Famous Tourist Sights

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Brittany Cain
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Xi an City Xi'an (Chinese: 西安 ), is the capital of Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China. It is located in the center of the Guanzhong Plain in Northwestern China.

1 Xi an City Xi'an (Chinese: 西安 ), is the capital of Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China. It is located in the center of the Guanzhong Plain in Northwestern China. One of the oldest cities in China, Xi'an is the oldest of the Four Great Ancient Capitals, having held the position under several of the most important dynasties in Chinese history, including Western Zhou, Qin, Western Han, Sui, and Tang. Xi'an is the starting point of the Silk Road and home to the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. The two Chinese characters " 西安 " in the name Xi'an mean "West, Peace". Xi'an lies on the Guanzhong Plain in the south-central part of Shaanxi province, on a flood plain created by the eight surrounding rivers and streams. The city has an average elevation of 400 meters above sea level. The Wei River provides potable water to the city. The city borders the northern foot of the Qin Mountains (Qinling) to the south, and the banks of the Wei River to the north. Hua Shan, one of the five sacred Taoist mountains, is located 100 km away to the east of the city. Not far to the north is the Loess Plateau.

Famous Tourist Sights Fortifications of Xi'an (Xi'an City Wall) Admission: 54 yuan Visit time: 1-2 hours The city is surrounded by a well-preserved city wall which was reconstructed in the 14th

2 Famous Tourist Sights Fortifications of Xi'an (Xi'an City Wall) Admission: 54 yuan Visit time: 1-2 hours The city is surrounded by a well-preserved city wall which was reconstructed in the 14th century during the early Ming dynasty and was based on the inner imperial palace of Tang dynasty. The fortifications of Xi'an (Chinese: 西安城墙 ), also known as Xi'an City Wall, in Xi'an, an ancient capital of China, represent one of the oldest, largest and best preserved Chinese city walls. It was built under the rule of the Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang as a military defense system. The Xi'an City Wall is on the tentative list of UNESCO's World Heritage Site under the title "City Walls of the Ming and Qing Dynasties". Since 2008, it is also on the list of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of the People's Republic of China. Since March 1961, the Xi'an City Wall is a heritage National Historical and Cultural Unit. The Xi'an Wall is rectangular in shape and has a total length of 14 kilometer. Along the top of the wall is a walkway, which would typically take four hours to cover. It is built in the Chinese architecture style. As a defense fortification, it was constructed with a moat, drawbridges, watch towers, corner towers, parapet walls and gate towers. The wall is 12 meters in height with a width of meters at the top and base width of meters. Ramparts are built at intervals of 120 meters, projecting from the main wall. There are parapets on the outer side of the wall, built with 5,984 crenels, which form "altogether protruding ramparts". There are four watch towers, located at the corners and the moat that surrounds the wall has a width of 18 meters and depth of 6 meters.

Terracotta Army (Terra-Cotta Warriors) Admission: 150 yuan Visit time: 2-3 hours The Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang and his Terracotta Army are located 40 km to the east of the city center, in the city's

3 Terracotta Army (Terra-Cotta Warriors) Admission: 150 yuan Visit time: 2-3 hours The Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang and his Terracotta Army are located 40 km to the east of the city center, in the city's suburbs. The Terracotta Army (simplified Chinese: 兵马俑 ) is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in BCE and whose purpose was to protect the emperor in his afterlife. The figures were discovered in 1974 by local farmers in Lintong District, Xi'an, Shaanxi province. The figures vary in height according to their roles, with the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors, chariots and horses. Estimates in 2007 were that the three pits containing the Terracotta Army held more than 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which remained buried in the pits nearby Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum. Other terracotta non-military figures were found in other pits, including officials, acrobats, strongmen and musicians. The tomb appears to be a hermetically-sealed space roughly the size of a football pitch (c. 100 x 75 m). The tomb remains unopened, possibly due to concerns over preservation of its artifacts. For example, after the excavation of the Terracotta Army, the painted surface present on some terracotta figures began to flake and fade. The lacquer covering the paint can curl in fifteen seconds once exposed to Xi'an's dry air and can flake off in just four minutes.

Bell Tower & Drum Tower Admission: 35 yuan for Bell Tower, 35 yuan for Drum Tower Visit time: 1 hour for Bell Tower, 1 hour for Drum Tower The Bell Tower of Xi'an (Chinese: 西安钟楼 ), built in 1384

The tower base is square and it covers an area of 1,377 square meters. The tower is a brick and timber structure and close to 40 meters high.

Erected in 1380 during the early Ming Dynasty, it stands towering above the city center and offers incredible view of Xi'an. The Drum Tower got its name from the huge drum located within the building.

