Tuesday, September 20, 2011

week 4: Xi’an

My fascination with ancient cities and really old stuff made Xi’an an immediate intrigue for me. Xi’an (pronounced she-on, translated means western peace) is one of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, it is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, having held that position under several of the most important dynasties in Chinese history, including Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang.

Consistent with other ancient Chinese cities Xi’an has a city wall that was built during the Ming Dynasty (600 years ago). What is unique about Xi’an’s city wall is that it is completely intact and original. The Chinese built things to last.

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The Drum tower. Built in 1380 during the Ming dynasty. The characters and décor around the tower symbolize good fortune and was beaten at the end of the day. It is also an excellent landmark so you know where you are and which way you need to go to find the markets or get back to the hotel.

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