The camels are clustered right outside of the city wall, waiting for being loaded up with ceramics, scrolls of paintings, cascades of silk and texture in all colors to take on the western journey.

Inside the city, merchants are getting ready to bargain and fill their stores with lastest imports鈥攅xotic spices, persian instruments, Syrian latest fashion鈥this is the yearning centre for so many people, the cosmopolitan city of grand Tang Dynasty鈥擟hangan!

Monk Xuan Zang, better known as the 鈥渕onk from Tang鈥in folklores was also a devoted translator and traveler in the history. At the age of 28 in 627 AD, he set off alone for the quest to India, the Buddhist holy land.

He went through more than 130 kingdoms and states on the road, learned Buddhism in India and brought back thousands of Buddhist scriptures home to chang an after 18 years journey.

He stayed in this Cien monastery for 12 years working as abbot, translated Indian Sanskrit from to Chinese.

Buddhism came to China through Silk Road in Han dynasty, 600 years prior to Tang. As a foreign cultural import, it also went through a process of localization, and eventually evolved into the national religion during Tang Dynasty. The big goose pagoda is an example of this adaptation: Original Indian stupa was built in the form of square pyramid, catering to the Chinese aesthetics tradition.

Like the Lion King in the west, Monkey king is perhaps the most human character in Chinese mythology

The legend goes his sharp eyes can see through terrible forces of evil in every shape and size, and his bravery and magic can defeat them all.

He is truly love be all! The young admire his flying magic and his rebellion attitude towards authority. The elderly might find their own consolation in monkey鈥檚 frustration of being misunderstood even by his own master, and still manage to keep the faith and reached his goal鈥

Famen temple has the reputation of being the forefather of pagodas and temples in central Shaanxi province.

The influence of Tang Dynasty of China to Japan was profound.

Japan sent envoys and students to Yang Changan regularly. As the most advanced and prosperous city in the world, Changan was also the least discriminating place to foreigners in the world history. At many governmental institutions, foreigners enjoy equal career opportunities as local Chinese.

Of course still most of students went back home, in hope of building a reformed Japan modeled after Tang China.

Architecture is one of the most important Chinese exports to Japan. Today, the best preserved architecture of Tang style is to be found in Naro and Kyoto, of course naturally in smaller scale than Tang Changan.

The palace found under this pagoda is 21.2 miters long with 4 continuous blocks found full of valuable relics tribute by Tang emperors personally. The palace is only 1.2 meter high. So it suggests that even emperors have to climb in by knees, --that鈥檚 probablely the only time when a grand Tang emperor stays such a low profile鈥

And it could also be the only opportunity in an emperor鈥檚 life time--The palace used to be only opened every 30 years, in a strict Buddhist ritual, for the emperor in power paying respect to the budda鈥檚 finger bones.

The underground palace have never been excavated or robbed before the discovery nearly 20 years ago. Its relics boast as the largest of the kind, more than 2000 pieces of the most valuable treasure of the most glorious time.

But for Buddhists in the world, it is the remains of finger bones of Buddha that separates Famen temple from any other temples in China. It is said for a buddists, seeing this is almost like catching a glimpse of the shadow of the Buddha.

The Tang Empire extended from Turkish city states in the west, to Japan in the east, from Siberian in the north to Vietnam in the south, covering more territory than Alexander the Great, and the Roman Empire. Within the Tang Dynasty's centuries-long prosperity, 50 years can be accredited to one woman - Wu Zetian

Famous for her beauty and intelligence, Wu Zetian was chosen to the imperial court as concubine at age of 14, lived till 82, and held power for more than 50 years.

As the only empress in China鈥檚 entire history, she was known as hardworking, sagacious, but also ruthless and good at political intrigue.

She was initially helping Qian Ling is the only imperial tomb shared by 2 emperors鈥擶u Zetian and her husband Emperor Gaozong, with whom she ruled the country jointly before he died.

It is not very surprising considering the Tang Dynasty鈥檚 open social climate鈥

I would simply believe that she was one of the rare clear- headed monarch who could accept that -- merits or demerits, history has its own verdict.

The achievements of Wu Zetian's reign and her predecessors were carried forward and further developed, eventually brought the Tang Dynasty to the peak of its Kaiyuan splendor.

It was only the time like Tang Dynasty that could offer a stage for a woman like Wu Zetian, and her achievement in turn help to enhance the position of women in the society.

At some point, she even employed scholars to write biographies of famous women, served as a reminder to everyone what she herself proved to be that women were every bit as capable of men, plus most of the time, more beautiful.

And this is the most famous beauty representing that standard. Yan Yuhua, concubine to Emporor Xuanzong, is known as one of China鈥檚 famous 4 beauties over the history, probably the plumpest one.

Emperor Xuanzong rebuilt this palace dedicating to her as one of the attempt winning her heart. He was believed to fall in love at the first sight, although he was 30 years senior and was her father in law at that time.

The emperor of course got what he wants eventually and the couple spent most winter months here.

Take a bath.

In Chinese legends she was described as the woman only has a full and sensual figure, but also a woman with perfect skin, before the time of brand lotion, hotspring in her Huaqing palace is said to be the secret of that.

That became the eternal note of this love story.

The warm water slipped down,

Her glistening jade like body

At once she won the emperors favor鈥

Behind the warm lotus lower curtain鈥/font>

1/6 of foreign tourists coming to China come to Xi鈥檃n, the second 鈥渕ust see鈥place after Beijing, although package tours mostly likely only includes a couple of days stay in their itineraries. If you want to come as individual traveler and want to find bargain rate for lounging in the central city, this is the place.

It is not only the courtyard, warm smiles; bargain price and central location but also a sense of community that makes a traveler feels at home here.

On a chilly winter night, what can make one feel more warm and cozy than a dumpling dinner party with some newly met friends?

The dinning table is also always the best place to exchange travel tips and sharing experiences.

She was almost right! Along the Silk Road route, some 2,000-year-old dumpling potsherd was discovered, so there might be some mutual influence between Chinese dumpling or Italian terivoli? That was one of the subjects of discussion that night鈥/font>

It was from here I learned the saying: 鈥渢o learn the last 1000 years of Chinese history, visit BJ, to learn 5000 years history prior to that, visit Xi鈥檃n!鈥yes, the first emperor, the terracotta soldiers, the Han culture, the Chinaware鈥trust me, there are just too much left to see in xi an and you cant afford to miss travelogue next week. See you then! I am Yanling. bye-bye!