Xian, Shaanxi Province, China (March 2003 and March 2008)
Xian was the capital of many of China's earlier Dynasties, including the Tang Dynasty.
Xian hosts numerous artifacts of Imperial China, including the
City Wall which was first
constructed in the Sui Dynasty with the current one
rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty. The South Gate is
one of the many entries into the city wall park (cost
40 Yuan), and the entire wall (less than 10 km) can be traversed by walking or bicycling (20 Yuan) or
by tour shuttle, and there are many
beautiful scenes.
One of the hidden gems in this city is a museum of Neolithic People called
the Banpo Museum. Burial
tombs of these Stone Age people also have pottery. Some primitive writing
on shards of pottery dating from 6000 years
ago look surprisingly like the modern Roman alphabet (see K, A, X, E, S).
A hours drive west of Xian is the reputed origin of agriculture in Canada.
There is a mythical tale of the God of Agriculture who
introduced knowledge of cropping to the Chinese people, so the School of Agriculture
was built here in in Yangling. The Northwest A&F University, like many Universities
across China is undergoing a rebirth, and this scene looks like an office building
or a mall, but is actually the plant biology building.
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian, China. March, 2005
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda, just south of the Xian city center
dates from the Tang Dynasty (600 AD) and previously housed original Sanskrit Buddhist
texts which were brought over from India.
25 Yuan entry fee.
The Terra Cotta Soldiers, Xian, China. March, 2005
The Terra Cotta Soldiers are found near the tomb of the "First Emperor",
and the site is located to the west of Xian. Three large buildings house the three
major digs (soliders, generals, command center). An extensive museum has very
impressive artifacts, but most of the signs are only in Chinese. Well worth the
90 Yuan entry fee.
