Blogs from Shaanxi, China, Asia - page 103

Asia » China » Shaanxi » Xi'an June 29th 2005

Well, I made it to Xian tonight, where I will be visiting the Terra Cotta Clay Warrior museum. I made a REALLY good decision and decided to fly instead of taking the night train. My 5 star hotel is right in the middle of a kind of scary slum - I think this will be a good time to catch up on sleep and some reading! Other than a tour to see the clay warriors, I don't know how much I will be leaving the hotel, but it will be nice to take a little bit of a break. On the other hand, I am really looking forward to leaving China and going to Chiang Mai, Thailand on Saturday morning.... read more

Xian

Asia » China » Shaanxi » Xi'an June 22nd 2005

Weixiao82

Geo: 34.0719, 108.719... read more

X-ing in Xian

Asia » China » Shaanxi » Xi'an June 5th 2005

Riding along side by side

Larluv

while Xian is most famous for the discovery of the Terra Cotta warriors, the town has much more to offer visitors. From the airport, our first stop was at the city wall, a 13 km square struture that wraps around the old city. The wall is very high and wide and thus a perfect place to ride an old one-gear bicycle in blazing 90 degree, 100% humidity weather. Undaunted, Joe and I head out. We quickly realize the stone roads and our old bikes created a bumpy ride but we laugh and press on. the first bump in our trip takes place as joe's chain breaks. While I ride ahead to get assistance, Joe gets help from anothe bike rental place and a catastrophe is avoided. After lunch a quick shower, we visited the Xian Museum ... read more

Xi'An

Asia » China » Shaanxi » Xi'an May 2nd 2005

Terra Cotta

2SoreThumbs

After five days in Beijing, we took the sleeper train (14 hours) to Xi'an, home of the Terracotta Warriors! Xi'an is a university town and the capital of the Shang-tsi province. With a population of seven million, it's no joke! (There are so many people in China!!) In the center of town is an ancient bell tower which gives the city a nice, old fashioned feel!! (Which was wonderful.) Because of the national holiday, the city was VERY crowded and a little overwhelming. Xi'an does not have any pedestrian light/signals like Beijing and for the first time we experienced what a kamikaze mission it is to cross the street. The drivers here are insane!! You literally have to run for your life. The cars actually SPEED up when they see someone in front of them. And ... read more

Xian-Home of the Terra Cotta Warriors

Asia » China » Shaanxi » Xi'an March 18th 2005

Warrior

boogs61

The moment that Matt had been waiting for since the start of our trip…the Terra Cotta Warriors. They had been through so much prior to being discovered. Made over 2000 years ago for the afterlife, they were housed in a huge tomb. That tomb was robbed, burned, and destroyed several times over. Most of the warriors were found in pieces. What’s more amazing is how they have been pieced back together, bit-by-bit to reunite the army. They are beautiful and powerful to see. We were also lucky enough to see one of the farmers that discovered them in the 70’s. He was there signing books. It’s funny that the two men who made the discovery only received new bikes and jobs working for the government. Seems like so little for such a profound discovery! Another highlight ... read more

Terra Cotta Warriors of the Qin Dynasty

Asia » China » Shaanxi » Xi'an July 17th 2001

The first rows of warriors

Bill and Nancy

Monday, July 17, 2000 Finally a really hot day in Xi'an and it really felt like summer, like Xi'an felt every day from June through August in 1995. The temperature was somewhere in the higher 90's, maybe even 100 and we were outside much of the day. Fortunately when the temperature soars in Xi'an the humidity really drops, so whenever we found shade we, perhaps I should say I, did not feel too uncomfortable. By the end of the day Amy, Bill, Nancy and I felt like we had were "well done in a slow oven." Today was a very full day. The university van picked us up at 8:30 a.m. and off we went to see the Terra Cotta Warriors. The driver, the same man who drove us to the airport to pick up ... read more

Dreams from the Qin Dynasty Come True

Asia » China » Shaanxi » Xi'an April 29th 2001

Dreams of the Qin Dynasty Come True

XuJia

Xi'an - the beginning of the ancient silk route, where the first stop for our Silk Route Tour brought us to. We visited the Museum (Actual Site) of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, the "8th Wonder of the World". ... read more

Kids are kids everywhere.

Asia » China » Shaanxi » Xi'an June 28th 2000

Kids playing and talking.

Bill and Nancy

One night I was writing in our journal. I wrote: "Outside I can hear the happy voices of many children playing. They were playing a childrens singing game. If I am right in interpreting what I hear, one group sings and the second responds. Intermixed with the singing I could hear children laughing, calling to each other ... having a great time together. Living in a safe and a secure environment these children have a great time together." This Quonset hut type building, which was beside our building, was a favorite place for many children. Every day several would climb onto the top to play, sit and talk, study, and call to friends. Surprisingly no child was hurt the entire time we lived here. Big kids would help smaller children on and off the building. Parents ... read more

Two girls stamping their feet in a mud puddle

You Can't Drink That Here!!!

Asia » China » Shaanxi » Xi'an May 28th 2000

Wonderful dumplings

Bill and Nancy

It was a Sunday in early summer in Xi’an. I remember it was a Sunday as it was the day that Xiao and his wife took us to a Christian church service in this ancient city. After the worship service in the packed church we made our down East Street to-ward the Bell Tower. I cannot say we walked. We could not move fast enough to call it a walk. Being Sunday, a day of rest, the sidewalks were a mass of people. Along the way we stopped to watch several men and women carving intricate designs on watermelons. They were works of art with designs of dragons, flowers and curling lines. “Oh gee,” I groaned, “I didn’t bring my camera along. What a picture those would make. Passing the Bell Tower where West, East, North ... read more

Brief history of China

For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. A...more history

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