Xian
Nation of Heaven
General Information
Other Name: Chang'an, District: Shaanxi, State: NORTHWEST CHINA, China
Area: 12.854 km²
Languages Spoken: Mendarin and local dilects
Long Distance Code: +8629
Importance: Xi'an is the largest industrial center in China's mid-west and northwest.
Best Time to Visit: November to December and March
International Access: Has an international airport and connected to most part of China.
Description
Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province, with a 6,000-year history, was known as Chang'an in ancient times.Location
Xi'an lies on the Guanzhong Plain in the central part of China with the average elevation of 400 meters above sea level.Climate
Temperate Climate
The first landmark visitors will encounter in Xi'an was its ancient City Wall, which stretches just outside the railway station. Xi'an was originally a walled city, and even today the wall is considered a landmark dividing the city into the inner part and the outer part.
The city wall is massive - it is tall, long and thick. The South Gate and North Gate are the two main entrances to the inner city. The city itself is neatly arranged along the city wall.
The City Wall was first erected in 14 century, under the regime of Emperor Zhuyuanzhang in the Ming dynasty. At the time when Zhu Yuanzhang captured Huizhou, long before the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, he was admonished by a hermit named Zhu Sheng, who told him to "built high walls, store abundant provisions and take your time in proclaiming yourself emperor", advice which Zhu Yuanzhang heeded. Once the whole country was unified, he sent orders to the local governments to build city walls on a large scale. Zhu assumed that "out of all the mountains and rivers in the world, the central Qin is the most strongly fortified and strategically impregnable."
Situated in the Da Ci'en Temple, about four kilometers from the urban center, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda is one of the most famous Buddhist pagodas in China. The Pagoda was built in the Tang Dynasty to collect Buddhist scriptures. Although it is worn by wind and rain, the architecture is well preserved.
Originally built in 589 A.D. in the Sui Dynasty, Da Ci'en temple was named Wu Lou Si Temple. It was not until 648 A.D. when Emperor Li Zhi, then still a crown prince, sponsored a repair project on the temple. This was a symbol of thanksgiving to his mother for her kindness, after she had suffered an early death. The temple then assumed the present name Temple of Thanksgiving. The Emperor Gaozong was said to pay homage to the temple twice a day by looking in its direction from the Hanyuan Palace.
The temple, with 13 separate courtyards, contained 1,879 magnificent-looking rooms altogether and was a place of grand extent in the Tang Dynasty. However, it went into gradual decay after the downfall of the Tang Dynasty. The halls and rooms that have survived the ages are structures that were built in the Ming Dynasty. The Tang Regime gave orders to build a chamber for the translation of Buddhist scriptures in an effort to have the then widely renowned Master Xuanzang (Monk Tripitaka) agree to be the head of the temple.
The Wild Goose Pagoda was finished in 652 A.D. Its five stories are 60 meters in height. The decay of the earth-cored pagoda caused the new construction of a 10-storey pagoda from 701 to 704. However, the winds of war in the years to come reduced the pagoda almost to ruins, which in turn resulted in the construction of a 7-stored, 64-meter-high structure today. The storied pagoda was an architectural marvel. It was built with layers of bricks but without any cement in between. The bracket style in traditional Chinese architecture was also used in the construction of the pagoda. The seams between each layer of bricks and the " prisms' on each side of the pagoda are clearly visible. The grand body of the pagoda with its solemn appearance, simple style and high structure, is indeed a good example of Chinese traditional architecture.
Huhou Waterfall, located at the intersection of Shanxi Province and Shaanxi Province, some 400 kilometers from Xian, is the second largest waterfall in China.
It is a great pleasure that a visitors should not miss in the Yellow River Basin. The mighty Yellow River, the second largest river in China, surge its way form the Qinghai Province to the border of Shanxi and Shaanxi Provinces where it suddenly found its way through a narrow valley blocked by mountains on both sides. The riverbed abruptly narrows down from 300 meters to 50n meters, turning the placid water to rapids. The tremendous water splashes on the rock, forming a magnificent waterfall of 15 meters high and 20 meters wide, as if the water is pouring down from a huge teapot, hence the name Hukou( means mouth of teapot). The scene can be overwhelming, water stirs up masses of smoke and clouds, with color turning from yellow to grey, grey to blue. The locals call this awesome scenery "smoke from river".
Over history, a number of prominent poets and painters once traveled here. Wowing at the grand view, they left numerous works giving high honor of the waterfall.
Qianling, the tomb of Emperor Gaozong and his empress Wuzetian, is located on the peak of Liangshan, some 80 kilometers away from Xian. The great mausoleum was first built in 684 and is one of the best preserved tombs among the Tang Dynasty's 18 mausoleums.
