Entering the city in the evening, the children passed through the city gate and chased and ran in the square. Suddenly there is a feeling of time crisscrossing-in just 11 hours, it has gone from the cold winter southern hemisphere to the midsummer northern hemisphere.

The Xi'an City Wall was built on the basis of the Imperial City of Chang' an City in the Tang Dynasty in the early Ming Dynasty. It is 12 meters high and 12 meters wide. It is very open, equivalent to four lanes of a modern highway. Surrounded by a moat, the city wall was one of the most famous city wall buildings in the late Middle Ages.

Initially, the city wall had four gates: East/Changle Gate, West/Anding Gate, South/Yongning Gate, and North/Anyuan Gate. There are enemy towers every 100 meters away on the city wall to defend against enemies attacking the city.

Cycling on the ancient city wall was a special experience. However, there was no bicycle for children. Poor Danniu was unwilling to chase us all the way. The summer evening is facing the breeze, and it is still deep into the depths of a thousand years. He Yangyang rides while watching the scenery inside and outside the city wall, riding all the way from the dusk Anyuan Gate to the dusk Yongning Gate.

Tips

Rent a bicycle on the city wall, 45 for single person, 90 for double person, deposit: 200 yuan

Only adult bicycles are rented out in the ancient city wall, no bicycles for children

According to tradition and feng shui, you should enter from the south gate (Yongning Gate) and exit from the north gate (Anyuan Gate). However, there are many people in the north gate. Friends who are not afraid of the constraints of traditional etiquette can try the south gate. In the quiet dusk, you can feel the thousand-year-old spirit of the city wall.

Traveling with children, the museum is a must-see place. Every museum in the world holds a certain piece of history. Reading the story behind each treasure carefully allows us to travel through time and return to that distant history.

The treasure of the town hall-the agate cup inlaid with a golden animal head

Shaanxi Museum is located on the northwest side of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and is the first large-scale national museum in China. Here, children can see cultural relics from prehistoric Lantian, Western Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang Dynasties. Before visiting, you must make a reservation with your real name on Shaanxi Expo's Weixin Official Accounts. Visiting the permanent exhibition is free. Since we didn't prepare in advance and were at the peak of the summer season, we had to spend 300 yuan to buy tickets for the special exhibition. Later, when we chatted with Yangyang, we both agreed that the special exhibition was the best experience of our trip.

Although you can read the introduction text and electronic explanations, manual guides can bring you more interesting stories behind the treasures. Since using the guided tour service for the first time in Tokyo last year, I have discovered that explanations can make a big difference in the experience. Especially for private guided tours, Yangyang and I are in a team and can ask questions of interest at any time. Let alone children, I have also learned a lot of interesting knowledge, which is more interesting than all the history classes I have ever taken.

The best experience is the special exhibition "Tang Dynasty Mural Treasures Museum", which cannot be photographed. There are few tourists and the exhibition is exquisite. For the first time, we learned about the craftsmanship of murals and the classification of tombs. Among the tombs of the Tang Dynasty, only the tombs of princes and aristocrats with prominent status at that time were worthy of murals, and the one with the highest status was Li Xian, Prince of Zhanghuai. Li Xian was talented and loved when he was a child. Later, because he offended Wu Zetian, he was demoted to a common man by his biological mother. He was only twenty-nine years old when he hanged himself. More than 20 years after his death, he was posthumously granted the title of Crown Prince by his younger brother Tang Zhongzong.

From the meticulous carving in the heyday of the Tang Dynasty to the simple line drawing in the decline, craftsmen thousands of years ago when they painted these murals with lanterns in the dim tomb, did not expect that their works would be carefully displayed now for the world to appreciate it.

Tips

Tickets can be booked on the Weixin Official Accounts "Shaanxi History Museum Ticketing System". ID cards and passports can be booked, and permanent exhibitions are free.

Be sure to bring your ID cards with you when visiting that day (both ID card and passport are okay)

Provide Chinese and English explanations, 100 yuan for permanent exhibitions, 50 yuan for special exhibitions

The place to see the terracotta warriors is called the Qin Dynasty Imperial Mausoleum Museum, which is located 1.5 kilometers east of the Qin Dynasty Mausoleum in Lintong District, Xi'an City. Since it was discovered by farmers in Xiyang Village, Lishan Mountain in 1974, it has been recognized as the eighth wonder of the world. Although he was already prepared for a sea of people, he couldn't help but be distracted by the scorching summer day and the crowded crowd as soon as he arrived at the door.

