Xi'an Travel Blogs - Page 2

History says that the first emperor of China, emperor Qin, was so obsessed with immortality that he searched for the ultimate drug to make him immortal. Mercury at that time was so rare that all his doctors thought this was the wonder drug they have all been seeking for. So slowly, Emperor Qin woul…

Or Terror Otter Oreos, as Dragon calls them. Unearthed in 1974 by a farmer digging a well, over 6,000 hand-carved life-size clay soldiers are the highlight of a visit to Xi'an. Dating back about 2,000 years, the Oreos all face east, to protect China's first emperor, Qin Shihuang. Some are stil…

Amazing trip and amazing people. Beijing, Yichang Chongquin Xian Guilin Shanghai

Four of us from the group went out for a few beers in an expensive 'foreigner'  bar (Expensive for China, just over a pound a beer) the night before going to see the Terracotta Warriors. I only had three beers, I didn't really fancy having hangover the next day whilst sight seeing in…

Hua Shan is one of Taoism's sacred mountains in China. When you google it you'll learn the mountains offer the most dangerous hiking trail on earth (http://www.ssqq.com/ARCHIVE/vinlin27d.htm)  I wanted to go there but with my antipathy to all kinds of package tours I was thinking of how to do …

Gran Pagoda de la Oca SalvajeMuseo de los Guerreros y caballos de TerracotaMausoleo de Qin Shi HuangMezquitaBarrio MusulmanEste día es una de las visitas turísticas mas importantes de la China actual, visitar el museo de los Guerreros de Terracota en la tumba del emperador Qin Shi Huang.

Photos from five weeks in China and Tibet last summer. This was my second venture with Eastern Michigan University's CHT programs. We began in Shanghai then travelled on to Nanjing, Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu then flew to Lhasa, Tibet. Night trains, Sultana taxis, and one illegal/broken down bus later, I am please to share with you China and Tibet.

Yup, it happened. It's the first time something like this has happened to me while travelling, and to be honest, it was my fault. We spent the morning wandering around town - we saw the Great Goose Pagoda, had a MacDonald's lunch and found our way into the Muslim Quarter. We bought a few souvenirs…

Country of contrast! :) i've been in nine cities in China and would love to visit some others:)

I had heard that purchasing tickets at Xi'An train station was a tall order due to the limited English language skills of the vendors. So, perched upon a cold lump of concrete in the car park outside the ticket hall, I get to work using my finest Biro artistry to reproduce the Chinese character…

These are some photos and a few journal entries I wanted to share from my first solo backpacking trip. It lasted 9 months. In retrospect, I wish I had been on this site to write a blog in real time and learn from all the people here. Also, I just love seeing that map Travbuddy draws up outlining my route! I'll be adding my photos whenever I find some time so bare with me while I get them them up.

The plane lands in a grey twilight and I check my watch, something is wrong; the watch says 3pm the sky say 6pm. A dull grey sadness covers what is described by many as the most important city in China's history. Xi'an, the home of the world famous terracotta warriors. The air is choking and I hurr…

After Beijing we moved on to Xi'an to check out the Terra-cotta Army, Banpo Neolithic Village and Qin Emperor's Tomb. We booked our tour from the receptionist at the best hostel in  town and jumped on the bus. With us on the tour was an Italian guy that spoke German not Italian and a family of…

So after hitting up Tianamen Square and the Forbidden City (photos to follow as the internet connection here is not conducive to uploading), we took an overnight train from Bejing to Xi'an, home of the Terracotta Warriors.The Warriors were created as part of an extravagant masoleum to the first emp…

I arrived in Xi'an at about 10:00AM, Tuesday morning and took a taxi to the Hotel Sofitel, which I had looked at on the internet weeks before at a rate of $165, but didn't book.  This part of the trip was on my dime so I really didn't want to spend a lot of money on hotel accomodations and the…