Qian Mausoleum was originally enclosed by two walls. The inner wall stretches 1,45 kilometers from west to north, 1,58 kilometers from south to north, 24 meters thick. There are four gates, one in each side.
Stone sculptures scatter around everywhere in the mausoleum sites. Exquisite and elegant, these stone carvings upright on top of the mountain for over 1,200 years. The first stone sculpture encounters visitor is a pair of ornamental pillars (called Huabiao in Chinese, which can commonly be seen in front of palace complex and tombs). The tall and upright pillars are charismatic and their shafts, plinths and crown were all decorated with line carvings.
Along the sacred path, visitor will then find pairs of winged horses and rose finches. Ancient Chinese supreme rulers wanted their underground life would be prosperous so they often had propitious creatures, birds, beasts placed in front of their mausoleum to guard them. The winged horses, wings decorated with slender, delicate lines, are in a flying gallop. The rose finches, in high relief, were beautifully shaped and sturdily carved. It is said that because rose finches were a gift from Afghanistan for the funeral and could serve as guards, a pair of them were erected in front of the tomb.
There are also stone steles. The east one, was originally erected blank following Empress Wuzetian's will which read, my achievements or mistaking should be evaluated by the later generations, so left my stele blank. This blank tablet was 6.3 meters high, 2.1 meters wide and 1.5 meters thick. During the Song and Jin dynasties, however, quite a few travelers did inscribe it, changing the uncharactered stele into a charactered one. In the west of the "blank" stele stands the Telling the Emperor's Deeds Stele, 6.3 meters high and 1.9 meters wide. The carvings on the stele give high honor of Emperor Gaozong for his minitary and administrative achievements.
The Terracotta Army Museum lie 1.5 km east to the Tomb of Qin First Emperor.
The Terracotta Army figures lie underground for more than 2000 years. In 1974, farmers digging a well about 1500 meters east of the tomb uncovered one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world. The firstly discovered site of Terracotta Army was named Vault One. In 1976, the other two vaults were uncovered 20-25 meter close to the Vault One, and were named Vault Two and Vault Three respectively. Excavation of the underground vaults of earth and timber revealed thousands of life - sized Terracotta Army in battle formation - a whole army which would accompany its emperor into immortality. The excavation was a real big shock to the whole world - the vaults are so big, the figures are so vivid and the number of the figure is so incredible!
14 Days China & Yunnan Tour / PC-102 (14 Days / 13 Nights)
Shanghai-Lijiang-Shangri La-Kunming-Xian-Beijing
Shanghai / Kunming / Lijiang / Shangri la / Xian / Beijing Exploring the majestic and colorful culture of 52 ethnic minorities, marveling at the diverse and wild landscape, and experience the rapid changes from the ancient to the modern in the golden triangle cities –this China tour is the most COLORFUL! Visit: Yu Garden and Bazaar, The Bund, Jinmao Tower, Lijiang ancient town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture, Shangri La, Dianchi Lake and Dragon Gate, Stone Forest, Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Walls, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Great Wall, Sacred Road, Experience: Explore the majestic and colorful culture of 52 ethnic minorities in Yunnan; Get lost in the wild landscape and enjoy yourself in the backpacker’s paradise; Experience the stunning contrasts of ancient and present, traditional and modern, east and west among the golden triangle cities.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Shanghai
Day 2 : Shanghai
Day 3 : Shanghai-Lijiang
Day 4 : Lijiang
Day 5 : Lijiang-Shangri La
Day 6 : Shangri La
Day 7 : Shangri La-Kunming
Day 8 : Kunming
Day 9 : Kunming-Xian
Day 10 : Xian
Day 11 : Xian-Beijing
Day 12 : Beijing
Day 13 : Beijing
Day 14 : Beijing
Shanghai-Lijiang-Shangri La-Kunming-Xian-Beijing
Shanghai / Kunming / Lijiang / Shangri la / Xian / Beijing Exploring the majestic and colorful culture of 52 ethnic minorities, marveling at the diverse and wild landscape, and experience the rapid changes from the ancient to the modern in the golden triangle cities –this China tour is the most COLORFUL! Visit: Yu Garden and Bazaar, The Bund, Jinmao Tower, Lijiang ancient town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Museum of Naxi Dongba Culture, Shangri La, Dianchi Lake and Dragon Gate, Stone Forest, Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Walls, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Great Wall, Sacred Road, Experience: Explore the majestic and colorful culture of 52 ethnic minorities in Yunnan; Get lost in the wild landscape and enjoy yourself in the backpacker’s paradise; Experience the stunning contrasts of ancient and present, traditional and modern, east and west among the golden triangle cities.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Shanghai
