Hiding from the Chinese

Xi'an at night
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Hello Again!

Xi'an, home of the Terracotta Army, seemed like a lovely city from our hotel room window.  We hid in the hostel the first day and watched 24.

The second day, we went on a tour to the terracotta army and banpo museum.  The tour guide lovingly abducted us and brought us to the government sanctioned factory where they made replica terricota army figures (of course we bought one..they are government certified high quality pieces ;)

We went to the bampo museum, which is a live archaelogical dig of a 4500BC matriarcial society.  There were several human remains and lots of building and pottery remains.  It took a lot of imagination to picture it in all its 4500 glory but some handy computer models helped.

Terracotta Warriors of Qin SHi Huang
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We were then dragged, I mean invited, to a delicious lunch at the silk factory.  Of course, we got a tour of the factory after lunch which ended in their warehouse of a  silk store.  We took some pictures of things we might buy when we get home...that frustated them! teehee.

Finally, we got to see the terracota warriors and they were spectacular!  No pictures can capture it...but we sure tried.  The size and scope of this site in unbelievable!  It goes on forever and when you think that's it..you get taken to two more sites.  And they have only uncovered a fraction of what they believe is there.  They have put the dig on hold (this would never happen in the us) because as they excavated the soldiers they realized that the beautiful colors that were painted on them were disappearing when exposed to air.  So, they reburried some and are not digging up the thousands of soldiers that they know are there until they have developed the technology to keep their color on them.  Pretty impressive.

The terracotta warrior site
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THe last day, we went shopping for fun stuff in the muslim quarter.  Our bargaining skills are coming right along although we did get laughed at after paying 8Yuan for some dried fruit.   Hmmm... they probably would have taken 2.

We even ventured to the post office and sent a package home for $50!!!  Won't be doing that too often!  It's amazing how the simple things like going to the post office or buying a train ticket or finding fingernail clippers (only took us 3 days) are amazing accomplishments when they are complete.  We go in armed with two language books and ready to push and shove old Chinese woman until we get what we need.  Boy, we are good!