So Jack and his driver picked us up and off we went.
First stop the city wall. One of the few cities left with an intact wall.
The museum holding the Terracotta Warriors is a bit out of town. On the way, we stopped at the official government-endorsed factory that makes replicas of the warriors. I imagine it is tempting to buy a little mini-me of a soldier, a general or even an emperor. All of the larger warriors come with a detachable head, that drops into place. For an extra 2000 yuan they will take some photos and make your head to fit on your warrior.
I just KNOW that there is a life-sized Emperor somewhere in the White House with that distinctive visage grinning out.
As well as warriors of assorted sizes and prices, they also make beautiful lacquered furniture.
Sarah was loving it. This would fit in that room, we could have two of those as bedside cabinets.
These guys are geared up for tourists. The price includes packing, freight and insurance to your home port. Wherever you come from, they can slap a stamp on it and get it there in one piece.
We didn't buy anything. As tempting as many items are, we couldn't decide, so elected to walk away.
Off to the museum. Unsurprisingly, a massive area, so lots of walking to get there.
Most of the warriors are still in situ, so they have built the museum over the top of the excavation pits.
When the warriors were first discovered, they were all in pieces. The structures that had been built to form the cavern they were to inhabit, rotted and collapsed over time, crushing many.
Experts have spent years painstakingly reassembling what must be the worlds largest jigsaw puzzle. Reassembled warriors stand in their perfect ranks, as if guarding their fallen comrades.
Apparently, only one, a kneeling archer, has so far been found intact. He is referred to by some as the lucky warrior.
There are three pits in total, but number one is the most impressive. We did 1, 3 then 2, but some suggest that number one should be your last one, building up to it.
Numbers two and three are not only smaller, but there has been less excavation in them.
The actual tomb of the Emperor has been located, but the Chinese Government haven't allowed work to begin on excavating it yet.
The first warriors were only discovered in 1974, so there's time.
The warriors were discovered by farmers digging a well.
As we went into the complex, there is a souvenir store (Quelle surprise!). Sitting at one end, signing books, is the farmer who discovered them.
In any other country, he would now be one of the country's wealthiest men. In China, who knows. I imagine he's on a small government pension.
We got to shake his hand, apparently a lucky gesture. I imagine not so lucky for him, having to shake hands with literally thousands of people every day. Exhausting!
Once we were back in the city, Jack took us to the Muslum Quarter. This is basically a street displaying all sorts of ethnic foods and wares.
First stop the city wall. One of the few cities left with an intact wall.
The museum holding the Terracotta Warriors is a bit out of town. On the way, we stopped at the official government-endorsed factory that makes replicas of the warriors. I imagine it is tempting to buy a little mini-me of a soldier, a general or even an emperor. All of the larger warriors come with a detachable head, that drops into place. For an extra 2000 yuan they will take some photos and make your head to fit on your warrior.
I just KNOW that there is a life-sized Emperor somewhere in the White House with that distinctive visage grinning out.
As well as warriors of assorted sizes and prices, they also make beautiful lacquered furniture.
Sarah was loving it. This would fit in that room, we could have two of those as bedside cabinets.
These guys are geared up for tourists. The price includes packing, freight and insurance to your home port. Wherever you come from, they can slap a stamp on it and get it there in one piece.
We didn't buy anything. As tempting as many items are, we couldn't decide, so elected to walk away.
Most of the warriors are still in situ, so they have built the museum over the top of the excavation pits.
Experts have spent years painstakingly reassembling what must be the worlds largest jigsaw puzzle. Reassembled warriors stand in their perfect ranks, as if guarding their fallen comrades.
Apparently, only one, a kneeling archer, has so far been found intact. He is referred to by some as the lucky warrior.
Numbers two and three are not only smaller, but there has been less excavation in them.
The actual tomb of the Emperor has been located, but the Chinese Government haven't allowed work to begin on excavating it yet.
The first warriors were only discovered in 1974, so there's time.
As we went into the complex, there is a souvenir store (Quelle surprise!). Sitting at one end, signing books, is the farmer who discovered them.
In any other country, he would now be one of the country's wealthiest men. In China, who knows. I imagine he's on a small government pension.
We got to shake his hand, apparently a lucky gesture. I imagine not so lucky for him, having to shake hands with literally thousands of people every day. Exhausting!
Once we were back in the city, Jack took us to the Muslum Quarter. This is basically a street displaying all sorts of ethnic foods and wares.
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| Benson and Hedges, Xi'an branch. Genuinely hand-made cigarettes |
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| Very colourful |
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| Healthy food. Yeah right |
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| Mr Whippy's got nothing on this |
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