Xian: a most historic city
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
There’s more to Xi’an than just the Terracotta Warriors, which, after the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, is a site that most visitors to China want to see.
The clay army was built to guard Qin Shi Huang Di, the emperor who unified China, in his afterlife more than 2,000 years ago. The warriors lay buried for centuries, until a farmer digging a well discovered them in 1974.
Xi’an has a rich history, having served as the nation’s capital through several dynasties. At one time, it was considered one of the greatest cities in the world, rivaling even Athens and Alexandria. Its early name was Chang’an.
Xi'an is a short flight from Beijing, though many travelers prefer the train because the train station is downtown and the airport about an hour out.
While the warriors are an impressive site - and I’ve been to see them twice - I enjoy other attractions just as much.
The clay army was built to guard Qin Shi Huang Di, the emperor who unified China, in his afterlife more than 2,000 years ago. The warriors lay buried for centuries, until a farmer digging a well discovered them in 1974.
Xi’an has a rich history, having served as the nation’s capital through several dynasties. At one time, it was considered one of the greatest cities in the world, rivaling even Athens and Alexandria. Its early name was Chang’an.
Xi'an is a short flight from Beijing, though many travelers prefer the train because the train station is downtown and the airport about an hour out.
While the warriors are an impressive site - and I’ve been to see them twice - I enjoy other attractions just as much.
Xi'an sights include . . .
Silk Road monument
Banpo Neolithic Village is a prehistoric village similar in concept to the Terracotta Warriors. Neolithic man lived there 6,000 years ago. There’s a great museum, redone since I visited it many years ago; an excavation pit where remnants of Neolithic man’s life have been discovered, and replicas of the housing they might have lived in. I don’t know if this is still taking place, but when I visited Banpo, I attended an entertainment program depicting what Neolithic man did for recreation. I rather doubt they wore sequined clothing and danced to disco music and laser lights.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a Buddhist pagoda that dates back to 652 and the Tang Dynasty. The pagoda was originally built of dirt with a stone exterior; the building collapsed 50 years later. It was rebuilt with more stories added, though some of these collapsed in a 16th century earthquake. Today the temple leans in a fashion reminiscent of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Xi’an was either the start or the beginning of the Silk Road in China. It all depends on your perspective. I chose to think of it as the start of the road since a massive stone caravan points west. If it’s still there, I recommend visiting it.
Muslim Quarter is home to the Great Mosque of Xi’an. It’s a colorful district and is where I bought my chop, using a Terracotta Warrior for the base. The art district isn’t too far from here, and I’ve purchased primitive-style paintings, known as farmer art, there. Do be warned that this area is popular with scammers, so-called students who want you to come to an exhibition of their art and who make it very difficult for you to leave without paying over-inflated prices for their mediocre art.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a Buddhist pagoda that dates back to 652 and the Tang Dynasty. The pagoda was originally built of dirt with a stone exterior; the building collapsed 50 years later. It was rebuilt with more stories added, though some of these collapsed in a 16th century earthquake. Today the temple leans in a fashion reminiscent of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Xi’an was either the start or the beginning of the Silk Road in China. It all depends on your perspective. I chose to think of it as the start of the road since a massive stone caravan points west. If it’s still there, I recommend visiting it.
Muslim Quarter is home to the Great Mosque of Xi’an. It’s a colorful district and is where I bought my chop, using a Terracotta Warrior for the base. The art district isn’t too far from here, and I’ve purchased primitive-style paintings, known as farmer art, there. Do be warned that this area is popular with scammers, so-called students who want you to come to an exhibition of their art and who make it very difficult for you to leave without paying over-inflated prices for their mediocre art.
Xi'an: an ancient capital of China
Banpo Neolithic Village
Xi’an, once known as Chang’an, played an important role in the early history of China. It is an ancient capital of China.
Xi’an was founded several thousand years ago and has served as the capital for more dynasties than any other city in China. At one time it was considered on a par with Rome.
