Xian - Not just terracotta soldiers
Hopefully this internet connection is ok. It's been really spotty lately. Haven't been updating partly because my last long post got deleted in LiJiang...so let's see how this go...
In Kunming now for a day before heading out to Guilin, my last stop before HK. Yep, that means I haven't updated about Xian, Kunming, LiJiang, Shangrila, and a trip to a real matriachial culture...so here goes...
Xian
Coming right after Shanghai, we expected that Xian to be another polluted city with the terracotta soldiers as the only attraction and then we can get out of town, but it was actually quite enjoyable. Ironically, Xian actually has some sort of urban planning, thanks to the city planners hundreds of years ago. So while other Chinese city planning defy logic, this city had wide boulevards and a grid. We stayed inside the city walls near the middle of the city, right next to the landmarks bell tower and drum tower. Everything was very convenient, as the airport bus and the tour bus both stopped outside our hotel. Prices were cheap for the most posh place we stayed. I know, we could rough it but why when we can get a very nice hotel for like 15 bucks a day, double occupancy.
Needless to say, the terracotta soldiers was the main attraction. Much like most of what I'm gonna say, you really can't describe a lot of the experiences here, you really have to go yourself. For me, I guess it was part of the history of the soldiers. They were made for the tomb of Emperor Qin, the first uniter of China. He also ordered the soldiers to be put between his tomb and his kingdom in the east, so that even in his death he can have the soldiers watch over the restless lands in the east. The soldiers are lifesized and was actually painted and with weapons, but due to the oxidation process, once the soldiers are uncovered the color vanishes in 3 minutes. I guess it's just good to see the soldiers, as it's like seeing my culture from a couple thousand years ago, right there in front of me.
The most impressive part of Xian though, was going to the Big Goose Pagoda square at night. There is a big water fountain there which is supposedly the biggest water fountain in Asia. Similar to the water show in Montjuic in Barcelona, people from the city all gather around for a wonderful show of water, light, and music. What was impressive about this square was that there were many places to lounge around at night for families, so when you walk around, you really see the local chinese people enjoying themselves. Kids running around playing at the fountains, couples trying to find some private space for themselves, families laughing and strolling around the square. It's just nice to see how the Chinese relax at night.
The food was great also. We went to the muslim quarter for some islamic food and we weren't disappointed. There were many snack food and for dinner we got like 20 skewers of lamb and beef, that's how they sell them, in mini skewers of 10. We got a photo of all the skewers stacked up. Xian is also known for their different types of dumplings and so the next night we had to tried that. We had 3 different types and they were all good.
Overall, even though Shanghai was really fun, meeting all different types of people and seeing the most cosmopolitan city in China, Jen my travel partner enjoyed Xian more. It's not overpopulated, not as polluted, and has more flavor because of all the historical buildings in the city. Plus it felt more relaxed that Shanghai.
Again, it's hard to upload pix here, as the internet is oh so very slow. Next update will be Kunming/LiJiang.
In Kunming now for a day before heading out to Guilin, my last stop before HK. Yep, that means I haven't updated about Xian, Kunming, LiJiang, Shangrila, and a trip to a real matriachial culture...so here goes...
Xian
Coming right after Shanghai, we expected that Xian to be another polluted city with the terracotta soldiers as the only attraction and then we can get out of town, but it was actually quite enjoyable. Ironically, Xian actually has some sort of urban planning, thanks to the city planners hundreds of years ago. So while other Chinese city planning defy logic, this city had wide boulevards and a grid. We stayed inside the city walls near the middle of the city, right next to the landmarks bell tower and drum tower. Everything was very convenient, as the airport bus and the tour bus both stopped outside our hotel. Prices were cheap for the most posh place we stayed. I know, we could rough it but why when we can get a very nice hotel for like 15 bucks a day, double occupancy.
Needless to say, the terracotta soldiers was the main attraction. Much like most of what I'm gonna say, you really can't describe a lot of the experiences here, you really have to go yourself. For me, I guess it was part of the history of the soldiers. They were made for the tomb of Emperor Qin, the first uniter of China. He also ordered the soldiers to be put between his tomb and his kingdom in the east, so that even in his death he can have the soldiers watch over the restless lands in the east. The soldiers are lifesized and was actually painted and with weapons, but due to the oxidation process, once the soldiers are uncovered the color vanishes in 3 minutes. I guess it's just good to see the soldiers, as it's like seeing my culture from a couple thousand years ago, right there in front of me.
The most impressive part of Xian though, was going to the Big Goose Pagoda square at night. There is a big water fountain there which is supposedly the biggest water fountain in Asia. Similar to the water show in Montjuic in Barcelona, people from the city all gather around for a wonderful show of water, light, and music. What was impressive about this square was that there were many places to lounge around at night for families, so when you walk around, you really see the local chinese people enjoying themselves. Kids running around playing at the fountains, couples trying to find some private space for themselves, families laughing and strolling around the square. It's just nice to see how the Chinese relax at night.
The food was great also. We went to the muslim quarter for some islamic food and we weren't disappointed. There were many snack food and for dinner we got like 20 skewers of lamb and beef, that's how they sell them, in mini skewers of 10. We got a photo of all the skewers stacked up. Xian is also known for their different types of dumplings and so the next night we had to tried that. We had 3 different types and they were all good.
Overall, even though Shanghai was really fun, meeting all different types of people and seeing the most cosmopolitan city in China, Jen my travel partner enjoyed Xian more. It's not overpopulated, not as polluted, and has more flavor because of all the historical buildings in the city. Plus it felt more relaxed that Shanghai.
Again, it's hard to upload pix here, as the internet is oh so very slow. Next update will be Kunming/LiJiang.
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