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After visiting Beijing, I traveled to Xi'an, one of the ancient capitals of China. Situated in the Yellow River Basin area, Xi'an is the easternmost point on the Silk Road, which brought travelers from as far as India. Many new concepts were introduced to China because of the Silk Road, and Xi'an is a great place to learn about China's long history of cultural heritage.
Terracotta Army
 The highlight of Xi'an was my visit to the Terracotta Army. In 1974 a group of farmers discovered the terracotta warriors while digging a well. This lucky event turned out to be one of the most significant archaeological events in the last century. The warriors were built to protect the tomb of the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, who lived from 259 BC to 210 BC. The emperor desired to rule in the afterlife and intended for his terracotta army to help him do so. Emperor Qin Shi Huang may not have achieved his goal of conquering the afterlife, but in a way he did become immortal.
As its name suggests, Emperor Qin's army is made of terracotta, a type of clay. During the 3rd century BC when the warriors were first constructed, artisans made the bodies and heads of the warriors separately. To create the bodies, artisans would use molds to form the parts of the body beginning with the square plate beneath the feet. Next they would create feet and two legs, often with details like muscle tone and short pants. The hollow torso was made by coiling strips of clay upwards, reinforcing it with sackcloth, and then adjusting the finer details like shape and size. The arms were made in a similar way and then attached to the torso. The heads were more complicated to make than the bodies. Starting with a generic head-shaped mold, the artisans could construct individual facial features by applying several layers of clay. Interestingly, the distinctive faces of the terracotta warriors were made to resemble actual warriors in Emperor Qin's army.
It is estimated that there were over 8,000 warriors constructed originally, along with hundreds of chariots and horses. The majority of those figures did not survive to this day. Happily, even though almost all of the figures were broken when discovered, hundreds have been pieced back together for display in the three archaeological pits at the museum. Many figures are still being reconstructed today.
Da Ci'en Temple
 I also enjoyed seeing the Da Ci'en Temple which is famously known for the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The Da Ci'en Temple is a holy place for people of the Buddhist faith. As I walked through the grounds, I saw many people stop to burn incense, pray, or make a donation. Though photography is allowed in most places in the temple, I did not want to disrespect the temple, so I only snapped a few photos.
Upon entering the temple, two buildings are immediately visible. To the east is the Drum Tower, and to the west is the Bell Tower, which contains a bell that weighs 15 tons. The drum and the bell were once used to tell time. Further into the temple grounds I saw several buildings including the Hall of Mahavira, which contains many statues; the Sermon Hall, where Buddhist disciples would listen to sermons; and the Hall of Xuanzang Sanzang, which contains chiseled murals that depict the life story of the Buddha. My favorite mural was carved entirely in jade and took up all four walls of a room. Before my trip to China, I knew that jade was a lovely green color, but I did not know that it can also be white, pink, red, violet, black, or brown. The color depends on the minerals the jade absorbs during formation. The last and most famous building that we saw was the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
 The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a major symbol of Xi'an. Built in the year 652, it is a gorgeous seven-layered structure that originally served as a place to hold scriptures and statues of the Buddha that were brought back from India. The pagoda was constructed with square bricks, but no cement between the layers. Instead, the bricks are held together bracket-style, an ancient Chinese traditional architectural technique.
If you're like me, you might be wondering how the Big Wild Goose Pagoda got its name. The legend behind the name describes a group of Buddhist monks that lived centuries ago. This group of monks still ate the meat of certain animals, though many others did not. One day, a monk wished for some meat to eat. At that moment, a flock of geese were flying up above. Strangely, the lead goose fell to the ground and died. The monks chose not to eat the bird because they interpreted the death of the goose as a holy sign. After that day, the monks no longer ate meat. The legend says that it was in this very spot that the Big Wild Goose Pagod a was built.
Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show
After a long day of sightseeing, and a dumpling banquet fit for an emperor, I was lucky enough to see a performance of Xi'an's famous Tang Dynasty Music and Dance. The performers showcased ancient music and dances that originated from prayer rituals for good harvest or a better life. Originally the dances consisted mostly of simple postures and gestures, but have evolved into a complex art-form over thousands of years. I was amazed and delighted by the performance, and highly recommend it to anyone planning a trip to Xi'an.
References
Terracotta Army
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