The train... And the the warriors...

Friday, April 11, 2014
Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
Yesterday we caught the bullet train to Xi'an. Traveling at 300km per hour through the country side... Amazing scenery through the mountains, valleys and hills on the 1500km journey....

The train was comfortable, smooth and easy traveling ...

Today was our tour of the warriors, I have been so looking forward to seeing them and they did not disappoint! Amazing to think that 2000 years ago the emperor had 750000 men build his tomb, that took over 10 years to construct....

Wow these warriors stand between 167cm and 180cm tall, depending on the rank and the type of warrior they are... Whether they are the arrow man, or the commanders.... Each one different, and each one a unique face modeled after the real army at the time.... They weigh over 300 kg each...

I could look at them all day... But we did move on to the great goose pagoda... Named so because a goose died over the temple just as it had been completed, so the monks took it as a sign from Buddha.... The structure 1500 years old, still standing....

Then on to the wall around Xi'an, the wall still survived, over the last 600 years, this is the forth and final wall to be built around Xi'an .... The watch towers, and the bell house etc, as with all Chinese temples, structures from the past are all built without nails, only timber joins....

Finally onto the Muslim quarter of the city, and the great mosque.... The emperor asked that it built, so the traders could pray etc... Of course Xi'an which I now know was the major city for the Silk Road... So there is all nationalities here mixed... There is evidence in the architecture...with both Arabic, and Chinese lettering on buildings etc... Amazing history and culture here...

We wandered through the Muslim night markets, sampled the food (some not so good) most delicious..... And have more adventures in Xi'an tomorrow...

Hope everyone is well...

Xx

Comments

Mum
2014-04-11

Sounds like you are a wonderful time full of wonders!! And some more besides. All good here had the boys for two days now the twins for two going home today.

2025-02-15

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