西安Xi’an, historically known as Chang’an, is the capital of the Shanxi province. Historically, Xi’an was the trade terminus of the Silk Road, an ancient trade route that connected China with the Mediterranean. Today, Xi’an still holds over 3,100 years of history and the famous Terracotta warriors. In 652, construction of The Da Yan Pagoda大雁塔 (Wild Goose Pagoda) began as a storage space of the translations of the Buddhist sutras obtained from India. In 904, Chang’an was destroyed; residents were forced to move to the new capital Luoyang.
汉阳陵 Han4 Yang2 Ling2 The Mausoleum of the Western Han Emperor Liu Qi 刘启is located at Zhangjiawan Village, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Xi’an. It is the joint tomb of Liu Qi, and his empress, Empress Wang. In addition to the two tombs, the mausoleum also includes a ceremonial site, human sacrifice graveyard, and criminals' cemetery.
The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses兵马俑Bing1 Ma3 Yong3 are the most significant archeological excavations of the 20th century. Work is ongoing at this site, which is around 1.5 kilometers east of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's.
The Terracotta Warriors refer to the collection of sculptures located in Xi’an of the armies of Qin Shi Huang. These sculptures were constructed in factories by government workers and local craftsmen. Studies indicate that most likely eight face molds were used and then craftsmen added clay to the faces to create individual features.
Oh those were the days!
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