Leaving Xi’an via Big Goose Pagoda
October 20th, 2009 by admin
Today we took a trip to Big Goose Pagoda. It’s a beautiful place over a thousand years old and was saved from distruction during the ‘Cultural Revolution’ by the resident monk who set himself on fire to scare the red guards and save the building.
After the Pagoda we made our way to the airport to catch our flight to Jiuzhaigou. This is were we say goodbye to half our group. We’ve got quick close in the past few days and it’s a shame to say goodbye, but they now head off on thier river cruise and us on our adventure.
For dinner we had Yak meat (surprisingly nice) and Chicken’s feet (unsurprisingly not nice) along with the usual rice and veg. After dinner we took in a show (I know! Three times in one week!). This was a Tibetan song and dance show, some of which we didn’t get, but was good and interesting no the less. The music is very different from Chinese and much more rhythmical. Now an early night after a long day.
Terricotta Army Day
October 19th, 2009 by admin
We started this morning with some suprise excerise. We took a trip to see Xi’an’s city wall and it turns out that the best way to see it is on bicycle. We pedaled around on our wobbly bikes taking in the sites of the wall and the city. We saw it as a challange to get around the whole thing which is 14K! Once we made it back we were taught a little bit of Ti Chi on top of the wall, it was a really amazing place to see and the only intact city wall left in China.
After that we headed off to take a tour around the Terricotta Army. Firstly though was a trip to see the Warrior workshop where many of the replicas are made, including the ones which came to London. This was our chance to buy some minatures to bring home. I’d have loved to have had a full size one, but they were a bit too expensive right now, however, one of our group did buy one and I can’t wait to see the pictures from when they get it home!
Then with excitement we headed to see the Army itself, one of the wonders of the world. Everybody had probably heard and seen things about the army, but to see the huge room with rows and rows of warriers was much grander and awe inspiraring than we expected. We spent time wandering through the 3 pits on show and looking at the men in various states for disrepare.
An incredable day and our last day as a whole group. Tomorrow we break off into our seperate tours and will be a sad to say goodbye to really nice bunch of people.
Tags: sightseeing
Summer Palace & the journey to Xi’an
October 17th, 2009 by admin
We landed in Xian this evening and made the trip to the city with our new guide Neu(sp.). During the trip he enthralled and amazed us with his life story: during the start of Mao communist rule of China (from 1949 to 1980) he was in the Red Army, he was 16 in 1966 and throught his time during those terrible years he saw awful things and experienced a time of utter craziness. He was brought up throughout his entire life to love Chariman Mao and it wasn’t until he was 30 until when he was finally given the opportunity to essentially think for himself. It was an incredible journey listening to a remarkable life story. Needless to say he’s a happier guy now and I thanked him for sharing his story with us. We arrived at the hotel quite late and made a b-line to the bar and restaurent for dinner.
Oh hang on… I haven’t mentioned our morning at the Summer Palace, this morning, before the flight. The Palace built by the second to last Emporer (who was in fact an Emporess, the last emporers mother) who spent the entire Navy budget on this incredible lake side palace, which includes court yards and stone guardens galore. The weather was fantastic and hot! We wandered around along by the waters edge taking our time looking at the scenery and finally jumped on a dragon boat across the lake before lunch. A proper touristy day and a pleasure to see some stunning views.
OK, back to Xi’an. Xi’an has the only remaining city wall (Mao destroyed the rest). We past through the magnificent West gate of the wall to enter the city properly. A seemingly out of touch city from the impact of the last fifty years of Chinese cultural troubles, Xi’an contains relics of the ‘old’ China stretching back to roughly 4000 BC (I know!).
…I’m waffling, more tomorrow when see the city wall itself, AND the TERRICOTTA ARMY!!!! …bit excited! Nite.
P.S. Our hotel is again stunning an we can see the city wall and South gate from our huge panoramic window. Bliss!
