Day 6 Xian -- Terracotta Army

We began this day as usual with a big breakfast at the hotel, then we proceeded by bus to the Terracotta Army area.  The Terracotta Soldiers were built ( ca. 250 b.c.) to be buried with the emperor of the Qin Dynasty.  A farmer discovered them in 1974 and they have been and are still being unearthed carefully to preserve the history (about 2,000 to date and about 6,000 more expected to be found).  The army is maintained in the excavation areas that have been enclosed in huge buildings.  Again, we were among the thousands of visitors. 

The soldiers show intricate detail with each soldier and horse being unique.  It was an incredible sight.  The sheer numbers as well as the detail of the soldiers is unbelievable.  We spent several hours at the exhibit looking a different pits and museum.  We marveled at a culture that could focus the resources and time on the creation and implementation of such a project (as we had with the Great Wall).   At the time of our visit, workers were out in the pits and at tables working on the excavation, restoration, and cataloging of the finds.

Our next stop was a late lunch with a variety of Chinese food served family style.  Then we went to the "Wild Goose Pagoda."  The Pagoda is a 7-story tower built about 1,000 years ago.  It replaced a similar building that burned.  The Pagoda is a Buddhist Temple.   When we visited, there was a large crowd also visiting.  We saw the monks in study, with women on one side of the room, chanting.  We also say the monks march to a bell tower and perform a ceremony.

Following that, we Muslim Quarter Market, a historic shopping area in the center of Xian.  There the shops were open to the street and carried about every kind of food and item imaginable.  It was also packed with people (by now it is about 6:00 p.m.).  Although it was historically the Muslim area, and still is Muslim, there was little trace of Arabic influence.  We ate in a restaurant in the area whose specialty was dumplings.  We were served family style 20 different types of dumplings.  The guides with us seemed to really like the dumplings, but we found them very strange and not at all tasty.

As we drove around Xian getting to our appointed places, several times, we passed an public library in an elaborate modern building.  It was in an area with a performing arts center and near a University specializing in arts.  After 12 hours on the road, we arrived back at our hotel for some much needed rest.

Pictures:  Terracotta Army, Wildgoose Pagoda, Muslim Market