Joanna James
China has been the home to many great cities that have been pivotal in the trajectory of the nation as a whole. Xi’an is one such city that has had a significant impact on the way that China was able to develop and what makes it such an interesting nation to visit in modern times.
There are few things as representative of the cultural heritage that exudes from Xi’an than the huge assembly of terracotta warriors and horses that have been preserved for thousands of years. This discovery was most certainly one of the biggest archaeological finds during the 20th century. It was discovered surrounding the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and is now a highlight on many people’s itineraries when they visit the city.
Visitors will be stunned to witness thousands of life-size warriors moulded out of terracotta standing guard for over 2000 years just 30 kilometres from the city of Xi’an.
This is a must-visit for any traveller who has a few hours in their day.
Much of the ingenuity of these long-ago kingdoms lie in the thoughtfulness and strategic approaches that were taken to ensure that safety and security were maintained.
In a stunning example of city fortification, the walls that surround the old city of Xi’an is without doubt of the oldest, biggest and best-preserved city walls from ancient times to be found in China. Stretching across 14 kilometres there is much to be appreciated by the monolithic watchtowers built to monitor against intruders, the drawbridges as well as the gate towers.
Now, this site is used as a popular stretch of land for people looking to go for a stroll or simply ride their bikes. You can even enter the wall and view the city life as well!
Buddhism has long been a major religion in China. This primarily stems from the historical understanding of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda as one of the birthplaces of Buddhism for this region of the world. It is believed that this pagoda was built between the years 618-907 during the Tang Dynasty to provide monks with a place to study the Buddhist scriptures that were brought to China from India by a Buddhist monk by the name of Xuanzang.
This massive structure is considered to be a true symbol of the city of Xi’an. Standing at roughly 34 metres tall, the Drum Tower is the largest of its kind to be found in China. Having been constructed in the 14th century, the building itself contains 24 drums that date back thousands of years.
For true enthusiasts on the stories of history, this museum is free of charge to enter and contains close to 400,000 historical relics for the viewing pleasure of visitors. It is also one of the biggest museums in China, covering a vast scale of roughly 70,000 square meters! If you are staying at one of the Xi’an hotels such as the Grand Park Xian you are in luck as the museum is just a 15-minute drive away.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
