Sunday June 21
After an interesting overnight train ride, we arrived in Xian around 10:00 am. Our first taste of the culture of Xian was a trip to the local McDonald’s where we ate an exotic meal of double cheeseburgers and fries. Following our dining experience, we checked into our hotel (again, REALLY nice), freshened up with a well-needed shower, and headed out to explore Xian. Our first major stop was to the city wall. Built during the Ming Dynasty around 1370, it was intended to protect the then capital of China from invasion. The wall is massive and dwarfs the famous city wall of York, England. There are three gates and we entered through the south. The total perimeter of the wall is totals more than 8 miles and it averages around 30 meters in height. It is the only fully intact city wall in all of China and helped to protect the start of the ancient silk road . It is truly an impressive sight and the opportunity to walk on the wall was surreal.
Following the wall visit, we went to the Shanxi Provincial Historical Museum. This was a fairly typical museum that traced the history of Shanxi Provence from pre-historic times through the Qing dynasty. There had a few original Terra Cotta warriors which was cool.
After the museum, we had lunch at a traditional Chinese restaurant and headed to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This structure is actually a Buddhist temple built on a site where a goose dropped dead after monks prayed for meat (go figure!) We ended the day with a traditional dinner of dumplings and had the opportunity to sample around 25 different types. After dinner, we watched a traditional Tang dynasty singing and dancing show where the performers used musical instruments and costumes from that era. After the performance, time to crash. Tomorrow, it’s a visit to see the Terre Cotta warriors…
After an interesting overnight train ride, we arrived in Xian around 10:00 am. Our first taste of the culture of Xian was a trip to the local McDonald’s where we ate an exotic meal of double cheeseburgers and fries. Following our dining experience, we checked into our hotel (again, REALLY nice), freshened up with a well-needed shower, and headed out to explore Xian. Our first major stop was to the city wall. Built during the Ming Dynasty around 1370, it was intended to protect the then capital of China from invasion. The wall is massive and dwarfs the famous city wall of York, England. There are three gates and we entered through the south. The total perimeter of the wall is totals more than 8 miles and it averages around 30 meters in height. It is the only fully intact city wall in all of China and helped to protect the start of the ancient silk road . It is truly an impressive sight and the opportunity to walk on the wall was surreal.
Following the wall visit, we went to the Shanxi Provincial Historical Museum. This was a fairly typical museum that traced the history of Shanxi Provence from pre-historic times through the Qing dynasty. There had a few original Terra Cotta warriors which was cool.
After the museum, we had lunch at a traditional Chinese restaurant and headed to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This structure is actually a Buddhist temple built on a site where a goose dropped dead after monks prayed for meat (go figure!) We ended the day with a traditional dinner of dumplings and had the opportunity to sample around 25 different types. After dinner, we watched a traditional Tang dynasty singing and dancing show where the performers used musical instruments and costumes from that era. After the performance, time to crash. Tomorrow, it’s a visit to see the Terre Cotta warriors…
Confucian Temple, Confucius Statue
Summer Palace
Greg at the Bird's Nest
Lama Temple
Man I am so going to visit China when I grow up.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like so much fun. You now have bragging rights.
Also how was the exotic McDonald’s? :) Are there any differences between that McDonald’s and here in Indy? Funny picture at the Bird’s Nest, and are you in the street? Who is taking the pictures you are in, obviously not you?
And are you the one posting these or is it still Apryl?
Sounds like alot of fun. We can't wait to see all your pictures and hear all of your exciting stories. You will need a vacation when you get back to recoup. Sounds like you have been kept very, very busy.
ReplyDeleteRene'
Rebecca,
ReplyDeleteThe McDonald's menu is incredibly similar. What I found different is that the burgers are made PERFECTLY. The look like the pictures in the adds, everything straight, cheeese on just right.
Now the Pizza Hut menu, that's a different story. Totally different than in the states...