Xi'an Part 2: There's more? A LOT More!

So after our morning at the Terracotta Warrior Museum, we head back into the city. First, we visit an art gallery that exhibits Tang Dynasty art as well as come more contemporary items. It is a small museum but the art is simply beautiful. We have a guide that takes us around and shows us the many different pieces that are in the museum.

We are then taken back to the teaching area and are given a quick lesson on Chinese calligraphy. We are provided with the four necessary items for this art form: brush, ink, stone and paper.  I think I might need to practice this for awhile!

We are then given the opportunity to "shop" for some paintings done by local artists. I was not planninng to buy anything, but my travel leader Diane and I got to talking about peonies and how our mothers loved them. As it turns out, the peony is a favorite in China too, so we both bought paintings with peonies.

Now by this time, we are famished! Daniel suggested that we do an "extra" on the trip and attend a dumpling lunch. At this restaurant, you are given 16 different types of dumplings to sample (as well as some veggies). It was AMAZING! They brought them out in courses and every single dumpling was different. Some were sweet, some were salty, some were gooey--but they all were delicious! There was one that was filled with a red bean sort of paste and was sweet. Most people at my table didn't care for it, so I had some extras.

I took a moment in my eating to at least take one picture!

We were ushered back out to the bus and off to our next destination, the Wild Goose Pagoda and Buddhist Temple. This would be the first of 3 temples we would visit on this tour. I was very excited!


The temple is the Da Ci'en Temple (Great Kindness and Grace) and the pagoda is one of the most famous one's in China. Most of the original structure was distroyed over time by the elements, but you can still climb to the top of it today. We were not here long enough for me to do that. I spent more time exploring the temple area than the pagoda.

Daniel and I  at Temple entrance

Our guides left us alone for awhile so that we could go off exploring the temple, so I climbed up to the main temple area. It was so peaceful there. Many had come to pray to the Buddha. Some were lighting candles and incense outside. Some were going inside to kneel before the Buddha. I stood just outside of the temple staring up at the statue in awe of its beauty and peacfulness.

And was interupted by one of our group members who thought it approprate to mention Jesus and the only real way to "heaven." It's funny (and scarey) how the southern Bible belt can follow me all the way to the other side of the world. I was a little angry at first but the peacefulness of the temple brought me back to the true nature of the place. I was able to walk away without saying a word.

I took my time in each of the smaller temple areas and even found a shop where I bought a jade goddess Buddha necklace and a string of sandalwood prayer beads, both blessed by the monks. I did not want to leave this beautiful place, but there was more to do tonight and we had to get back to the hotel to shower and dress for the nights dinner and show.


This was also a rather emotional time because we had to say goodbye to our awesome city guide, Faye. She was so sweet and she even sang us a goodbye song.

The theater across the street offers tourists a nice evening of food and a show on the Tang Dynasty. We were given beer and rice wine to drink as well as tea. The meal was served in 7 courses and was fabulous. The show itself was also wonderful. Unfortunately, they were playing to a crowd that was exhausted. The music started and it was hard to keep your eyes open because it was just so soothing. I looked around at one point and there were at least 6 of us with our eyes closed and head bent over. I was able to get a few pictures of the show though.

After a very daring and close call crossing the street back to our hotel (the cars don't really like to stop for pedestrians) we shuffled our way up to our rooms to pack up. We have a super early departure time in the morning for our flight to Shanghai. I wish I could stay in this city longer because  there is still more to see and do here, but Shanghai awaits.


If you want to see more pictures of Xi'an, please click the link below:


https://plus.google.com/photos/111010890670080469261/albums/5760578614354165633