Day 5: Xi'an and Terracotta Warriors

The hotel is really great and the breakfast couldn’t be more varied. And really comfortably furnished with lots of wood. It reminds more of Tyrol or Switzerland,

Since it is located in the center of Xi’an, the drive to the Terracotta Warriors takes about 1 hour. We pass the Xing Xing Park – it is very popular for the beautiful flowers. Unfortunately, we don’t have time for that today. We received a comprehensive introduction to Chinese history from our new travel guide Mia. She learned her good German in one of the 58 universities in Xi’an.

The path leads through a simple place with brick buildings. But as soon as you are close to the entrance, you are overwhelmed by crowds of people. We already know what comes next, queuing, showing your passport and into the complex. Again, stalls with food, souvenirs and various shops. Mia is a real professional and skillfully guides us past the large groups. Sometimes she uses an exit as an entrance. Pushes us into every gap that opens up in front of an exhibition object. She takes us by the hand and shows us every detail. 

She knows everything about the warriors, but it’s also totally fascinating how every warrior looks different. The generals, for example, always have 8 bows on their armor, 2 skirts on and a heart-shaped cap, the shoes are bent upwards at the front. Most of the time they also have a little more on the ribs ???? A soldier, on the other hand, has only one skirt, no bow and only a topknot and the shoes are flat at the front. The details are incredible, you can see every hair, the braided braids, every shoe sole you see has a different profile. We can’t stop being amazed. The warriors were made of clay, they are hollow inside and were fired at 950 -1’050 degrees for a week. They weigh around 300 kilos and are 2 meters high. 

And then you come to the big excavation pit. We take our breath away. 

When you stand there so truthfully what you have seen so often on TV or books. Simply indescribable. 

You can also get watery eyes sometimes. Lunch was still in the area. A specialty of Xi’an wide noodles, Biangbiang noodles and broccoli, something healthy ????

Back in the city we visit the 14km long city wall.

It was renovated in 1984. Farmers have also donated stones, you can see the year carved into it. In the extension of the street you can see the eastern bell tower. Here, too, the pretty ladies stroll around in their traditional robes. You can take photos with them for a fee. You can see them at all the sights.

A short drive brings us to the Muslim market. We walk through the vibrant, flashing, food-smelling, colorful and noisy market. Skewered octopuses, lamb skewers, sugar fruits on skewers and veeeery much more. We are slain and happy when we could get out again. Last but not least, we stroll through Shuyuanmen, a cultural street, with old buildings and shops that sell everything you need for calligraphy, including stones, stamps and much more. And again and again these reckless electric scooter riders. They only know the horn instead of the brake. In the hotel there is a self-service laundry room. Mega cool, 36 min washing, 39 min drying, done. And what kind of people you meet there. This mix of different cultures is just exciting. There are still a few dumplings and then off to bed.