Xi'an Travel Highlights  

In March 1974, when digging wells some 1-5km/1 mile west of the Qin Shi Huang Di Mausoleum, some peasants made a sensational discovery - the now famous Terra cotta Warriors, distributed over three large underground platforms and forming part of the emperor's burial objects. Numbering more than 7000, the figures are cultural assets of considerable quality. Since they have been uncovered the figures, standing 5m/16ft down, have been at risk from the weather; a giant hall has been constructed over the first excavation site to provide protection. Although the faces of the individual warriors all have different expressions it is known that some were mass-produced in large workshops. Tomb No1 (1-26ha/over 3 acres); Tomb No2 (600sq.m/6450sq.ft); Tomb No3 (520sq.m/5600sq.ft) 

The Huaqing Hot Spring are to be found 26km/16 miles east of Xi'an at the foot of Mount Lishan in a large park containing a number of public baths and some modern palaces built in the Tang style. The hot springs, rich in minerals, were highly regarded more than 3000 years ago. The Tang Emperor Xuanzong often spent the winter here in the company of his favourite concubine Yang Guifei. Shortly afterwards, however, all the buildings were destroyed by war. The new baths constructed in 1956 include one called the Bath of Yang Guifei (Guifei Chi). 

This museum lies 4km/2.5 miles east of Xi'an on a site where, in the 1950s, archaeologists unearthed a 6000 year-old village which had operated on a matriarchal structure. About 500 people would have lived in the village, which was surrounded by a ditch 6m/20ft wide and equally deep. The houses, all facing south, were square or round in plan and arranged around a large house 160sq.m/1720sq.ft in area. Corn and other supplies were kept in the store rooms. Adults would have been buried in graves outside the living area, while children were interred near the house. Visitors can see the remains of 45 houses, 2 stables, more than 200 cellars, 6 kilns and about 250 graves. Tools and equipment made of stone, terracotta and bone have also been found. The pottery items, which are attributed to the Yangshao culture, are frequently decorated with fishes and have marks scratched on them which are probably the forerunners of a form of writing. 

Day Tour (1)

09:00 Visit the Huaqing Hot Spring & Terracotta Warriors.

12:30 Lunch.

13:30 Visit Banpo Museum, Jade Factory

Rate: 1pax: 130USD/pp 2-3pax: 105USD/pp 4-5pax: 95USD/pp 6-9pax: 80USD/pp

-------For reservations, please email Yamei Tours CPTT---------

The Provincial Museum, housed in a former Temple of Confucius in the Old Town, contains 2300 old stelae, and is known locally as the "Forest of Stelae"(Beilin). These stone tablets, which were first collected and brought together in the one place in 1090, are now distributed over six rooms, six corridors and a pavilion. The oldest date from the Han period (206 B.C. to A.D.220). Particularly well-known is the "Nestorian Stela", dating from 781, the inscription on which calls to mind the introduction of the doctrine of Nestorianism into China in the Tang Period (618-907). 

In company with that of the Small Wild Goose, the Pagoda of the Great Wild Goose is the second religious building to survive from the Tang period (618-907). It formed part of the Temple of Great Mercy and Goodness (Ci'en Si), built by Prince Li Zhi in the first half of the 7th c. in honour of his mother. Originally the complex would have had numerous courtyards and almost 2000 rooms in which 300 monks lived, but today it is much smaller. three Buddha figures can be seen in the main hall. The Gaozong Emperor Li Zhi built the Pagoda in 652 in order to house more than 650 Buddhist writings which the monk Xuanzang had brought from India and later partially translated. Originally there were only five storeys, but five more were added between 701 and 704. Later three storeys were destroyed during hostile attacks, so today the pagoda has only seven floors and is 64m/210ft tall. It is constructed in rectangular sections which taper towards the top. Two stone plaques are let into the wall on either side of the entrance; these bear inscriptions by the Tang Emperors Taizong and Gaozong. 

The Provincial Museum, housed in a former Temple of Confucius in the Old Town, contains 2300 old stelae, and is known locally as the "Forest of Stelae"(Beilin). These stone tablets, which were first collected and brought together in the one place in 1090, are now distributed over six rooms, six corridors and a pavilion. The oldest date from the Han period (206 B.C. to A.D.220). Particularly well-known is the "Nestorian Stela", dating from 781, the inscription on which calls to mind the introduction of the doctrine of Nestorianism into China in the Tang period(618-907) 

The Mosque covers an area of 12,000sq.m/130,000sq.ft and lies about 300m/330yd to the north-west of Drum Tower, in a district inhabited mainly by the Moslem Hui minority. There is said to have been a mosque here back in the Tang period (618-907). The buildings comprises five courtyards with various buildings in traditional chinese style but with Islamic decorative patterns. Built during the Ming Period (1368-1644) the mosque still has a number of its original stelae. the prayer-hall in the main building will hold up to 1000 worshippers. 

The town walls were built between 1368 and 1398 on the foundations of the old Tang (618-907) defensive walls. After extensive restorations they have now been incorporated into a "round park", 14km/9 miles in circumference, which encircles the inner town. Averaging 12m/40ft in height and 18m/60ft wide at the base, the wall is furnished with four gates and a large number of watch-towers and bastions. 

Day Tour (2)

09:00 Visit Provincial Museum.

12:00 Lunch

13:00 Visit Pagoda of the Great Wild Goose

The Mosque, The Town Walls.

17:40 Having the atmospheric Tang Dynasty Dinner Banquet

while watching the Tang Dynasty Performance.

Rate: 1pax: 130USD/pp 2-3pax: 105USD/pp 4-5pax: 95USD/pp 6-9pax: 80USD/pp

-------For reservations, please email Yamei Tours CPTT---------

• Bell Tower (Zhong Lou)
• Drum Tower (Gu Lou)

• Temple of the Town God
• Pagoda of the Small Wild Goose (Xiao Yan Ta)
• Temple of Daxingshan Si
• Historical Museum of Shaanxi Province
• Celebration Park
• Maosoleum of Jing Di
• Ruins of Efang Palace
• Mount Lishan
• Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huangdi
• Tang Tombs
• Temple of the Gateway to Dharma
• Mount Huashan
• Wall of the Green Shadow
• Temple of Great Virtue
• Residence of Zhuge Liang
• Mount Wudangshan