Our first stop on our tour of Xi'an was the Shaanxi Provincial Museum which included artifacts that had been discovered and preserved from all over the province. The big thing in this province is the Terra Cotta Army and they had some of those here as well as scale models of digging they did.
Terra Cotta bells
After the museum, we visited the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. There were many Buddha statues here that people would present their gifts and incense to. We could have gone into the pagoda but it was an extra cost and Tony's knee had been bothering him so we just read the sign about what was in the pagoda.
BIG incense burner in front of the pagoda.
Touching the laughing buddha's belly will bring you much happiness.
After the pagoda, we were taken to a place that replicates the Terra Cotta Warriors -- which, of course, also had a shop where they follow you around wanting you to buy something.
Our guide offered to take our picture.
Decorations in the shop. Notice the banners overhead!!!! In China!
Next it was lunch time. We were taken to the second floor of a VERY COLD building for lunch. We were led into a very large banquet-type room and there was only one table with people at it. I think they were mostly speaking Russian. Our guide and driver went to a different table to eat. Not sure why because the amount of food they put on our table for just 2 people certainly would have fed all 4 of us! The tea they brought actually tasted and felt so good because it was so cold in that room! The propane heater they had for the other group was moved in between our tables so we could get a little benefit out of it, too.
This is ONE noodle! There were 4 on the plate for us. Notice I still have my coat and scarf on! Boy, that tea tasted and felt good!
Next, it was finally time to see the Terra Cotta Army!
This is one of the 3 farmers who were digging a well when they discovered Pit 1 (numbered in order of discovery). He, however, was the only one who signed the papers to have rights to the property. Our guide told us that before the pits were discovered, he did not know how to write a single Chinese character. Now he knows how to write three characters -- his name. We bought a book and for the price of the book we were able to have him sign the book and have our picture taken with him.
Pit 1 - the most excavated and most famous via photographs.
They are still working on restoring some of the statues so they have them in the back of the building but numbered so they know where to put them back.
Pit 3
I asked how they knew there were more pits. Our guide told us that after they found Pit 2, they knew where to find Pit 3 based on knowledge of locations and placement of other religious and military findings.
Pit 3
An archer -- This is the most complete figure found to date.
Our guide, Sean.
Showing the mountains in the background.
