Category: Xian

Jul 16.
We leave Beijing for a quick and I mean a really quick visit to Xian to see the Terra Cotta Soliders. Up at 4:30 a.m. to catch a 7:15 a.m. flight two hours to Xian, tour the museum, visit the City Wall, and then head to the airport for dinner and to catch a two hour evening flight to Dunhuang.

Xian, for me it is all about the Terra Cotta Soldiers. Four years ago, on my first trip to the PRC and to see the Terra Cotta Soldiers, I wasn’t sure of what to expect. This time, there were images that I’ve had locked into my head that I missed and wanted to capture. Other than complying with the new “No Tripods Allowed” restrictions, I feel that I did better job, translating what I had in my mind’s eye into a digital image.

Back to chronicling the trip. The “pits” where the soldiers are located were a sauna; hot and not much air movement. Fortunately, the display is so impressive that your senses are at least overwhelmed and awed to the point that the heat and lack of fresh air momentarily take a back seat. After a couple of hours, though, it is time to move on and seek air conditioning.

That respite comes in the form of our tour director, Jason, saying, “It’s time to leave and get lunch.” the idea of ice tea sounds really good. Originally, our schedule called for our group to overnight in Xian but due to an airline schedule change, we altered our plans to fly in and out the same day. So the day is mainly geared to visit the Terra Cotta Soldiers. Once we finish lunch, there is barely enough time for a quick thirty minute visit to the Xian City Wall, drive to the airport to eat and catch the next flight. Hectic, but well worth the visit to see the Terra Cotta Soldiers.