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Lantern shapes - Lantern Festival - Xi'an
Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the man who began it all
Xi'An Muslim Quarter 7
Xi'an - China
We are in Beijing now and heard that there are now sand storms in Xi'an. Is that true? It so, how bad?
As i look out of my hostel window in Xi'an I can't see a speck of sand!
It's smoggy, as much as Beijing but no sandstorms to speak of (if they kick off tomorrow don't blame me! I'm in Xi'an so I'll be suffering too!)
FF.
“No need to pay!”
Where did this small girl learn this English, how does she know that, of course, accepting the flower she gently offered me I had to offer her back… some generous RMB?
Is this already a sophisticated selling technique? A part of a scholar program?
“Thanks dear girl! I will offer it to my wife!”
the best dumplings, the most beautiful ones... great options....
I want to go back to only eat the walnut looking ones....
all were good, great variety of flavors, prices....
paid 60rmb per person, ate 16 different dumplings - cute chicken looking one and all -- plus appetizer, plus soup and fruit
more expensive and diverse options available....
a memorable meal... walnut dumplings -- first to last bite.. all you chew are walnuts....
Well, I've been here again and hopefully will soon have some images up. About an hour outside the city walls, the sprawling complex surrounding the terra cotta soldiers is littered with guides. You really don't need one. Read up on the history before you go and simply enjoy. The guides are just capitalizing on the tourist dollar, and they'll ask more and more... if you do get a guide, supposedly they cost 100 yuan outside the gate but will go down to 50 inside the gate. Haggle the prices down. If you know what you're seeing ahead of time, you don't need to be led around. Besides, the prices for guides will continually go up. Entry fee: 65 in the low season and 90 in the high season, namely the summer.
There's a map by the entry gate. It's much cheaper than a guide.
Inside, be prepared for legions of tourists and tour groups.
When you leave there is yet another army... the touts, shouting out "Good price for you!" and "One dollar!" The terra cotta guys are much more pleasant despite their combative intent.
Five images. See more images in the Terra Cotta Warriors travelogue!
First we went to an excellent presentation about the creation, discovery and preservation of the warriors, somewhat disconcerting as it was in 360° sound and vision, hard for us older people to cope with!
After this into the aircraft hangar sized shelter over the first pit of mainly restored warriors, horses and chariots, though in the rear some were still being pieced together. I had not realised that all bar one had been in pieces. In here, it was also possible to see close up, though behind glass, the sole intact figure, an archer, as well as examples of each of the ranks portrayed.
The second pit, if anything, was even more impressive, as it has yet to be excavated, though it has been scanned and its contents recorded. Apparently it will not be fully explored until the technology exists to stop the paint on the warriors from oxidising and losing colour when exposed.
The third pit contained what appeared to be the headquarters, with many highranking officers.
It is amazing to consider the mind of the emperor , Qin, who demanded this monument, the work that went into creating these statues, the anger of those who overthrew the dynasty and destroyed them and the painstaking work of excavation and reconstruction. It is believed that the as yet unexcavated tomb of the Emperor Qin nearby may contain an even greater army.
Part of the complex is a museum of which contains 2 half sized models of intricately detailed bronze horses and chariots as well as many smaller artifacts that have been found near the site of the army.
Two large scale-models of bronze chariots and horses were discovered in December 1980. They were unearthed about 20 meters east of the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang.
The models are constructed of bronze and decorated with gold and silver. They are copies of real horses and chariots and show much attention to detail despite being 1/2 scale.
The smaller chariot is a vanguard with a single driver shaded by a large unbrella and drawn by four strong horses. The larger is the carriage of the emperor and is lavishly decorated inside. The bridles of the horses are more ornate.
These bronze models are some of China's great archeological treasures being part of the largest find of early delicate bronze work.
They are found in a separate pavilion on the Terra-cotta Warriors site.
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