Xi´an II 
cctv.com 12-12-2005 17:22
Hi, welcome to travelogue, I am Yanling. Did you enjoy our last trip back to the grand Tang Dynasty? I certainly did. But remember, Xi鈥檃n served as the capital city for 13 dynasties.
This time, we are going to dive into the time channel slightly more ambitiously, and take a quick review of the remains of the 13 dynasties. Welcome to Xi鈥檃n!
Fertile land along the Yellow River valley outside of Xi鈥檃n has always been known as the cradle of Chinese civilization. Ready water, easy access make it a favorite settlement since the age of nomads, plus its strategic location, Xi鈥檃n became favorite capital choice of capital among Chinese emperors.
Today it still retains striking marks of ancient majesty. The wealth of historical sites left behind makes Xi鈥檃n the no. 2 must- visit- place in china followed by Beijing.
If you are curious about the cultural root and history of ancient china, Xi鈥檃n would be your very own wonderland.
What is like to have the ancient thousand-year-long history condensed in one place and read it at your own pace? This is Shannxi history museum can offer.
A friend of mine once advised me to prepare food and drinks with me when visiting the museum. Because he was so captured by the exhibitions and stayed for 7 hours! He called the experience intoxicated and dehydrating!
It turned out to be a very good advice! It is worth strolling around for hours and even days here.
It is the perfect starting point for one鈥檚 trip to Xi鈥檃n to get a quick and brief intro to the Chinese ancient history with something more tangible than words.
China鈥檚 longest dynasty Zhou lasted from 1027BC to 221 BC, with lots of sub periods that marks it鈥檚 up and downs, and the era ended in its 鈥淲arring States Period鈥 named so because of the power struggle between large states of China that were trying to gain control over the entire area.
Among the numerous tombs of emperors, gentry and other wealthy people peppers around Xi'an. The one that is almost obligatory for a tourist to visit.
The resting place of Qing Shing Huang, the man who united China and declared himself emperor for the first time in the history.
He was portrayed as one of the most ruthless monarch in the history because of 2 major projects he initiated-- the Great Wall that was meant to protect his empire from enemy from the north, and his own mausoleum that protects him in the nether world.
As the overlord that gained his territory more by enforced military power than by placate, this is of course something he would not forget to take with him!!
Trade mark of Xi鈥檃n today, the reason that most visitors to China put Xi鈥檃n in their itinerary, the only excavated items revealing some secrets of the Emperor Qing鈥檚 Mausoleum鈥攖erracotta soldiers!
Like most Xi鈥檃n archeological finds, the first terracotta soldier was discovered accidentally by farmers when digging a well. At that point, no one was sure how many of figures like these lying under the 5-meter deep pit. Massive archaeological excavations were set off after 1974 and still going on.
Originally, they were all hand-painted but time and the exposure to modern air and light has caused them to lose their luster.
Tests also show that the pottery figures were fired at temperatures o bet 950 to 1050 with a level of skill that experts today have difficult to replicate with consistency.
There are not many mystery around the purpose of having a project like this done ordered by the first emperor. Live burial was an old practice among the Qin. The practice is called "xun" and makes "following to the grave" have a new meaning. The people who were buried with the ruler were supposed to continue to protect and serve.
