Terracotta & Temples

It's sometimes quite difficult to judge an experience in big Chinese cities as, 1. they're so huge, and 2. they're so huge. Xian is no different. It's a huge city. But … it does have some unique characteristics that set it apart from other Chinese monster cities. The "drum tower" and "city walls" that are found in many Chinese centers seem more organic, part of the city, than other places. The city revolves around these monuments and they don't seem so distant and untouchable. Although one could say the same for a city like Nanjing, Xian's relics seem more alive and better maintained. And, furthermore, temples like the Dayan Pagoda are the originals, the forerunners, the cornerstones of ancient Chinese architecture. And then there is the Terracotta Army. This is a vast area, not like in the photos you see on the internet. All the digging sites are divided into 3 gigantic halls, each with there own small museum sharing facts about the contents. The figures themselves are really well preserved. It's hard to believe that they're thousands of years old. The surroundings could do with less shops all selling the same little figurines, but all-in-all, it's a worthwhile experience. #historicculture#summervacation