carved upon 600 wooden boards on the walls. We couldn't enter the hall, we could only peer in from outside, but it seemed very impressive.

3. Hire an in-room Thai

Inside the Big Goose Pagoda

Massage at the Bell Tower Hostel

TeeHee. Ok felt we were deserving of foot massages after supervising the Grade 9 Trip to Nanjing. The hostel advertised a masseuse who comes to your room. I looked over the brochure and thought, mmm... my back needs a little work too. So I opted for the full Thai body massage. I had NO IDEA what I was getting into. I feel great now, but a lot of it involved a bit of pain and stretches! I swear if he came every day he would make a contortionist out of me. But for this one, I cannot begin to describe everything he put me through, and a picture is worth a thousand words. Lets just say, you only live once.

2. Biking the City Wall

This is just too much fun in a pleasant low stress kind of way. The city wall is in great condition. So you go up on top, rent shabby bikes and do the circuit (about 13-15 km). It's just fun because there are no cars and not that many other cyclists or pedestrians. You can just go. You can rent a bicyle built for two, but Craig and I doubted we could find a marriage counsellor in China whose English would be good enough to get us through that one.

1. Terra-Cotta Army

It is just as amazing, if not more amazing than you imagine. A stadium filled with soldiers, fragments of soldiers being rebuilt, pits being prepped for a dig. And then there are two more buildings! And I hadn't realized that each face is unique... its overwhelming just to see it, and then you get over that, and you start to observe the figures more closely and you realize the craftsmanship and then you feel overwhelmed all over again, and it happens a few more times actually. This makes Xi'an entirely worthwhile. The Chinese have labelled it the 8th Wonder of the World, and I think they are likely correct.

Well, from Xi'an we fly to Zhangjiajie in Hunan province. So stay tuned for our further adventures.

Big Hugs
Beth and Craig

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