Xi'an

X'IAN ATTRACTIONS

Terra cotta Warriors - The Terra cotta Warriors and Horses Museum is located 1.5 km east of Emperor Qinshi Huang's Mausoleum.Three pits have been uncovered. Pit No. 1 is the largest and contains more than 6,000 clay terra cotta warriors and horses all very life-like. They look healthy, strong and have different facial expressions. The warriors and horses are arrayed in the oblong battle formation of the Qin Dynasty, facing east. It is the most magnificent archaeological discovery this century. Thousands of real weapons were unearthed from these terra cotta army pits. These weapons were exquisitely made. Some of them are very sharp since their surfaces were treated with chromium.They are as bright as new, although having been buried underground for more than 2,000 years. In 1980 two teams of large painted bronze chariots and horses was unearthed 20 metres west of the mausoleum.

City Wall - The City Wall of X'ian is an extension of the Old Tang Dynasty structure. X'ian is one of the few cities in China where old city walls are still visible. The X'ian City Wall stands 12 m high and is 13.7 km in length. There are towers every 120m, a total of 98 along the wall. The distance between two towers is within the range of an arrow shot from either side. The gates of the City Wall were the only way to go into or out of the town.

Huaqing Hot Springs is located 35 km east of X'ian. Originally the Li Palace was constructed on this site. In the Qin Dynasty the stone pool was built and was named Lishan Hot Springs. It was later enlarged and called Li Palace. The construction of the Hot Springs Palace was commenced during the Tang Dynasty. The Huaqing Hot Springs we see today was rebuilt on the site of the Qing Dynasty structure. Enter the West Gate to the Huaqing Hot Springs and you will see the Nine-Dragon Pool, the Lotus Flower Pool and the Frost Drifting Hall- all rebuilt in 1959 according to Tang architectural style. The Palace covers an area of 85,560 sq. m.