Fortunately, according to the commentary, there were very "few" people today, so I could squeeze in and see the bronze carriage. When there are many people on weekdays, you have to bring a piece of cloth. The glass is covered with hot air and handprints, so you can see clearly by wiping it.

For comparison, this is a bronze horse taken on a mobile phone at the Capital Museum in Wellington, new Zealand three months ago. That was the first time that the children and I saw the terracotta warriors with my own eyes. I was completely shocked by the momentum of the Qin army and the craftsmanship of the craftsmen of the Warring States Period. It was precisely because of that visit that inspired our trip to Xi'an.

Te Papa National Museum of new Zealand: Add a set of photos taken at the time to the title. The Chinese and English inscription on the wall "If ghosts are allowed to do it, it will trouble the gods; if people are allowed to do it, it will also trouble the people" comes from Sima Qian's "Historical Records".

Returning to the terracotta warriors and terracotta warriors, Pit No. 1 is the largest display area of the army phalanx. It is the main force of tanks and infantry. There are about 6000 life-size terracotta warriors of various shapes. He shyly squeezed through layers of crowds, and the moment the thousands of troops of Qin came into view, his heart was still shaken. This scene can only be felt in the site itself. No other museum can restore this magnificent military scene. In just a few seconds of shocking experience, this trip was worth it.

All such fragments were originally excavated, but the terracotta warriors seen today were carefully restored piece by piece.

Speaking of which, when I was a child, I always thought that the terracotta warriors were made of human casting. Coupled with the legend that Qin Shihuang used mercury to make an underground moat, this history is even more mysterious.

Tips

The Terracotta Warriors Museum has pits 1, 2 and 3, 1 cultural relics exhibition hall and 1 introduction hall

Adult tickets: 120 yuan/person (half price for students)

There are many walks throughout the journey and there are many steps. Pushing a baby carriage may make it difficult to move.

datang sleepless city

After all the destinations for Xi'an on the wish list have been fulfilled, you can stroll around at your fingertips. I checked online. Although Datang Furong Garden also has night lights open, the Datang Sleepless City located under the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the city obviously has more fireworks. The entire experiential consumer commercial street is based on the culture of the Tang Dynasty, in order to recreate the prosperous times of the Tang Dynasty for thousands of years.

At the 24th o'clock, Chang 'an City dreamed of returning to the Tang Dynasty and refused to return

You can see different song and dance performances every few steps, and people dressed in Han costumes and Tang costumes pass through the crowd from time to time.

In the middle of the street, I met a local band playing a horse-head violin and singing Pu Shu's "Ordinary Road"

It's about eating

There are two shopping centers next to the hotel where I stayed, which is very convenient for eating and shopping, and there is also a food street where I can eat well every day. On the way, I chatted with Master Liu, who was coming to pick up the plane, and cooked up many delicious food that was popular among local people. That night, I took a walk to Yuanjia Village in the Pufeng Center on the side to eat. Yuanjia Village is known as the first folk village in Guanzhong. Later, someone founded this food city, bringing together all kinds of Shaanxi delicacies and snacks here, like a Shaanxi food court.

Yuanjia Village is very large, full of food stalls. Cold rice noodles, pot stickers, tofu pudding, beef patties, clear stewed mutton, vegetable pimples, donkey trove noodles, Guanzhong steamed bowls, brushed oil cakes, stewed pig's feet, sheep blood vermicelli soup, glutinous rice, honey rice dumplings, lamb meat, spicy noodles... There are also children's favorite old yogurt ice cream. There are so many things that they can't eat at all.

Master Liu, a driver who also has a northern Shaanxi accent, recommended our Laomi's house to make steamed buns, which is very close to the hotel. He said that the famous "Lao Sun's house" tasted not as good as these small shops due to mass production in large pots and stoves. With the children with me, I leisurely broke the buns and ordered a high-quality mutton steamed buns ground by a machine.

Here are some of the two most delicious delicacies you have eaten on this trip. Dang ~ Right here:

Jinbaiwan Roast Duck Restaurant!

Don't criticize friends in Xi'an. When Master Liu recommended it, I also looked disdainful. I also asked: Is roast duck the best in Beijing? Master Liu pouted: "I have also eaten Beijing roast duck, but the fruit trees in Shaanxi are different when roasted. Sigh ~ It's hard to say, you will know after eating it."

