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Xian is the capital of Shaanxi Province with a population of almost
3 million, divided into 6 districts and counties. As one of the greatest cities in the history of civilization, Xian
has become one of the most popular tourist destination in the world. Its history is long and illustrious, and as a
survivor of various dynasties, Xian has plenty of cultural relics remaining as evidence of its ancient past. It was the
first capital of a united China under the First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, but most importantly, Xian was the starting
point of the Silk Road.
Terra Cotta Warriors
Local farmers discovered the Terra Cotta Warriors in 1974 while digging
a well. Little did they know that their discovery would turn out to be one of the most astounding archeological finds
of the 20th century. The site is even widely acclaimed as the 8th Wonder of the World and includes 4 pits of various
features, the first one being the largest and the last one being empty. The underground battle formation in Pit 1 is
comprised of 6,000 lilfe-size clay warriors and horses; the soldiers stand in military formation in infantry battle
order facing east with some armour, but no helmets. Made of local clay, no two faces are alike, each weighs over 300
kilograms and stands about 1.86 metres tall. The first 3 pits are currently open to the public and photography is
strictly prohibited on the premises.
The Wild Goose Pagoda
Built in 648, The Wild Goose Pagoda is referred to as the symbol of
Xian. It was once used by the Tang monk Xuan Zang to translate Buddhist scriptures. It stands a towering 73 metres
high and the top offers fine views across the city. It is located on Yanta Road and its dominating appearance is that
of the shape of a square pyramid.
The City Wall
Xian's City Wall was built in 1374 and 1378 and is among China's
best preserved ancient defense walls. It is about 10 km in perimeter and is about 12 - 15 metres wide at the top.
Shaanxi Provincial Museum
Once housed in the former Confucian Temple at the bottom of the wall,
the Shaanxi Provincial Museum opened a new part to the public in 1991. This modern museum includes collections of
110,000 pieces of historic relics.
Huaqing Hot Spring
Just 35 km to the east, it has several pools said to offer health
treatments. This site in the Lishan Mountains dates back to teh 8th century B.C.
Forest of Stelae
Housed in the Old Museum of Shaanxi is the famed Forest of the Stelae,
a collection founded in 1090 of inscribed stone tablets, some dating back to the Han. This collection of more than
2,300 stelae, some with pictures of scenery, others with classic texts inscribed. These relics are a valuable
resource for the study of Chinese calligraphic art and history.
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