Xian was the start of the Silk Road and at one time the largest city in the world. Today the city of eight million is booming, and still home home to the famous "Terracotta Warriors" and other great attractions. Here are its do-not-misses:.
1. The Terra Cotta Warriors: The sight of thousands of life-size terra cotta warriors in formation does not disappoint. It is part of the tomb of Qin Shi Huang who, 2,220 years ago, united the various areas of China and named himself First Emperor of China. Each warrior is different and exquisitely made so that individual strands of hair and veins in the hands.. Only three excavated pits are open to the public and the emperor’s mausoleum has not been excavated. According to historians of the time, the burial mound which is about a mile from the pits, contained 100 rivers of flowing mercury under a ceiling decorated with celestial bodies. It took 700,000 workers several decades to complete the massive funerary that was not discovered until 1974.
2. The Great Mosque: The Muslim quarter of the city is a fascinating area with exotic food, a bazaar, and the Great Mosque. Don’t expect to see a dome and minarets. The Great Mosque is Chinese in style with some Arabic lettering and decoration. It was built in 742 AD. Xian was the beginning of the Silk Road which brought people from all over Asia and the Middle East to Xian.
3. Other things to see: Not far from the Muslim Quarter are the Drum and Bell Towers and a little further on the main gate to the walled city. It was a great walking tour. Just a few miles east of the city is Banpo Neolithic Village. The site dates back to 4500 BC and was discovered in 1953. The museum is built over the excavation site.
http://www.examiner.com/article/three-not-to-miss-sites-xian-china
Comments