Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province, called Chang'an in ancient times, is one of the most ancient cities in China. Over the course of 3,100 years, thirteen dynasties built their national capitals here. Today, Xi'an is one of the major tour cities in China. The main attractions are:
The Terracotta Warriors
Terracotta warriors |
Built over two thousand years ago, more than six thousand life-size terracotta warriors and horses were unearthed in1974 in a village near Xi'an. Now it is regarded as the Eighth Wonder of the World. Up to now, three burial pits have been excavated. In No.1 pit, there are many life-size terracotta warriors and horses. The No.2 pit contains a combination formation of infantry, cavalry and soldiers on chariots, while the No.3 pit is the headquarters of the underground armies.
City Wall
The old City Wall was built on the foundations of
the walls of the Tang Dynasty (618–907). The
wall was built of an earth foundation formed of
layer upon layer of earth and quick lime and
glutinous rice extracts trampled together. This
made the wall extremely strong and is one reason
why it is one of the few ancient city walls still
visible in China. Climbing to the top of the City
Wall you will have a bird’s eye view of the city.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
The five storey pagoda locates in the Thanksgiving Temple (ancient royal temple) and was built in 648AD during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It is a very impressive, fortress-like, wood and brick building. The Wild Goose Pagoda was built to house the Buddhist scriptures that were brought back by XuanZang, a famous monk who translated them into 1335 Chinese volumes.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Bell Tower and rebuilt Drum Tower
They are located in the Xi'an city centre, the bronze bell sounded the opening the city gates each morning and the drum tower sounded the evening curfew. Therefore, it has a Chinese phrase ‘morning bell and the dusk drum'.
Hot Springs of Hua Qing
Huaqing Hot Spring is located about 30 kilometres east of XI'an. It was built in Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), and became famous on account of its being the favourite bath place of Yang Guifei, the favourite concubine of Emperor Xuanzong (712 - 742).
Huaqing Hot Spring Great Mosque
It is a famous Islamic mosque and locates near the Drum Tower, in the Muslim residential area. It was originally established in 742AD during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) with interesting architecture and stone carvings.
Shaanxi Provincial History Museum
Located 1 kilometre northwest of the Great Wild Goose Pagoda and contains 113,000 historic and cultural artifacts that were all unearthed in Shaanxi Province and arranged by chronological dynastic order.
Dumpling Dinner
It is famous for the dumplings' flavours, shapes, colours, elegant names, and stories attached to each various dumpling. To visit the fantastic Terracotta Armies and have a Dumpling Dinner means that you have really been to Xi'an!
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