A list of the most popular cities in China no doubt includes Xi’an. With many attractions and delicious refreshments, the city makes a cozy destination for travelers. In 5000 years of Chinese history, there were many dynasties and Xi’an was the capital of not only the first dynasty, the Qin, but also the most powerful dynasty, the Tang. Many of the artifacts from these dynasties stayed in this ancient city and became landmarks.
No tourists will disagree that the Terracotta Warriors is must-see. The Terracotta Warriors are statues made to protect the first emperor in his journey to the underworld. They were buried with him. Using mud to stick the clay pieces together, each statue was finished by adding a layer of color. However, the color disappeared immediately after excavation. With thousands of years of history, the Terracotta Soldiers provide visitors with a peek through the Qin Dynasty. Imagine how spectacular it is to see tens of thousands of immortal soldiers of solid rock guarding their emperor.
Furthermore, in 2020, archeologists opened the funeral pits to public. Visitors can observe the marvelous hill of the first emperor’s tomb and his family’s mausoleum. People who want to explore and embrace Chinese history will enjoy visiting this famous place.
Of course, the Terracotta Army isn’t the only attraction in Xi’an. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a tower built by the Tang dynasty. The tower was built in memory of the monk, Xuan Zan, who brought over 600 Buddhist texts from India to China. The texts were stored in this tower.
Since it was constructed in the late 640’s, its material is aging, causing the tower to slant. Construction crews refused to fix this because they believe restoring this pagoda is equivalent to expelling their ancestor’s work. Nowadays, tourists can walk around in the garden surrounding this beautiful tower.
The two landmarks mentioned above are the most famous. However, there are many other places worth going to in Xi’an, such as the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, both built in the Tang dynasty. The Shaanxi Museum is a destination full of ancient artifacts from the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties, fitting for people who enjoy learning history.
Food lovers, Xi’an is for you. Xi’an is the home to many local cuisines. Would you like a spicy and sour soup for breakfast? A Chinese meat burger for lunch? Perhaps mutton soup with flatbread for dinner? Persimmon cakes would make an excellent dessert. Other honorable mentions include hand-made, belt like, noodles, cold noodles, and Pipa duck, a crispier version of Peking duck.
With many five-star and four-star hotels, you don’t have to pick a hotel and check if it is fancy or not. They all are! Paying an average of $80 (or approximately ￥560) a night is the ticket to a real paradise. The location of the hotels is outstanding, too. Most of the hotels are in Xi’an’s downtown, meaning that most attractions and restaurants are positioned nearby. How convenient is that?
Metro systems weave underground below Xi’an, and tickets aren’t expensive. Ranging from ￥2 ($0.30) to ￥7 ($1.04), you can spend a miniscule amount of money and cover a great distance. Taking the metro isn’t the only way of getting around. You can take a taxi for travelling around the city, and you may also need one if you are going to the Terracotta soldiers, which is in the suburbs on Xi’an. Train stations and airports are sprinkled around the city for those returning home or moving on to another city.
Would you like to learn more about the mysterious and ancient land of the east? Xi’an is the portal that transmits you there. The city of Xi’an, Shaanxi, awaits you!
No tourists will disagree that the Terracotta Warriors is must-see. The Terracotta Warriors are statues made to protect the first emperor in his journey to the underworld. They were buried with him. Using mud to stick the clay pieces together, each statue was finished by adding a layer of color. However, the color disappeared immediately after excavation. With thousands of years of history, the Terracotta Soldiers provide visitors with a peek through the Qin Dynasty. Imagine how spectacular it is to see tens of thousands of immortal soldiers of solid rock guarding their emperor.
Furthermore, in 2020, archeologists opened the funeral pits to public. Visitors can observe the marvelous hill of the first emperor’s tomb and his family’s mausoleum. People who want to explore and embrace Chinese history will enjoy visiting this famous place.
Of course, the Terracotta Army isn’t the only attraction in Xi’an. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a tower built by the Tang dynasty. The tower was built in memory of the monk, Xuan Zan, who brought over 600 Buddhist texts from India to China. The texts were stored in this tower.
Since it was constructed in the late 640’s, its material is aging, causing the tower to slant. Construction crews refused to fix this because they believe restoring this pagoda is equivalent to expelling their ancestor’s work. Nowadays, tourists can walk around in the garden surrounding this beautiful tower.
The two landmarks mentioned above are the most famous. However, there are many other places worth going to in Xi’an, such as the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, both built in the Tang dynasty. The Shaanxi Museum is a destination full of ancient artifacts from the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties, fitting for people who enjoy learning history.
Food lovers, Xi’an is for you. Xi’an is the home to many local cuisines. Would you like a spicy and sour soup for breakfast? A Chinese meat burger for lunch? Perhaps mutton soup with flatbread for dinner? Persimmon cakes would make an excellent dessert. Other honorable mentions include hand-made, belt like, noodles, cold noodles, and Pipa duck, a crispier version of Peking duck.
With many five-star and four-star hotels, you don’t have to pick a hotel and check if it is fancy or not. They all are! Paying an average of $80 (or approximately ￥560) a night is the ticket to a real paradise. The location of the hotels is outstanding, too. Most of the hotels are in Xi’an’s downtown, meaning that most attractions and restaurants are positioned nearby. How convenient is that?
Metro systems weave underground below Xi’an, and tickets aren’t expensive. Ranging from ￥2 ($0.30) to ￥7 ($1.04), you can spend a miniscule amount of money and cover a great distance. Taking the metro isn’t the only way of getting around. You can take a taxi for travelling around the city, and you may also need one if you are going to the Terracotta soldiers, which is in the suburbs on Xi’an. Train stations and airports are sprinkled around the city for those returning home or moving on to another city.
Would you like to learn more about the mysterious and ancient land of the east? Xi’an is the portal that transmits you there. The city of Xi’an, Shaanxi, awaits you!
