We got loads done during our 2 days in Xi’an. My trip included more bike riding (it’s a good job I got my Dad to take me down the park for a practice as bike riding has featured heavily on this RTW trip, I now do not regret feeling like a total retard – a 23 yr old being watched by a group of illiterate chavs while her Dad yells at her to ‘push harder on the pedals!’), volunteered at a soup kitchen, checked out a free fountain and light show and of course saw the famous Terracotta Warriors.
The Terracotta Army is a MASSIVE collection of sculptures that was originally made for the first Emporer of China, Qin Shi Huang. It was made for him to be buried with, to protect him in the afterlife. Parts of the tomb are still undiscovered and (maybe unsurprisingly?) pop up in farmers fields from time to time. Many people bitch about the fact that it’s all fake reproductions. Unfortunately parts of the tomb have been raided and destroyed over the centuries – you can see parts of the tombs as they were found, but the most breathtaking spectacle is seeing the reproductions lined up as they would have originally been. The museum documents and shows all its restoration work, and I wasn’t disappointed. The story behind it is really cool, and each soldiers face is completely original, no two are the same, can you believe that? (Current estimates state there are around 8000 soldiers!)
Our bike ride around the city walls was really fun, I still freak out on a bike but I’m getting better! And I didn’t even moan that much about having to do another fucking bike ride…I still haven’t got round to enjoying anything active or exercise based. Travelling hasn’t ‘changed me’ yet.
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