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How to plan the perfect trip to Xian with your family

Family trip to Xian

By Ayodha UshaniPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
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How to plan the perfect trip to Xian with your family
Photo by Harrison Qi on Unsplash

Has China long been on your family's bucket list? If so, alongside the capital of Beijing and the international hub of Shanghai, the historic town of Xian must also rank high on your must-visit places in the country. There's just so much culture and history to be found in this city that is sure to keep you as well as all the members of your family entertained. If you're a fan of using vacations as a means to educate your kids, you're going to love your time spent in Xian.

Visit the Silent Warriors

If you know anything about China's ancient past, you're likely to know that Xian's most well-known attraction is the Terracotta Army. This attraction, along with the tomb of the first Qin emperor (inside which it resides), has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site since the late 1980s after having been discovered accidentally by a band of Chinese farmers the decade prior. The mystery of how the Terracotta Army, a collection of terracotta statues of ancient Chinese warriors, was so well built and has been well preserved for almost 2 millennia, is one that has puzzled many an archaeologist for decades.

The Terracotta Warriors are said to date back to around 210 BC, which puts them toward the latter years of China's Qin Dynasty, which lasted from 221 BC to 206 BC. The army of statues comprises 8000 soldiers, well over 500 horses, 150 cavalry, and 130 chariots. What was its purpose, you may ask? It was created for the sole purpose of accompanying Qin Dynasty's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, into the afterlife to provide him protection. Why is Qin Shi Huang of such importance in China's ancient past? He was the first emperor to rule over a unified China, which before him was fragmented into many warring states. Before he assumed the role of Emperor of the Qin Dynasty, he was known as Zheng, King of the state of Qin.

Observe the Bell Tower

One of Xian's most iconic structures is the Bell Tower, which has a long history dating back to the earlier years of China's Ming Dynasty, which lasted between the years 1368 to 1644. As far as bell towers go, Xian's is said to be one of the finest in all of China. Where can you find it? It's built in the middle of the city, quite literally in fact, as you'll find it to be situated at the point where the cardinal streets (East Street, West Street, North Street and South Street) of the city meet. If you're staying at one of the hotels in Xi An at the heart of the city centre such as Grand Park Xian, the Bell Tower will take you less than a 10-minute stroll to reach. The Bell Tower is considered to be the symbol of Xian.

Take in the Views from the City Wall

When one thinks of a 'wall' in the context of China, it's usually with reference to the country's 'Great Wall', which holds the position as being one of the Seven Wonders of the World. However, the city of Xian offers its own version of a protective wall that was constructed to encircle the city and keep intruders at bay. Known as Xian City Wall, this construction stands at around a dozen metres in height and is a popular tourist attraction. Take the kids with you for a walk or a bicycle ride along the wall and take in the beautiful sights of the city below you. They're sure to love the opportunity to burn off some energy outdoors.

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