Shaanxi
Province Shaanxi Province is located in the middle of China and the
reaches of the Yellow River. It is the cradle of Chinese civilization.
It has four distinct seasons and a mild climate, which makes March
to November the best season to visit. The province is the starting
point of the ancient Silk Road, and it was also the capital of 13
dynasties. As a result the area has a rich cultural heritage that
includes the Qin Dynasty's Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, Famen
Temple, and the Stele Forest of Xi'an.
Shaanxi is also well known for its natural sceneries such as Hua Mountain,
Hukon Waterfall along the Yellow River, and the vast expanses of the
Loess Plateau.
Xi'an
Xi'an is located at the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. It
is the capital of Shaanxi Province, located in the heart of the Guanzhong
Basin with the Weihe River running to the north. It is the largest
metropolis in northwestern China. It was also known as Chang'an in
ancient China. Xi'an is a world-renowned ancient capital. For 1,062
years beginning in the 11th century B.C., Xi'an was the capital of
13 dynasties including the Western Zhou, Qin, Western Han, Eastern
Han, Sui, and Tang. The continuous dynastic occupation kept the city
beautiful and magnificent. More than two hundred and seventy palaces
and temples were built during its heyday, such as the "Three
Han Palaces" in the Han dynasty, namely Changle, Weiyang, Jianzhang
Palaces, and numerous other palaces and watch towers. The best known
among these is the Tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuang, with the Terra-cotta
Warriors and Horses.
The Tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuang
Emperor Qin Shihuang (259 - 210 BC), founded the first feudal empire
in Chinese history after annexing the 6 other dominant kingdoms of
Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao and Wei in 221B.C. He began to have his tomb
built as soon as he came into power, levying more than 700 thousand
culprits and having a construction period of 38 years. The tomb is
located in the east of Lintong County, which is 21.7 miles from Xi'an
city. In addition to many other interesting articles, both water and
silver were found in the tomb to represent all the rivers and seas
of the world.
The Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
The Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses listed as the Eighth Wonder of
the World and consisting of more than 7,000 life-sized terra-cotta
warriors and horses, were unearthed near the Tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuang.
The tomb is a rammed-soil mound reaching approximately 154 feet into
the air. In 1974, three large pits of terra-cotta figures were found
about 1 mile east of the mausoleum. The excavation revealed more than
7,000 pieces of pottery figurines, bronze chariots and horses and
weapons. Three burial pits were found. The No. 1 pit contains a rectangular
formation of chariots and army troops; the No. 2 pit holds a winding
formation of chariots, army troops and cavalries; and the No. 3 pit
designed to symbolize a command headquarters. The Museum of Emperor
Qin Shihuang's Tomb Figures of Soldiers and Horses is one of the 10
most famous places in China, and was announced as a world cultural
heritage site by UNESCO.
The Stele Forest
The Stele Forest lies inside the southern city wall of Xi'an, where
there are the largest numbers of steles from different dynasties.
The construction of the Stele Forest began in 1087. It was maintained
and expanded constantly during the dynasties of Jin, Yuan, Ming, Qing
and the Minguo period, so the stored stones were increasing day after
day. It stores almost 3000 epitaphs and steles from the Han Dynasty
until now and 1089 of them have been exhibited. People admire the
steles due to their uncanny resemblance to a forest and for their
gathering together all kinds of styles of characters. It is a treasure
house of Chinese calligraphy with a huge collection of steles inscribed
by outstanding calligraphers from different dynasties.
Huaqing Pool
The Huaqing Pool is situated at the foot of Lishan Mountain in the
south and borders on the Wei River in the north, almost 21 miles east
of Xi'an City. Being a villa palace and resort for many emperors and
kings in ancient time, it embodies more than 3000 years of history.
Emperor Qin Shihuang built a stone pool named the "Fairy's Spring."
Both the Han Emperor Wudi and Sui Emperor Wendi enlarged it. During
the Tang Dynasty, the Emperor Xuanzong ordered large-scale construction
to transform the spring wells into pools housed in the walled palaces.
These were called the "Huaqing Palace Pool" and "Spring
Pool". The Tang Emperor Xuanzong and his concubine Lady Yang
often came here for pleasure.
