The Enchanting city of Xian

The Enchanting city of Xian
Ava11 May 19, 2014 16:03

As a copyeditor with a leading news website of India, I spent a lot of my time at the news desk viewing pictures from the various news agencies of the world for photo spreads and picture stories.

Quite often, I'd come across pictures of the Terracotta Army and I’d be amazed to see the intricately carved structures. I would wonder if I'd ever be able to visit that place.

I finally went to Xian on this labor day holiday and I must say I had a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

There are many cities in the world which are a perfect blend of the traditional and the modern. Xian is one such place. At one side of the road there are the famous Bell and Drum Towers and on the other side you can find some of the top International brand showrooms. Prada, Gucci, and Zara you name it and you have it.

There are many people who’d say, ‘You must visit Beijing and Shanghai when in China’. I would, however, say that you must also visit X’ian to get a brush with China’s rich cultural heritage. The magnificent City Wall, The Terracotta army in all its grandeur, The Great Mosque and the numerous other historical monuments would leave you spellbound.

At times, you’ll feel that you are running short of time. I’d recommend you to take a full four days trip to the city, if you want a relaxing holiday.Otherwise, you’d find yourself running from one spot to the other.

There are many tourist spots in Xian that are open till late in the night like the City Wall and The Bell and Drum Towers. They also look more charming in the night with the magnificent display of lights. You can, therefore, keep those visits in the evenings and utilize your day to visit other spots.

The Terracotta Warriors
The first and most important site of all is Qin Shi Huang’s enchanting Terracotta Army. The site is about 40 minutes from the central city and is divided into three major pits or excavation sites besides the museum.

The biggest and the most grand of all is Pit 1, which houses the largest number of Terracotta warriors. A must-visit for any traveler, the Terracotta army in all its splendor is a site not to be missed.

The City Wall
Next on the list is the regal City Wall, built by the Tang dynasty. We were at the South Gate of the wall sharp at 9 to watch the welcome ceremony. Nothing grand but it adds some charisma to the whole experience.

A ride across the wall gives you a glimpse of Xian city and the how the wall glides through the city, a symbol of its ancient history. On the whole a fulfilling experience!!!

The Pagodas and Towers
The Bell and Drum towers are situated in the heart of the city and have some captivating engravings and designs that prove to be a treat for the eyes. A symbol of the city, they look resplendent in the night!!!

The Giant Goose Pagoda and the small goose pagoda, located in southern Xian have their own charm and history. These massive Buddhist pagodas, built during the reign of the Tang dynasty, have an enchanting beauty of their own.

The Muslim Street and The Great Mosque
The Muslim street, together with its eateries and curio shops, is another attraction of Xian, specially for the lovers of kebab. There are numerous small eating joints selling different varieties of meat and kebab dishes, besides naan bread.

At one end of the street is The Great Mosque of Xian, that gives you a glimpse of the muslim presence in China. The structures and the ruins of the Great Mosque make a striking picture. The place has a serene calm, even though it’s located in the middle of the city and right in the center of the bustling Muslim street.

The Huaqing Pool
The Huaqing Pool(also known as Huaqing Hot Spring) is famous for its picturesque beauty and scenic areas. The place is also the famous romantic spot of Emperor Xuanzong and his beloved concubine Yang Guifei, during the Tang Dynasty reign.
The place is full of many historically significant hot springs and bath pools. The historic 1936 Xian incident when Chiang Kaishek was kidnapped by former warlord Zhang Xueliang, also happened here.

For me, the whole experience of Xian was out of the world and undoubtedly one of the most memorable trips of my life. There were many sites which I could not visit as I ran short of time but I think I’d go back to see them again. Such is the captivating effect of Xian’s cultural and historical beauty.

For anyone visiting China, your itinerary would be incomplete without paying a trip to Xian. At the end, you'd be highly satisfied!!!

Tags:General Health & Environment Arts & Entertainment Relationships Travel Food Language & Culture Expat Rants & Advice Expat Tales Lifestyle

3 Comments

All comments are subject to moderation by eChinacities.com staff. Because we wish to encourage healthy and productive dialogue we ask that all comments remain polite, free of profanity or name calling, and relevant to the original post and subsequent discussion. Comments will not be deleted because of the viewpoints they express, only if the mode of expression itself is inappropriate. Please use the Classifieds to advertise your business and unrelated posts made merely to advertise a company or service will be deleted.

Ava11

There is some problem with the font. The text is not appearing properly :(

May 22, 2014 22:08 Report Abuse

tomcatflyer

We were in Xian earlier this year and whilst the historical sights were really good and the old traditional shopping streets just inside the city wall were really enjoyable like so many other places we were put off by two things. One was the rudeness of a lot of the people, some were very nice but these were in the minority. The second was the pollution levels, for half the week we were there it was between 460 and 510. China could be so good if only these two factors could be improved, but sadly I don't think either are going to change very quickly.

May 20, 2014 22:45 Report Abuse

Ava11

Yes your are right about the pollution. China definitely needs to improve on that. However, I didnot come across any rude people. In fact they were quite nice.

May 22, 2014 21:58 Report Abuse