Xi’an: capital for many dynasties
The city served as the capital of 10 to 13 dynasties, depending on which source is used. China Tourism 999 Questions and Answers, published by the Chinese government, says 12 dynasties made Xi’an their capital over the centuries. They are:
Western Zhou, 1134-711 BC
Qin, 383-206 BC
Western Han, 202 BC -12 AD
Xinmang, 9-25
Western Jin, 313-316
Earlier Zhao, 319-329
Earlier Qin, 352-394
Later Qin, 384-517
Western Wei, 534-557
Northern Zhao, 557-581
Sui, 581-617
Tang, 618-907
Xi’an occupies a strategic location
Xi’an’s central location on the Guangzhong Plain, a fertile area of the Yellow River Delta, made it an ideal place for a capital. With invaders coming from the northwest, Xi’an became a center for national defense. With major early dynasties making it their capital, it was easy for succeeding dynasties to follow suit.
Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi kept Xi’an as his capital after he united China. Besides his unification efforts, he is well known for the mausoleum and the clay army he built to guard him in his afterlife. The Terra Cotta Warriors, discovered in 1974 by farmers digging a well, is Xi’an’s most famous attraction, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
At one time, much of the world revolved around Xi’an just as it did Rome and Athens in the West. Besides being important politically, Xi’an was important economically. The city was the eastern terminus for the Silk Road that stretched to Europe. The Silk Road was the most important trading route of the day, with caravans that traveled back and forth between Asia and Europe.
Area has long history of habitation
Primitive humans lived in the area for thousands of years before Qin Shi Huangdi built his mausoleum. The Banpo people are believed to have lived in the area from 5,000 BC to 10,000 BC. Banpo was a matriarchal society that was believed to be part of the Yangshao culture. Ruins of their Neolithic village were discovered in the mid-20th century, an important archaeological find as important as the Terra Cotta Warriors, though less well-known by people.
Xi’an today
Xi’an remains an important city today. An industrial city, it is the capital of Central China’s Shaanxi Province. Almost 10 million people live in Xi’an and its environs.
Xi’an was founded several thousand years ago and has served as the capital for more dynasties than any other city in China. At one time it was considered on a par with Rome.
Xi’an: capital for many dynasties
The city served as the capital of 10 to 13 dynasties, depending on which source is used. China Tourism 999 Questions and Answers, published by the Chinese government, says 12 dynasties made Xi’an their capital over the centuries. They are:
Western Zhou, 1134-711 BC
Qin, 383-206 BC
Western Han, 202 BC -12 AD
Xinmang, 9-25
Western Jin, 313-316
Earlier Zhao, 319-329
Earlier Qin, 352-394
Later Qin, 384-517
Western Wei, 534-557
Northern Zhao, 557-581
Sui, 581-617
Tang, 618-907
Xi’an occupies a strategic location
Xi’an’s central location on the Guangzhong Plain, a fertile area of the Yellow River Delta, made it an ideal place for a capital. With invaders coming from the northwest, Xi’an became a center for national defense. With major early dynasties making it their capital, it was easy for succeeding dynasties to follow suit.
Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi kept Xi’an as his capital after he united China. Besides his unification efforts, he is well known for the mausoleum and the clay army he built to guard him in his afterlife. The Terra Cotta Warriors, discovered in 1974 by farmers digging a well, is Xi’an’s most famous attraction, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
At one time, much of the world revolved around Xi’an just as it did Rome and Athens in the West. Besides being important politically, Xi’an was important economically. The city was the eastern terminus for the Silk Road that stretched to Europe. The Silk Road was the most important trading route of the day, with caravans that traveled back and forth between Asia and Europe.
Area has long history of habitation
Primitive humans lived in the area for thousands of years before Qin Shi Huangdi built his mausoleum. The Banpo people are believed to have lived in the area from 5,000 BC to 10,000 BC. Banpo was a matriarchal society that was believed to be part of the Yangshao culture. Ruins of their Neolithic village were discovered in the mid-20th century, an important archaeological find as important as the Terra Cotta Warriors, though less well-known by people.
Xi’an today
Xi’an remains an important city today. An industrial city, it is the capital of Central China’s Shaanxi Province. Almost 10 million people live in Xi’an and its environs.
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Copyright 2012 by Cheryl Probst. All rights reserved.
Copyright 2012 by Cheryl Probst. All rights reserved.