Xi'an City
Wall
The Xi'an City Wall is the best-preserved, oldest and largest ancient
city defense system in China. It is one of the most famous landmarks
in Xi'an. The foundation was based on the ruins of the original Imperial
City Wall of Chang'an City, the capital of the Tang Dynasty. In the
year 904 when the capital of the Tang Dynasty was moved eastward,
the Governor-general Han Jian had the city renovated and turned it
into an army garrison, naming it the "New City". The Ming
Dynasty was set up in 1368 and the Ming army entered the city in 1369.
Afterward the city was renamed as the "Prefecture of Xi'an."
The Xi'an City Wall has witnessed over 600 years of history since
its construction in the early Ming Dynasty. Nowadays, it has become
an object of study in ancient military science and a sightseeing and
entertainment resort for visitors.
The Greater Wild Goose Pagoda
The Greater Wild Goose Pagoda was built in 652, the 3rd year of Yonghui
of the Tang Emperor Gaozong, and is located in the Daci'en Temple
complex in the southern suburb of Xi'an. A square pyramid of blue
brick, it is 210 feet high with seven stories. The four stone doors
in the base of the pagoda are exquisite engravings from the Tang Dynasty
period.
The Mosque
The Mosque is located in Huajue Lane beside the Drum Tower; it is
the best-known Islamic Mosque in Xi'an City. It was built in 742,
the first year of Tian Bao of the Tang Emperor Xuanzong, and was restored
in each of the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. The distribution of
pavilions, halls, towers and platforms in the mosque is compact and
exquisite, blending the traditional architectural styles of Islam
and Han. It is one of the four largest mosques in China.
Xianyang
Xianyang is in the middle of Guanzhong Plain, north of the Weishui
River. In 221 BC, the first Emperor Yingzheng of Qin Dynasty united
China and established his capital here. Tombs of emperors, including
nine emperors of the Han (206 -224 BC) and 18 of the Tang (618-907),
are located on the Xianyang Plain, together with stone lions. The
most famous royal tombs are the Mausoleum of Emperor Wu of the Western
Han Dynasty, and those of Tang Empress Wu Zetian, and Western Han
Emperor Jing.
The Mao Mausoleum and Tomb of Huo Qubing
The Mao Mausoleum, the tomb of Western Han Emperor Wu, is located
9.3 miles east of Xingping County, about 24.8 miles from Xi'an. It
is the largest of all Han tombs and was found to contain the largest
number of relics. Nearby there are over 20 accompanying tombs. In
1978, a museum was established. It exhibits the stone sculptures of
Western Han Dynasty, such as galloping horses, resting oxen and tigers.
Qian Mausoleum
The mausoleum is in north Qian County, Shaanxi Province. It contains
the tombs of Tang Emperor Gaozong (Li Zhi) and Empress Wu Zetian.
The Shusheng Tablet was erected to record the achievements of Emperor
Gaozong. The inscription was composed by Wu Zetian and inscribed by
Gaozong. The Wuzi Tablet, a cast of the Shusheng Tablet, is the only
tablet inscription without a single word on it in Chinese history.
There are also 61 statues of honored guests. Empress Wu Zetian commissioned
these for tribal heads and foreign envoys from the Western Regions
who came to Emperor Gaozong funeral.
Baoji
Baoji has a long history with a galaxy of cultural relics. It is an
important city on the Silk Road. Its main spots of cultural interest
are Famen Temple and Yandi Temple.
Famen Temple
Famen Temple is situated in the town of Famen, 6.2 miles north of
the Fufeng County and 74.5 miles west of Xi'an City. In Buddhist scripture,
Famen is "the door one must enter once he wants to cultivate
himself."
Famen Temple was first built during the East Han Dynasty. The Famen
Temple Tower, also named "The Tower of the Real Body," gained
its name from burying one section of Shijiamoni's finger bone underneath
the structure. In 1985, Shijiamoni's finger bone "Sheli"
and many precious cultural relics that had been stored deep beneath
the surface for 1000 years was found in Digong. This finger bone is
the only existent "Sheli" of the real body of Shijiamoni.
Famem Temple has China's largest number of underground Buddhist palaces.
