[Educational Tour of China] - Xi'an 西安

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Xi'an

Xi'an, formerly called Chang'an, is one of the six ancient capitals in China and also one of the four great ancient
capital cities of the world (the other three are Aden, Cairo and Rome). It served as the earlist capital and is the longest
serving capital (though intermittent). During Xian's 3,100 years of development, 13 dynasties such as Zhou, Qin, Han
and Tang, held it as their capitals. Here we have the historic site of Lantian Apeman approximately 800,000 years ago,
Banpo--the historic remains of 6,000 years ago Neolithic matriarchal clan community, the most wonderful
archeological found--the terra-cotta warriors and horses of Emperor Qin Shihuang.

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During the Han and Tang dynasty, Xi'an had been the greatest international city in the world. It was also the starting
point of "Silk Road". The well -known "Xi'an Incident" took place here. The vase central Shaanxi Plain is just like a huge
Chinese history museum, as it has large amount of elegant historic treasures, it now displays the most wonderful view
to the whole world. What a long history, lots of heroes flash away. Now, Plenty of historic secrets are still deeply under
the loess plateau. Xi'an--the ancient capital, because of its incomparable historical and cultural charm, is now
attracting more and more domestic and international tourists.

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Thirteen dynasties that maintained their capital in Xi'an (also known as Chang An), but the Tang Dynasty (618-709 AD)
period are distinguished as the most progressive and prosperous era in the history of China. Tang Dynasty music and
dance symbolize the splendor and the glory of the Chinese civilization and is world famous.

According to historical records engraved on a stone tablet inside, this mosque was built in 742 during the Tang Dynasty
(618-907). This was a result of Islam being introduced into Northwest China by Arab merchants and travelers from
Persia and Afghanistan during the mid-7th century when some of them settled down in China and married women of
Han Nationality. Their descendants became Muslim of today. The Muslim played an important role in the unifications of
China during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties. Hence, other mosques were also built to honor them.

Originally from the 14th century, the huge tower was relocated in 1739. It is possible to climb to the top. The Bell and
Drum towers were used to keep time for the town and sound alarms. Tuned bells date back to the sixth century B.C.
They can be made of stone, brass, or bronze. Different shapes of bells were used over the centuries.

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The Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The Silk Road brought all sorts of strange and wonderful ideas to China in addition to the
material trade. In 652 A.D., Xuan Zang returned from India, where he had spent 18 years studying Buddhism. The
entire city celebrated his return. The crown prince Li Zhi had built the Temple of Great Mercy and Goodness in 648 A.D.
in honor of his mother. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda was added to preserve the manuscripts of Buddhist texts that
Xuan Zang had brought with him to translate into Chinese. Of note is the calligraphy set into the walls on both sides of
the south door of the pagoda. It is still possible to climb to the top of this structure.

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The terra cotta warriors were accidentally discovered by Chinese peasants while digging a well. This discovery
prompted archaeologists to proceed to Shaanxi, China to investigate. No one knows why this site became buried and
lost among memories in the clay and in the minds of China. What they found was the ancient burial-site of the first
Chinese Emperor Qin Shihuang. These warriors were placed all around the burial tomb of Emperor Qin. Before Qin,
masters were buried with women, slaves, and soldiers. This tradition during China's feudal period vanished during the
life of Qin. To substitute for the actual humans, Qin ordered a massive clay army to be produced for his protection.
Qin wanted the afterlife to be the same as his life on earth. Qin produced a warlike culture in China, which brought him
many enemies. During his lifetime there were three attempts to assassinate him, so he had to be protected in the
afterlife.