4 Bell Tower & Drum Tower Admission: 35 yuan for Bell Tower, 35 yuan for Drum Tower Visit time: 1 hour for Bell Tower, 1 hour for Drum Tower The Bell Tower of Xi'an (Chinese: 西安钟楼 ), built in 1384 during the early Ming Dynasty, is a symbol of the city of Xi'an. The Bell Tower also contains several large bronze-cast bells from the Tang Dynasty. The tower base is square and it covers an area of 1,377 square meters. The tower is a brick and timber structure and close to 40 meters high. The Drum Tower of Xi'an ( 西安鼓楼 ), along with the Bell Tower is a symbol of the city. Erected in 1380 during the early Ming Dynasty, it stands towering above the city center and offers incredible view of Xi'an. The Drum Tower got its name from the huge drum located within the building. In contrast to the Bell Tower, where bell was stricken at dawn, drum was beat at sunset to indicate the end of the day. On the Drum Tower's first floor, lies a hall which hangs many large drums. Each was decorated with intrinsic and beautiful Chinese writing, which symbolizes good fortune. Inside the Drum Tower there is also a drum museum, where a variety of drums are on display, some of which can be dated back thousands of years. There is a drum show performed here every day. The top of the tower commands a panoramic view of the city. Tang Paradise Admission: 120 yuan Visit time: 2-4 hours

5 Tang Paradise (simplified Chinese: 大唐芙蓉园 ) is a large theme park in the city of Xi'an. The park features numerous buildings, squares, and gardens, all incorporating features of traditional Tang Chinese architecture, such as eaves and cornices. Some features are named after historical sites or buildings. In the evening the many thousands of visitors are treated to a spectacular Lake Show, featuring Lasers, video projection onto water screens, fountains and other special effects. Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Admission: 50 yuan Visit time: 1-2 hours Giant Wild Goose Pagoda or Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Chinese: 大雁塔 ), is a Buddhist pagoda located in southern Xi'an. It was built in 652 during the Tang dynasty. The structure was rebuilt in 704 during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, and its exterior brick facade was renovated during the Ming dynasty. One of the pagoda's many functions was to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha that were brought to China from India by the Buddhist translator and traveler Xuanzang. The pagoda currently has seven stories, standing at a height of 64 m tall and from the top it offers views over the city of Xi'an. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and Small Wild Goose Pagoda are both spectacular towers and both are well over 1,000 years old and have survived great earthquakes. They protected Buddhist writings in the past.

Huaqing Pool Admission: 150 yuan Visit time: 1-2 hours Huaqing Pool (Chinese: 华清池 ) or the Huaqing Hot Springs are a complex of hot springs located in an area characterized by mild weather and scenic

It was built in 723 by Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang dynasty as part of the Huaqing Palace, using the locally-occurring geothermal heating, and is famous as the supposed scene of Xuanzong's romance

6 Huaqing Pool Admission: 150 yuan Visit time: 1-2 hours Huaqing Pool (Chinese: 华清池 ) or the Huaqing Hot Springs are a complex of hot springs located in an area characterized by mild weather and scenic views at the northern foot of Mount Li, one of the three major peaks of the Qin Mountains. The Huaqing Hot Springs are located approximately 25 km east of Xi'an. It was built in 723 by Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang dynasty as part of the Huaqing Palace, using the locally-occurring geothermal heating, and is famous as the supposed scene of Xuanzong's romance with his consort Yang Guifei. This site was also the scene of the 1936 Xi'an Incident, when Chiang Kai-shek was kidnapped by former warlord Zhang Xueliang and forced to participate in a United Front with the Chinese Communist Party to oppose Japanese encroachment on China. Huaqing Pool is now an important tourist spot, classified as a AAAAA scenic area by the China National Tourism Administration. Characteristic Snack Beef (Lamb) Stew of Bread It is one of the most famous snacks in Xi an. You have to break the steamed bread into small pieces and add other material. Then drink a small bowl of fresh soup, you will find the fragrance mouthful, long aftertaste. There is varies material in it, such as green

onion( 青葱 ), garlic( 大蒜 ), coriander( 香菜 ), red brown beef and mutton and so on. It is very delicious.

First,choose high quality glutinous rice( 糯米 ) flour and put it into a small wooden steamer, second, sprinkle with some red or green bean as

7 onion( 青葱 ), garlic( 大蒜 ), coriander( 香菜 ), red brown beef and mutton and so on. It is very delicious. Wooden cages mirror cake Wooden cages mirror cake is a kind of traditional snack in xi an; Its making process is very simple. First,choose high quality glutinous rice( 糯米 ) flour and put it into a small wooden steamer, second, sprinkle with some red or green bean as an auxiliary material, then stove it over steam blown; The feature is, white color, small and round, rather like a small mirror, hence it s called mirror cake. Steamed dumplings Delicious tender meat, soft skin, exquisite shape, rich soup, and oil but not greasy Shaanxi Liangpi Shaanxi Liangpi, according the raw materials, can be divided into: skinned, bran, black rice, konjac skin, vinegar, vermicelli and so on. Liangpi can be eaten in different method, cold or hot.

8 Chinese-style Hamburgers Chinese-style hamburgers is very famous in all of Xi'an snacks. Actually, it is a wonderful combination of the two foods: Dried juice meat, steamed white bread. Many Chinese and foreigners like it very much. People often eat liangpi with it together.

Ancient China. Map of Ancient China

Ancient China. Map of Ancient China Ancient China Map of Ancient China Name: Date: In this unit, you will learn about ancient China. Look carefully at the map. Trace the length of the Huang River in black. Put an orange star next to Anyang.