Our journey to Xi’an was with a tour company called Insiders Experience. First day breakfast we stopped for delicious local foods on our way to see the famous Terracotta Army. Afterward we visited an ancient Taoist temple in the Lishan Mountains and then a local lunch. After lunch and the next day we drove around the countryside visiting small villages and exploring rural China.
Xi’an Terracotta Warriors
The official name for the “museum” is Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor or in Chinese 秦始皇兵马俑博物馆. The mausoleum and surrounding buildings are all indoors so you can visit without concern for weather. Because the site is considered a “must see” you should expect huge crowds. We visited during an off -peak time and still the place was packed although with a little effort we could get up front to see the statues.
Another thing, I recommend using a guide to get around and explain what you are looking at. There is so much detail and history and if you can get someone to show you around it’s a better experience. Little things that make it interesting such as the “hole” on the side of the horses used to vent air during the kilning process. Or how lucky we are the site was not discovered during the time of the Red Guard because they likely would have destroyed it all!
Click on the photos to see larger and slideshow!
The entrance to the mausoleum was already getting busy in the early morning.
As you can see, the exhibit gets pretty crowded. And this was low-season!
See the people lined up along the opposite wall for perspective.
Our guide told us the warriors are all facing East because at the time that is where the threats came from.
This is the restoration area with some statues under repair.
Close up of one of the sculptures being restored.
There are about five fully intact sculptures enclosed in glass. This horse is quite special.
Just in case you want to bring home a terracotta warrior, they got you covered
Town & Country
The second part of our journey took us into the country side outside Xi’an. We had a blast riding in the jeeps and exploring old farm villages, mountains, and so much more. I feel we had a great opportunity here because getting out in to the rural areas is pretty difficult for foreigners who do not drive.
We stopped at this food street for breakfast and it was fantastic. We fueled up here for our busy day ahead.
Roujiamo 肉夹馍 often called the Chinese hamburger. Delicious!
Our tour guides drove us around in Chinese Jeeps which was quite fun.
When the blacksmith isn't making farm tools he makes these cool weapons.
During Tomb Sweeping Day, people buy paper money to burn for their ancestors.
Old Buddhist temple in the mountains
Riding up in the mountains. A range that separates Shaanxi and Sichuan
We stopped at this restaurant for a great and needed lunch
I caught a whiff of stinky tofu from afar and was drawn to it like a fly to poop.
This spinning top game is fun. You slap it with a whip to keep the top going.
When the Long March concluded in Shaanxi, Mao and his comrades lived in Yaodongs like this. Nowadays it is popular tourist attraction to spend a night in one.
Old farmhouse with slanted roof to capture rain water.
These villagers up in the mountains ain't got much but they do have satellite TV!
We visited a winery and sampled some of their products. Not quite like French or California but I suspect Chinese will eventually make it work.
