A Weekend sortie to Xi'An - home of the Terracotta Warriors
69Getting there
Ever since I heard about the discovery of the terracotta army, I've had a desire to see it with my own eyes. Such megalomania, such a belief in one's own immortality, the mind boggles at what China's very first emperor, Emperor Qin created in his lifetime. From the minute he ascended to the position, he collected together 780 000 people to build his mausoleum and the terracotta army. Considering that this was just over 2000 years ago is amazing and unbelievable. The Chinese definitely had technology at their disposable, that was far advanced to anything anywhere else in the world at that time.
Xi'An was definitely top of my list of places to see in China. But, after three years and due to leave in three months, I'm running out of time. Hence, my decision to go for a quick flying in and flying out sortie. Fly to Xi'An Friday night and return Saturday night. You really only need a day.
The cheap flights I managed to organise at a cheaper price than the overnight train, caused a flutter of nervousness when we found out it wasn't a recognisable airline. GS was its code, so we immediately nicknamed it Gunshot Airlines. When we boarded the plane with the cute cartoon dragon on its tail, (I mean, what reputable airline would have a cute cartoon dragon?) and saw the flight attendants wearing tracksuits and running shoes, our fears were not allayed. However, Grand China Express proved to be very good, in fact, we arrived at our destination safely and unscathed. We even survived all the old age pensioners all wearing the red peak caps from their tour group. It just proves that a sophisticated logo and beautifully dressed flight attendants does not make you the best.
If you ever make it to Xi'An, I recommend the Prince International Hotel which is centrally situated, is four stars and only cost $35 a night!
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Comments
But, what do you think about that system where one woman has many husbands?
well good luck to her come bedtime! LOL kidding aside, i would like to say that i was initially taken to the idea that it sure sounds like some form of social/gender equality but it's not, the same way that having concubines is not. obviously, from an outsider's point of view it is easy to say that women rule then but we don't know the first thing about social roles and status during those times. i think i did not come up with an answer! :D
I have to say that there has to be a reason why there were so few women and so many men at that time. Cause there would have to have been a male surplus for this to have worked.
WAY cool -- I've always wanted to see all those terracotta figures. Thanks for the great photos (and captions). The system where the woman had many husbands sounds reasonable -- I've always wanted a few men around, one to fix things and open jars, etc, one to work at a great job, and one to take care of me. Why the heck not? I'm self-centered and immature enough!
Thanks for showing us some "real" China, too. I look forward to reading more of your adventures.
Hope you do a hub when you return giving your emotions upon actually seeing the army
Hi Teresa, am not sure people would want to see the real China, it's quite frightening hahaha
Hawkesdream, the warriors were so impressive, mindblowing in fact. What's interesting, is that (strange for China) they are using only original fragments to piece together a smashed warrior, no fake bits at all. The warriors you see standing in rows have all been pieced together. They have a warrior hospital there, where they work on putting them together and it can take up to a year to piece together a warrior. It is painstaking work. The emperor after Emperor Qin, ordered all the warriors to be smashed and the wooden beam rooms they were in were all set on fire as they used to have wooden chariots and wooden weapons with them. Another interesting discovery, is that many of the daggers and spear heads were chrome plated - a technology the Germans thought they'd invented in the 1930's, but was already being done by China 2000 years before!. It was awesome and definitely a once in a lifetime experience. I go in for those.
I can feel your passion,thanks. maybe a hub on' chrome origins'
amazing hub, and the photos are brilliant!
what a fantastic trip, and a great journal for you to remember everything by.
Good hubbing!
Thanks London girl and Silver Freak, I do enjoy putting these travel hubs together. Next week I have a whole week of school holidays, so will put together a few more travel hubs of places I've visited. The end of April, I'm going down to spend a weekend with the Shaolin monks, where Kung Fu originated, so that should be cool. Watch out for that hub in a month's time!
Cris A says:
9 months ago
Ah we meet again, Ms Vine!
I say the Emperor was megalomanic AND paranoid! Yeah feng shui that! Anyway, I enjoyed the captions as I did the pictures. Your boots are sure made for walkin'! Thanks for sharing :D