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Monday, January 11, 2010

Xi'an and the Terracotta Army

Xi'an has one of the oldest and best preserved city walls in China. The wall surrounds the city and is 12 m high and around 15 m thick.


Xi'an City Wall

The hostel I stayed in was located at the entrance to the south wall and here it was possible to hire out bikes and cycle around the wall although they don't like you cycling down hills.


Don't cycle down hills

Walking the wall takes about 4 hours but cycling takes a little over 1 hour.


View from Xi'an City Wall


Xi'an City Wall

On my second day in Xi'an I went to visit the Terracotta Army, for those of you not familiar with them is a quick overview. In 1974 local farmers discovered terracotta figures dating from 210 BC near the  Mausouleum of the First Qin Emperor. The terracotta figures are contained within 3 pits, according to current estimates there are  8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses.



 


Terracotta Warriors

Finally here is a picture of Xi'an that taken from a foot bridge on our way back to the hostel after visiting the Terracotta Army.





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