Xian

2 may 2012

I remember well the awe I felt seeing the terracotta army over 25 years ago

I remember well the awe I felt seeing the terracotta army over 25 years ago when parts had only just been exposed to the public. Now the exhibition is expansive and wonderfully laid out for visitors to see. The extent of the excavations that have been done since 1985 is really impressive particularly as you can see the archeologists at work and it's clear how painfully slow the work has to be. By getting to the site early it was easy to get to see all the excavation sites and to get as close as possible to see the intricate details on the figures and horses. The reassembled chariot and carriage were equally impressive. It 's hard to believe that on taking up the throne at 13 years old, Qin Shihuang instructed over 700,000 labourers to reconstruct his real life scenarios in clay figurines over an area of 56.25kms in preparation  for the possible  after life. I wonder how much more there is still to be discovered under the ground in this area.

Around the Great Mosque which blends Islamic and Chinese architecture, are the clear signs of the mixed ethnicities and the joys of cultures to come as I go west. The little back alleys in this part of town are full of Hui food stalls, spices, clothes and items of worship. It's a fantastic part of the city.