X'ian terracotta soldiers:
of the 7,000 or so found, many have been put back together from fragments, but this kneeling archer was THE ONLY ONE found intact!
Click to see a large image.
X'ian terracotta soldiers were found in 1974 by Mr. Yong, who was digging a well. There are some 6,000 soldiers in "Pit 1", guarding the "First Emperor" and more in "Pit 2" and "Pit 3". All of them are as tall as a tall man ... for a sense of scale, please note that there are people walking on the walkway above!
Click for a large image.
X'ian terracotta soldiers: at this end of Pit 1, archeologists have a long job ahead of them, restoring the soldiers that were broken into fragments by armies who attacked soon after Emperor Quin died in 206 B.C. and by the wooden roofing above them collapsing over the 2,200 years since they were put here. Each soldier has different facial features and detailed uniform, armour, shoes, weapons, etc. Click to see a larger image.
Buddha sitting in front of the Great Goose Pagoda in X'ian. The pagoda was built in 652 A.D. Click to see a large image.
If you rub the Fat Laughing Buddha's belly, you will have good luck.
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 In front of the Great Goose Pagoda in X'ian. It was built in 652 A.D. Because of an earthquake centuries ago, it is leaning to the left a bit! And because of the May 2008 earthquake in nearby Sichuan province, it is closed for repairs. Click to see a large image. We are travelling here on a trip arranged by an extremely efficient Chinese travel company that built us our custom itinerary, with local guides, drivers and first class hotels, they are at: http://www.chinahighlights.com/  |
X'ian had a million people in the 9th century, possibly the largest and wealthiest city in the world at that time, at the eastern terminus of the Silk Road. Today, it has 7 million. But it still has its city walls intact, 13 kilometers long. Here we are on top of the city wall near the South Gate. Click to see a large image.
Terracotta soldiers, guarding the tomb of Emperor Qin. His tomb will not be excavated, maybe for another 100 years, maybe "never". The soldiers are between 1.75 m and 1.95 m tall, same as tall men ... for a perspective, just note that people are on the walkway above the pit. Click to see a large image.
A few of the best preserved soldiers are kept in glass cases right next to "Pit 1" where they were found. Click to see a large image.
Click here to see photos from from Daegu and Gyeongju, South Korea and Seoul, South Korea, Beijing, The Great Wall, Chongqing, Fengdu "City of Ghosts", Yangtze River and the "Lesser Three Gorges", the Three Gorges Dam, Wuhan, Shanghai, Suzhou, or go back to Barbara's narrative of the trip.