Xian

Next on the list was Xian, and it was a great city. We spent 5 days 4 nights here, and we couldn't have picked a better place. Good food, good food, and more good cheap food! Oh yeah, there was a ton of history as well, with more sites to see in one area than anywhere we've been so far - the oldest city in China were told.

Here is a picture of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in town taken at night. We were there to see a really nice water show that happens every night. Us and about 10 thousand other people! It was pretty nice, but we did unfortunately get a little wet due some young Chinese hoodlums whom decided it would be a good idea to jump into the middle of the fountain and divert the water spray towards the crowd!
A view of the same Pagoda during the day.The bell tower near the center of the city inside the city walls. A pretty significant place in Xian.A view of city walls at the south gate at night.So one of the main reason people come to Xian is to visit the infamous Terracotta Warriors. An army of warriors built by an Emperor (whose name I can't think of right now) to guard his tomb. I'll spare the history lesson as information is readily available on the net (or you probably know all about it already), but it is an amazing site and the Chinese have done a great job in preserving it. This is one of the pits uncovered, but most of the warriors had been destroyed.Here however, many of them are still intact. Thousands of these warriors were made and then buried, yet only a small number of them have been uncovered.A little closer look... each one has a completely different face. Really unbelievable to see in person. These were built and buried over 2000 years ago, yet they still held together quite well. Each warrior was holding a weapon, which were still sharp when unearthed because they had been chrome plated (a technology until these were found was thought to be only 50-60 years old). This site alone makes the trip to Xian, or China for that matter well worth it.
A new look... I was trying out some glasses that seem to be quite popular with the locals in the Muslim quarter in Xian.
Another site the Chinese have done amazingly well to preserve is the Ancient Banpo Village. Obviously not as visually spectacular as the Terracotta Warriors, but in comparison it makes Terracotta seem young. Remnants of the Banpo village date back 6000 years, in comparison to the 2000 year old Terracotta site! Below is the foundation of a hut which was once there.

This is apparently a tomb which includes the remains an individual and the sacrificial items laid to rest with them. These items were usually the clay pots and tools which would be used everyday, but probably of great value...
Another tomb, but they weren't really sure why there were 4 individuals in this one...
We enjoyed these and many other sites in Xian, and are sad to be leaving. At the same time were also pretty excited in what lay ahead as we're heading west into some pretty interesting territory. We're off tonight by train to Jiauguan, just a quick 18 hour trip away!