Xi'an

Xi'an, China

For a China of 30 years, go to Shenzhen; for a China of 100 years, go to Shanghai; for a China of 1000 years, go to Beijing. Next comes the moment of truth: for a China of 5000 years, go to Xi'an.

Yes, Xi'an well deserves its reputation as the "Museum of Chinese History".

The region of Xi'an is the birthplace of the Chinese civilization, the starting point of the famed ancient Silk Road, and the seat of government for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. Palaces, temples, tombs and city walls are the swansong of the whole dynastic era when different Sons of the Heaven kept the huge "Central Kingdom" closely knit.

Getting around

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  Shaanxi History Museum

  This facility offers a "one - stop experience" for visitors hoping to develop a holistic understanding of the city's history.

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  Big Goose Pagoda

  The pagoda is inside Ci'ensi or Feminine Kindness Temple built in 648 by Emperor Gaozong of Tang dynasty (618-907) in honor of his deceased mother, and is an architectural masterpiece in China's Buddhist community.

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  Daming Palace

  The imperial palace complex of the Tang Dynasty served as the royal residence of the Tang emperors for more than 220 years and today is one of the most important historical monuments of the city.

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  Huaqing Pool

  The famous pool was the setting for the heart -warming and also heart-rending love story between Tang emperor Li Longji and one of his concubines Yang Guifei. The emperor was so infatuated with the girl that he ignored his job. That was later used by his rebellious soldiers as the excuse to force the emperor to have the girl hanged. After her death, the emperor spent the rest of his life pining away for his love. The story was told in a famous Tang poem Changhenge (The Song of Everlasting Regret).

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  Terra Cotta Warriors

  Ruler from the western state of Qin is remembered for subjugating other six states and unifying China in 221 B.C. He's also remembered for declaring himself the First Emperor who connected and extended the old fortification walls built by different states along the north of China which later became known as the Great Wall. He was also a ruthless ruler who is criticized by later generations for burying alive hundreds of scholars to ban free thinking. All this clouds the controversial ruler in mystery.

  But the biggest mystery comes from an underground mighty army of terra cotta warriors. We owe a great debt of gratitude to a farmer who accidentally discovered some fragments of earthen sculptures in 1974 when digging a well, and in fact he hit the jackpot and was standing on a windfall – what came to light would be widely recognized as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". Here, in three pits which cover an area of over 20,000 square meters, mud - made warriors and wagons in battle formations have silently guarded the permanent underground digs and the afterlife of the First Emperor for 2,200 years.

  
  
  
  
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  Mmmm…

  Xi'an is foodies' paradise. Of the city's yummy lil' eats, Yangrou Paomo (shredded pancakes doused in a mutton soup), Roujiamo (pork stewed for hours in a soup containing over 20 spices and seasonings) are not to be missed.

  In the case of Yangrou Paomo, be aware that first you need to "shred" the pancakes with your own hands and in a laidback way. Just take your time. The smaller the nuggets, the better. After you finish the "shredding", your bread nuggets in your bowl will be taken back into the kitchen for boiling. In less than ten minutes, a combo of boiled bread nuggets and soup comes back piping-hot, topped with a few slices of beef or mutton, chopped green onions and bean vermicelli. Keeping the bowl company is a small plate of sweet garlic and chilli. The way the first mouthful slips and slides on the tongue makes for a delightful sensation, and its richness lingers.