Day 2 : Shanghai
Day 3 : Shanghai-Lijiang
Day 4 : Lijiang
Day 5 : Lijiang-Shangri La
Day 6 : Shangri La
Day 7 : Shangri La-Kunming
Day 8 : Kunming
Day 9 : Kunming-Xian
Day 10 : Xian
Day 11 : Xian-Beijing
Day 12 : Beijing
Day 13 : Beijing
Day 14 : Beijing
China Golf Tour / PC-103 (15 Days / 14 Nights)
Beijing-Xian-Kunming-Lijiang-Shanghai
15 Days Beijing-Xian-Kunming-Lijiang-Shanghai Golf Tour Destinations: Beijing,Xi'an,Kunming,Lijiang,Shanghai Attractions: Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Stone Forest
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Beijing
Day 2 : Beijing
Day 3 : Beijing
Day 4 : Beijing
Day 5 : Beijing-Xian
Day 6 : Xian
Day 7 : Xian-Kunming
Day 8 : Kunming
Day 9 : Kunming
Day 10 : Kunming-Lijiang
Day 11 : Lijiang
Day 12 : Lijiang-Shanghai
Day 13 : Shanghai
Day 14 : Shanghai
Day 15 : Shanghai
Beijing-Xian-Kunming-Lijiang-Shanghai
15 Days Beijing-Xian-Kunming-Lijiang-Shanghai Golf Tour Destinations: Beijing,Xi'an,Kunming,Lijiang,Shanghai Attractions: Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Stone Forest
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Beijing
Day 2 : Beijing
Day 3 : Beijing
Day 4 : Beijing
Day 5 : Beijing-Xian
Day 6 : Xian
Day 7 : Xian-Kunming
Day 8 : Kunming
Day 9 : Kunming
Day 10 : Kunming-Lijiang
Day 11 : Lijiang
Day 12 : Lijiang-Shanghai
Day 13 : Shanghai
Day 14 : Shanghai
Day 15 : Shanghai
11 Days China Golden Triangle Tour with Yangtze Cruise / PC-104 (11 Days / 10 Nights)
Beijing-Xian-Chongqing-Shanghai
Beijing / Xian / Chongqing / Yangtze Cruise / Yichang / Shanghai Features: This is an ideal China tour for first time visitors to China! It combines the cultural and historical highlights, man-made wonders and natural phenomena in Golden Triangle cities. And a luxury cruise takes you experience the diverse local life & beauty along Yangtze River.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Beijing
Day 2 : Beijing
Day 3 : Beijing
Day 4 : Beijing-Xian
Day 5 : Xian
Day 6 : Xian-Chongqing
Day 7 : Chongqing
Day 8 : Chongqing
Day 9 : Chongqing-Shanghai
Day 10 : Shanghai
Day 11 : Shanghai
Beijing-Xian-Chongqing-Shanghai
Beijing / Xian / Chongqing / Yangtze Cruise / Yichang / Shanghai Features: This is an ideal China tour for first time visitors to China! It combines the cultural and historical highlights, man-made wonders and natural phenomena in Golden Triangle cities. And a luxury cruise takes you experience the diverse local life & beauty along Yangtze River.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Beijing
Day 2 : Beijing
Day 3 : Beijing
Day 4 : Beijing-Xian
Day 5 : Xian
Day 6 : Xian-Chongqing
Day 7 : Chongqing
Day 8 : Chongqing
Day 9 : Chongqing-Shanghai
Day 10 : Shanghai
Day 11 : Shanghai
10 Days Beijing Xian Guilin Shanghai Tour / PI-CN-126 (10 Days / 9 Nights)
Beijing-Xian-Guilin-Shanghai
An exciting foray into one of the richest cultures in the world, this holiday package takes you to beautiful China, and its two biggest cities, Beijing and Shanghai. Ancient and modern, built of stone and steel, the two cities are symbols of China's progressive attitude and modernization, deftly blending a rich heritage and ancient traditions with neon and skyscrapers. This tour would be the best choice for those who will have the splendid China tour for the first time, covering the most popular destinations – Beijing, Xian, Gulin and Shanghai. Know its history from the Great Wall and Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses; Experience the modern China in shinning Shanghai. The well-arranged China tour will leave you an enjoyable memory. Combine Guilin's beauty and cultural heritage with Li River Cruise and the amazing landscapes of Yangshou to in this tour which will leave memories that you will never forget.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Beijing
Day 2 : Beijing
Day 3 : Beijing
Day 4 : Beijing-Xian
Day 5 : Xian
Day 6 : Xian-Guilin
Day 7 : Guilin
Day 8 : Guilin-Shanghai
Day 9 : Shanghai
Day 10 : Shanghai
Beijing-Xian-Guilin-Shanghai
