Xi

Quick! What do you think of when you think of Xi'an? The terracotta soldiers, of course. They are still there, and still attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. According to a brochure, 30 million people have visited the exhibit since it opened to the public. For more on the terracotta soldiers, click on Xi'an, Terracotta Soldiers in this website.

Another historic sightseeing spot is Hua Qing Chi, or the Tang Dynasty hot spring baths built by an emperor for his concubine. It was also the site of a modern historic event in 1936, when Chiang Kai Shek was staying there on his way to confer with his generals about why they were not making headway in eliminating the Red Army, which was based in Yan’an, a few hours north of Xi’an . Two of the generals captured Chiang and forced him to agree to join with the communists in a united front against the Japanese, which by then occupied the northeastern part of China above Beijing and were already making incursions into other parts of China . The rooms his entourage used at the old hot spring baths are maintained.

Two of the most well-known pagodas in Xi'an are the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (left) and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda (right). Both are pretty much right in the city. The big one is in better shape, but is actually the oldest. A large public plaza has been built up around it, and it attracts lots of visitors. The small one is nearer downtown and was damaged many years ago, but is more quiet and peaceful. The grounds are more traditional for a Chinese pagoda.

Huashan (Hua Mountain)

I have vowed many times never to climb another Chinese mountain and I guess the only reason I did this summer is that I thought there would be a nice place to just hang out while my friends went climbing, so that I could enjoy the scenery without the sweat, but there wasn’t. We arrived at a mid-point by cable car and then it was straight up or straight down by steep steps. I clung to welded chain link railings to keep from falling when going down or to pull myself up when climbing.

The scenery was beautiful, but I have renewed my vow never to climb another Chinese mountain. There is no thought of natural paths and switchbacks, only stone steps that go straight up or down the mountains.