Joanna James
Xian is a well-known city as the capital of the Shaanxi Province and more so as the eastern end of the famed Silk Route as well as home to the ruling houses of the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties in a bygone era. This trip with your kids will be one of learning, wonder and enjoyment for them.
Your kids will be excited to witness this collection of hundreds of life-sized clay warriors in pits at this Terracotta Army site. The set-up resembles an army preparing for battle and each sculpture is unique in design. The site is truly intriguing to adults and kids alike. Considered to be symbolising the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Chinese emperor, this site is a display of funerary art in his honour. Have your kids visit the clay factories in the vicinity to see how the warriors were made and even try their hand at clay sculpting as enjoyed by families from hotels in Xian China.
This is the oldest, the largest and the best-preserved city wall in all of China standing proud at being 600 years old. The vast fortification of the city offers kids a field day where they can walk, jog or even cycle and in most cases, parents join them too. Seeing families cycling using either single bikes or even tandem bikes available for hire is a common sight. Have them enjoy the excellent view of the old city from the top of the wall which is an awesome sight indeed.
The Wild Goose Pagoda or Da Cien Buddhist Temple along with its large garden not far from the Shaanxi History Museum is a much-visited attraction by locals and visitors such as those at Grand Park Xian. The pagoda dates back to the Tang Dynasty between 600-700AD. The gardens provide a colourful oasis for visitors, especially for those with kids who love to explore the enchanting park and the views of it at night when the 40-minute musical water show is held.
An ideal place to get your children to pick up souvenirs of their visit to Xian and more interestingly for them to pick up quirky snacks from the street food stalls. Situated in the centre of Xian, the walk down Muslim Quarter will be unique for them, stepping down narrow alleyways with cobblestone paving to discover a variety of shops selling souvenirs and snacks they can purchase on their own. The whole family can even have a meal together down one of the alleyways and take unique memories back home.
Boiled, steamed or fried, China is famous for dumplings with various fillings. There is no better time to learn about dumplings than in Xian when you are with kids. It is also a fun way to have your kids experience local vibes. Arrange to visit a local family to learn to make this famous snack of the Chinese by yourselves. After learning how to do it, your enjoyment of this magnificent meal will be even better as it is a collective accomplishment to be cherished for a long time.
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