An exciting foray into one of the richest cultures in the world, this holiday package takes you to beautiful China, and its two biggest cities, Beijing and Shanghai. Ancient and modern, built of stone and steel, the two cities are symbols of China's progressive attitude and modernization, deftly blending a rich heritage and ancient traditions with neon and skyscrapers. This tour would be the best choice for those who will have the splendid China tour for the first time, covering the most popular destinations – Beijing, Xian, Gulin and Shanghai. Know its history from the Great Wall and Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses; Experience the modern China in shinning Shanghai. The well-arranged China tour will leave you an enjoyable memory. Combine Guilin's beauty and cultural heritage with Li River Cruise and the amazing landscapes of Yangshou to in this tour which will leave memories that you will never forget.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Beijing
Day 2 : Beijing
Day 3 : Beijing
Day 4 : Beijing-Xian
Day 5 : Xian
Day 6 : Xian-Guilin
Day 7 : Guilin
Day 8 : Guilin-Shanghai
Day 9 : Shanghai
Day 10 : Shanghai
9 Days Beijing Xian Shanghai Tour / PI-CN-128 (9 Days / 8 Nights)
Beijing-Xian-Shanghai
An exciting foray into one of the richest cultures in the world, this holiday package takes you to beautiful China, and its two biggest cities, Beijing and Shanghai. Ancient and modern, built of stone and steel, the two cities are symbols of China's progressive attitude and modernization, deftly blending a rich heritage and ancient traditions with neon and skyscrapers. This tour would be the best choice for those who will have the splendid China tour for the first time, covering the most popular destinations – Beijing, Xian and Shanghai. Know its history from the Great Wall and Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses; Experience the modern China in shinning Shanghai. The well-arranged China tour will leave you an enjoyable memory.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Beijing
Day 2 : Beijing
Day 3 : Beijing
Day 4 : Beijing-Xian
Day 5 : Xian
Day 6 : Xian-Shanghai
Day 7 : Shanghai
Day 8 : Shanghai
Day 9 : Shanghai
Beijing-Xian-Shanghai
An exciting foray into one of the richest cultures in the world, this holiday package takes you to beautiful China, and its two biggest cities, Beijing and Shanghai. Ancient and modern, built of stone and steel, the two cities are symbols of China's progressive attitude and modernization, deftly blending a rich heritage and ancient traditions with neon and skyscrapers. This tour would be the best choice for those who will have the splendid China tour for the first time, covering the most popular destinations – Beijing, Xian and Shanghai. Know its history from the Great Wall and Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses; Experience the modern China in shinning Shanghai. The well-arranged China tour will leave you an enjoyable memory.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Beijing
Day 2 : Beijing
Day 3 : Beijing
Day 4 : Beijing-Xian
Day 5 : Xian
Day 6 : Xian-Shanghai
Day 7 : Shanghai
Day 8 : Shanghai
Day 9 : Shanghai
8 Days Beijing Xian Shanghai Tour / PI-CN-129 (8 Days / 7 Nights)
Beijing-Xian-Shanghai
An exciting foray into one of the richest cultures in the world, this holiday package takes you to beautiful China, and its two biggest cities, Beijing and Shanghai. Ancient and modern, built of stone and steel, the two cities are symbols of China's progressive attitude and modernization, deftly blending a rich heritage and ancient traditions with neon and skyscrapers. This tour would be the best choice for those who will have the splendid China tour for the first time, covering the most popular destinations – Beijing, Xian and Shanghai. Know its history from the Great Wall and Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses; Experience the modern China in shinning Shanghai. The well-arranged China tour will leave you an enjoyable memory.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Beijing
Day 2 : Beijing
Day 3 : Beijing-Xian
Day 4 : Xian
Day 5 : Xian-Shanghai
Day 6 : Shanghai
Day 7 : Shanghai
Day 8 : Shanghai
Beijing-Xian-Shanghai
An exciting foray into one of the richest cultures in the world, this holiday package takes you to beautiful China, and its two biggest cities, Beijing and Shanghai. Ancient and modern, built of stone and steel, the two cities are symbols of China's progressive attitude and modernization, deftly blending a rich heritage and ancient traditions with neon and skyscrapers. This tour would be the best choice for those who will have the splendid China tour for the first time, covering the most popular destinations – Beijing, Xian and Shanghai. Know its history from the Great Wall and Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses; Experience the modern China in shinning Shanghai. The well-arranged China tour will leave you an enjoyable memory.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Beijing
Day 2 : Beijing
Day 3 : Beijing-Xian
Day 4 : Xian
Day 5 : Xian-Shanghai
Day 6 : Shanghai
Day 7 : Shanghai
Day 8 : Shanghai
Xian, China Tours