Xian - China

Xian (pronounced "shy-an") is a walled city, and the capital of the Shaanxi Province. We were there for 2 nights solely to see the Terracotta Warriors. We had a hotel only a 3 minute walk from the station, and a hotel travel agent that called himself "Jim Beam". He actually had business cards with it on it.

As usual we spent our time firstly trying to book tickets to our next destination. Jim Beam was going to charge us 50RMB commission per ticket, so we spent much time walking around without much luck, trying to get a better deal. Once again the Lonely Planet guide book didn't give an accurate map, and what I thought would be a lovely small city to walk around, it was not the case. In the end we went to a large hotel and used their booking service. Of course we ended up paying the same commission (and had the hassle of getting all the way back there to collect our train tickets), but we had decided that along as long as Jim Beam didn't get our business (or of course find out that we had paid the same).

There are actually many things to do in Xian, that we didn't see such as the Muslim quarter, Mosque, temples, bell and drum tower, days trips to Huaquing springs, and Banpo village. What we did was take a public bus 5 RMB (30p) to the Terracotta Warriors 90 RMB to get in. The hotel tried getting us to pay 50 RMB each for a car or 200 RMB each for a tour. Do they think we're mad! The Terracotta Warriors are an absolute must see!!!!!!! There are 3 pits (different buildings), with only one that houses the largest collection of 8000 soldiers, archers, cavalryman and chariots. The figures are 1.8m tall and and built of 7.6cm thick terracotta clay. The faces of each warrior is distinct, and they used to hold weapons. There is a great 360 degree movie that you can watch, which is a reenactment of the Emperor Qin Shi huange, from 259 to 210BC and having the Mausoleum constructed. The construction commenced when he was 13 years old and continued for 36 yrs. It is a 56.25 kms square underground palace with stables, and an inner and outer city. Over 700,000 conscript and slave labourers built the tomb to hold the numerous treasures within, rivers of mercury, constellations of pearls and gems embedded in the ceiling, plus an assortment of soldiers, concubines and servants; plus the artisans who worked on the mausoleum so that they couldn't reveal its secrets. The unopened vault, is 1.5 kms from the terracotta warrios and 30 kms from Xian, and still guards its secrets. This very same guy was the one who enlarged, repaired and extended walls built by individual states to form the Great Wall. The Great Wall was constructed by 500,000 laborers, most of whom were prisoners of war and it is believed that 70% died from exhaustion or starvation. And he also ordered the burning of many of China's earliest classics and burned alive 460 Confucian scholars who critised his politics. It's really interesting that we have also been able to go to these places and then learn about the connection. In 1974 peasants were digging a well when they uncovered the Terracotta Warriors, and have been finding things over the last 30 years. Archaeologists predict it will take another 200 years to unearth.