Xi'An

Located in the Shanxi province, Xi’an is the oldest of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China. Xi’an was the starting point of the silk road that connected East to the West and allowed the trading of goods and ideas. Today it is a bustling city, a blend of old and new and a perfect place to learn more about the over 5000 years of Chinese history.

Walls 城墙

The ancient city walls stretch 14km around the old city and are the oldest and most intact ancient chinese wall in existence. Now that they have been restored, you can ride bikes along the top and enjoy the view of the city from above.

Bell Tower 钟楼

In the centre of the city is the Bell Tower, which was built during the Ming dynasty. It is the largest bell tower in structure and shape and is the best preserved one. Nearby you can visit the Drum Tower, which is also the largest one existing one in China.

Terracotta Warriors 兵马俑

The main attraction in Xi’an is the Terracotta Warriors, also known as the “eighth wonder of the world” . Built from 246BC to 248BC, the purpose of the army was to protect the tomb of the first chinese emperor in this life and the afterlife. The Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum is the largest mausoleum in China and took 700,000 artisans over 40 years to complete. It was discovered in 1974, when local farmers were drilling a well and unearthed the terracotta fragments. Originally, the warriors were painted with bright colours and holding wooden weapons but in time they have eroded away. Leaving the unique life-size figures with varied facial features hairstyles still standing in battle formation.

The site is split into 3 pits with 8000 soldiers, 1300 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses in total. Pit 1 is the largest among the 3 pits, measuring 230 meters long, 64 meters wide with an area of 14, 260 square meters. The Pit 2 is where the cavalry and infantry units as well as war chariots were found. Pit 3 is where the command centre of the high ranking army generals were found. On display, you can also find two bronze carriages driven by four horses which are the biggest and earliest known bronze relics in China.

Shaanxi History Museum 陕西历史博物馆

The Shaanxi History Museum is the first large-scale modern national museum in China. The collections displayed hold abundant cultural remains and profound history of the 13 ancient dynasties. The museum houses over 370,000 items ranging from stone-made tools, jade articles from the Han dynasty to gold ware from the Tang dynasty. The Beast Head Agate Cup is the most valuable treasure of the museum with a golden mouth and three-coloured agate demonstrating high-skilled craftsmanship.

Wild Goose Pagoda 大雁塔

Nearby, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is a sacred buddhist site and was built over 13,00 years ago during the Tang dynasty. In front of the temple, stands a statue of Xuanzang, who first brought Buddhism to China. The pagoda stands at 64.5 metres tall with 7 stories constructed by layers of bricks without any cement. The reason it was named wild goose was because one of buddhist branches used to eat meat and after a wild goose broke its wing and fell to the ground, they vowed to stop eating meat. You can actually go inside to climb up the tower and look down on the view below. From the north window, you may be able to see the musical fountain show in the north square.

Tang Paradise 大唐芙蓉园

The Tang dynasty was the most prosperous period of Chinese history known for its flourishing trade, art and culture. The huge modern theme park covers an area of 300-acres and includes 14 different types of cultural districts including sculptures, performances and architecture. Combined, recreate the brilliance and grandeur of the Tang royal palaces for all.

Another notable quality of the Tang dynasty was the elevated role of women in society and strives towards gender equality. The best example of this is the first female emperor in the history of China, Empress Wu Zetian. She reigned during 618 - 907 common era and was one of the most effective and controversial monarchs in China’s history. You can even watch a reenactment of her reign performed with historically accurate instruments and costumes.