TERRACOTTA ARMY
Bairdstravel had always dreamed about a visit to see the famous Terracotta army. They were discovered in the cityof Xian.
As we drove up in the bus I saw a huge hall in front of us. Right away
I said it just looks like the Kelvin hall in Glasgow. Our guide had got all our tickets sorted so we just walked right in.
The lighting was not that great but to my amazement there they were in front of me . Superb a dream come true.
The Terracotta Army was buried with the Emperor of Qin (Qin Shi Huangdi) in 210-209 BC (his reign over Qin was from 247 BC to 221 BC and over unified China from 221 BC to his death in 210 BC). Their purpose was to help rule another empire with Shi Huangdi in the afterlife. Consequently, they are also sometimes referred to as "Qin's Armies".
The Terracotta Army was discovered in March 1974 by local farmers drilling a water well to the east of Mount Lishan. Mount Lishan is also where the material to make the terracotta warriors originated. In addition to the warriors, an entire man made necropolis for the emperor has been excavated.
The modern city of Xian was once the site of the mighty city of Chang'an, the capital of 11 Chinese Dynasties, and was also the starting point for the great trade caravans of the Silk Road.
In the morning we were driven out to see the amazing Terracotta Army, although there is no historical record of the thousands of life sized armoured soldiers and horses, it is beleived that they were intended to serve as bodyguards for the ghost of Qin Shi Huangdi, the famous Yellow Emperor who first united China and reigned from 221 - 210 bc.
I shake the hand of the old farmer who discovered the Army, he was paid a
few yuan for his land but is making more now signing autographs.
We actually stand with the whole Terracotta Army in Front of you, it's then you realise that this is the eighth wonder of the world. The light is very poor inside the hall so it is difficult to get a good photograph, we then watch a 360 degree film.
As we leave and make our way back to the bus we come to another stall with an old man claiming that he discovered the army. Back on the bus I ask our CTS guide "which one was the original? He laughs and shrugs his shoulders.
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where we stayed
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The city is surrounded by a well-preserved City wall of Xi'an which was re-constructed in the 14th century during the early Ming Dynasty and was based on the inner imperial palace of Tang Dynasty. The Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇) and his Terracotta Army are located 40 km to the east of the city center, in the city's suburbs. The Bell Tower and Drum Tower, both are located at the city's central axis. The city's Muslim quarter, which is home to the Great Mosque of Xi'an. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and Small Wild Goose Pagoda are both spectacular towers and both are well over 1,000 years old and have survived great earthquakes. The former is next to a large square with the largest fountain in Asia which projects water high into the air, rising and falling in time to music during one of the daily performances (usually at noon and soon after sunset). They protected Buddhist writings in the past 
The Drum Tower of Xi'an , located in the heart of Xi'an , along with the Bell Tower it is a symbol of the city. Erected in 1380 during the early Ming Dynasty, it stand towering above the city center and offers incredible view of Xi'an.
The Drum Tower got its name from the huge drum located within the building. In contrast to the Bell Tower, where bell was stricken at dawn, drum was beat at sunset to indicate the end of the day.
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