One day, I didn't want to go far to the city center, so I had a casual meal at the roast duck restaurant next to the hotel. In the end, I was completely conquered by Jinwan's roast ducks. Afterwards, I also specifically checked the online reviews: five-star reviews, taste: 9.0. Moreover, there was also an event in the store at that time. It seemed that there was a 200-free meal or something. We ate it again and again. We only ate about 4 meals before and after. We had to order the following two dishes every time.

It's about living

Traveling with children, accommodation is what I care about most. I often spend days looking for various information and choosing to stay in a hotel. Generally, I choose a newer star-rated hotel, followed by rides, design and decoration, price and location. My budget this time is about 600 RMB with a swimming pool. After comparing many homes, I chose Xi'an Platyron, an Australia brand, with good interior design and a swimming pool (later discovered that hotel guests can go to the fitness club downstairs, but this fitness club has very good facilities and also offers various fitness yoga courses). There is a Popong Shopping Center nearby and a large indoor children's playground on the third floor of the mall. The hotel is located in Weiyang District. The only drawback is that it is far away from the city, about 20 kilometers. But anyway, we need to take a bus to go to any scenic spot, so it's not a big problem with transportation if we spend more time.

The hotel provides airport pick-up and drop-off services, and what is worth mentioning is the thoughtful housekeeper service. Before we arrived in Xi'an, we communicated with Miss Li about the extra bed service for children. Not only did we bring fresh fruits every day, but we also prepared a set of children's toiletries for each of the children. It was a very good service and recommended it.

The hotel's lobby and rooms are very beautiful. The faucet in the bathroom is designed in a water-drop shape, and the bathtub is a particularly popular open-plan design nowadays. You can take a bath and watch TV by opening the sliding door. I was a little tired by the two-year-old brother Ding on the plane. I didn't have time to take a good photo. I took out the toys and gave them to the children, so I put them on the sofa.

In the earliest days, I took a green train to Chengdu for a competition during the summer vacation of high school. When I passed by Xi'an Railway Station, I saw the city wall from afar for the first time. The second time I came to Xi'an was just after graduating from college. I passed by Xi'an when I went to Pingyao. It was two days; this was the third time I came to Xi'an and finally saw the Terracotta Warriors. With the plane, we are closer to each other and look forward to the next departure.

stroke reference

DAY 1

Shanghai-Xi 'an (MU4791)

Children taking the noon flight can not have to catch the plane early in the morning. After arriving at the Xi'an Hotel more than 2 hours later, they will have enough time to adjust and rest before enjoying the delicious food.

Dinner: Yuanjiacun

Yuanjiacun Guanzhong Impression Experience Site (Fengcheng Eighth Road Store) condenses various delicacies in Shaanxi, with an average of 23 yuan per person and an online review taste score of 9.1.

DAY 2

Shaanxi History Museum

China's first large-scale national museum. Here, children can see cultural relics from prehistoric Lantian, Western Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang Dynasties.

Shuyuanmen Pedestrian Street

From the Forest of Steles to a pedestrian street at the entrance of Guanzhong Academy, you can buy a variety of four treasures of the study.

Dinner: Drunken Chang 'an

A Shaanxi restaurant I have been waiting for for a long time. It is famous for gourd chicken and miaobi raw flowers. After eating it, it feels like it tastes ordinary.

Ming city wall

Cycling on the ancient city wall is a special experience, riding all the way from the dusk of Anyuan Gate to the dusk of Yongning Gate.

DAY 3

the Terracotta Warriors and horses

Known as the eighth wonder of the world, it is indeed worth seeing. There are indeed too many people, and there is probably never an off-season.

huaqing pool

Looking back at the place where Imperial Concubine Yang bathed, those interested in historical textual research can look at the structure of the ancient bathhouse.

Dinner: Jinbaiwan Roast Duck Restaurant

Today is a tiring day. I was at a restaurant near the hotel in the evening. I didn't expect something unexpected on the tip of my tongue.

DAY 4

datang sleepless city

I have visited all the places I wanted to go. It was a very casual day. I took a stroll around the area. In the evening, I went to the Tang Dynasty Sleepless City near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda

DAY 5

Xi'an-Shanghai (MU2165)

I booked a return ticket in the evening, and I spent the whole day strolling around Xi'an again and eating snacks leisurely.

Welcome to my gongzhong. I have more travel notes to share with you: Ya Ya San Xiaoding

Author: Zayah

Learning experience designers living in the Southern Hemisphere

mother of three

Pisces, born in the 1980s, loves art and travel, and shares with everyone his growth and travel with his children

We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.

All photos and icons in this article were taken/designed by myself. Please indicate the source or contact the author for reprinting.