After our flight in coach to Xian we were met by Ruth who was a great tour conductor. Our fist day she showed us all over the city first walking on the city wall and then to many shrines and temples. We took a nice rickshaw ride on top of the city wall and enjoyed the great views this afforded us. Xian was once the capital of China and most people in Xian think it still should be, but the imperial dynasties had their own reasons to move the capital around.
Xian is a great city. It is a modern thriving city with the intensity of Shanghai and Beijing. Our tour conductor gave us our first English exchange of what differences are lifestyles are and essentially they want all the same things we want. It is more difficult for them mainly because of the size of the population and the restrictions that can bring. We visited a number of sites that were built for and by the Emperor and you can understand the supreme power he had. He obviously did keep people busy building and creating for him, but the value of human life was very little during that period. Ruth also had the key to great shopping. She introduced us to vendors that had knock off merchandise of quality equal to the original products. Mary Beth bought a new watch (a better brand than Rolex) at a 90pct discount. It is identical to the original that costs around 2150.00 and even has serial numbers. In China there are knock offs that vary in quality from 1-5. Number 1 is just a cheap imitation and 5 is of equal quality to the original. The trick is to find the right vendor.
Our second day in Xian we went to see the factory were the Terra Cotta Warriers were made and learned about the whole process. We could not pass up have our own little set of warriors which we purchased at the factory. Our onward journey took us to the site of the Emperors tomb and the Terra Cotta Warriers that he made to guard his afterlife. You can read all the books and watch all the video of this area but you will never get the thrill of seeing it in person. Only a fraction of this site has been excavated and that portion makes up three covered football fields. The Chinese archaeologists are waiting for better products and techniques for preserving these treasures from the elements such as oxidation before unearthing other areas including the Emperors tomb. They are also very concerned about booby traps when entering the tomb.
Picture a battalion of troops, each over 6 feet tall standing at attention in fired clay each holding either a spear or sword. Also add a line of archers kneeling down on the outside of this battalion. Although originally all of these statues where brightly painted, the years of oxidation has removed all of the paint leaving only a study in dark and light. Many of these soldiers were broken up by enemy troops that raided the area and they are be painstakingly put back together piece by piece.
The Terra Cotta Warriers site was one of the best kept secrets in China. It was accidentally uncovered by a farmer digging a well. We had the pleasure to meet this farmer and had him sign our book.
Our final stop before going back to the hotel was the Silk Factory. We got a tour of how the silk from the worms is separated and spun into thread and eventually into silk products. It fascinating how they stretch the silk many, many times like pulling taffy. At the factory they sell silk comforters in a number of thicknesses depending on the warmth you need. We purchased on at a good price and we have been using it since and silk really does keep you comfortable in a wide range of temperatures. Of course Mary Beth being "a woman of cloth" elected to make her own duvet from fabric she bought at the Fabric Market in Beijing.
If you ever go to China, do not miss Xian and the Terra Cotta Warriors. It is amazing sight that pictures cannot capture.
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