Shaanxi Sheng Things to Do

Pingyao, the walled city

by SandiM

Would you like to do something different that not a lot of tourists do? To really enjoy some of the ambience of the country? I visited a place called Pingyao, and stayed inside the old city walls at one of the courtyard hotels where I got to try out one of those famouse giant-sized Kang beds (an interesting experience!). This city was so nice and mixed the old with the new, and then I got above it all and simply walked the walls most of the way around and got a different perspective. What really got to me, was the way I was treated there. The children would scamper past me on bikes or with friends, and call out cheerily to me 'hello!', to which I would always reply 'Nihao!' and it made them giggle. The old folks would play card games on a side street, and it got pretty intense! Others would gather around a group of musicians playing old wooden instruments and sing together....Night times...

Great Mosque

by magor65

The present buildings come from 18th century, but it is known that there was a mosque here as long ago as 8th century. Only muslims can enter the temple, but tourists are allowed to walk in the gardens and yard. Great Mosque is situated in the picturesque muslim district of the city.

Big Goose Pagoda

by magor65

It was built about 648 A.D. by emperor Gao Zong for his dead mother. In 652 the holy monk Xuan Zhong brought from India holy scriptures and placed them here. He translated the scriptures into 1335 volumes of Chinese text. The building, which is 64 m high, is made of brick and wood. It's possible to climb the top to see the panorama.

Terracotta Army

by magor65

Although it's forbidden to take pictures inside the museum, lots of tourists seem not to notice it. We couldn't refrain from taking a few photographs, as well.Outside, there are many sellers ( among them children) offering t the miniature replicas of the warriors. If you want to buy anything, remember not to accept the first price, but trade for much lower one.

Terracotta Warriors

by magor65

In 1974 a group of villagers digging a well discovered by chance one of the greatest archeological sites in the world. It shows the terracotta warriors, the figures which were to guard and defend Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China ( reignining from 247-210 BC), in his after-life journey. What makes the figures so special is that they are of natural size and not two of them look the same. It is estimated that the army consisted of 8 thousand warriors, only part of them uncovered so far. There are warriors of different rank ( generals, officers, ordinary soldiers), horses and chariots. Some of the warriors are standing, some are kneeling, some are armoured and others not. They differ also in headgear, there are warriors with flat bun, cylindrical bun or square scarf.The archeological works are all the time in progress. In other pits archeologists uncovered figures of civilians,...

Hua Shan Mountain

by FreeCloud

It is a very steep mountain, some parts are rather dangerous, too. One has to be very fit to climb it. Even if you take a cable car to save some effort, there is still a LONG way to go further up to the top. People afraid of height could be intimidated.Photos in my Hua Shan page.

Hua Qing Hot Spring III

by savitha

Hua Qing Hot Spring II

by savitha

Hua Qing Hot Spring

by savitha

Muslim Street

by savitha