Xian and the Warriors

Xian, China is famous for the Terracotta Warriors  This is why people come here.   However, there are a few other interesting sites including the Muslim quarter and the old city wall.

The Muslim quarter is a sight for the senses.  There are people selling all sorts of food.  Squid on a stick was quite popular.  If they don’t sell it as food, they can repurpose it as a puppet!

The mosque in the quarter is a lovely mixture of gardens and structures.  On the surface it looks decidedly Chinese but when you look closely there are clear Arab and Persian touches.

Below is where the muezzin makes the call for prayer.

While we were at the mosque, a bride and groom were having their photos taken.

After walking around the quarter, we headed to lunch.  Penguin was horrified when he saw the dumplings.

The next day, we headed out to see what we all came to Xian for, the famed Terracotta Warriors.  They were discovered in 1974 by a farmer digging a well.  They date from the Qin dynasty which ended around 210 BCE and were buried with the emperor to protect him in the afterlife.

This first pit has the most number of restored warriors.  When you walk in, you are confronted by them.

They all have different faces and expressions, and the detail is incredible.

It is believed that when they were buried, they had wooden weapons in their hands.  These burned during a fire when a rebel general later entered the tomb and pretty much trashed and burned it.  You can see how they are holding their hands.

What the general did is why the warriors were found in pieces.  The archeologists are now working on one of the biggest, and perhaps most important, jigsaw puzzle in the world.

The Penguin was in awe!

After a morning of warriors, we headed to the old city wall.  It’s only about 600 years old and is a nice way to see the city.

Our next stop, and the next post, is Chengdu.  I promise, you won’t want to miss it!!!!