Officers area

Another pit is believed to be the army headquarters due to the number of high-ranking officers unearthed in the pit. Archaeologists also found animals bones in this site as it was common for animals to be sacrificed before battle for good luck.

Well site

The discovery of the army was entirely fortuitous. In 1974, peasants drilling a well uncovered an underground vault that eventually yielded thousands of terracotta soldiers and horses in battle formation. This is a picture of the spot where one farmer was digging the well. You can see that spot was right at the edge of this massive pit of soldiers. If he dug a few feet over, this may still be buried and unknown.

Chariots

These pictures show some soldiers on chariots. The chariots were made of wood and have obviously rotted away, but you can see where the soldiers were holding the reigns.

Soldiers

The faces of every soldier are unique. They all have different expressions, facial hair, age, rank, etc. You can see that the soldier in the middle is angry compared to the ones next to him.

Army of Terracotta Warriors

One of the most famous sites in Xi'an is the Terracotta Army. It is basically a subterranean life-size army of thousands of warriors that were created to stand guard over the soul of China's first unifier, Qin Shi Huang.

The pit in this video contains approximately 6 thousand warriors. Some are uncovered, but some remain unexcavated. The excavation has stopped because the soldier's original colors fade quickly once exposed to the air (there are pictures later in the blog of their original colors).

Warm up

After our day out in the cold, we played some cards and had dinner.

Moat

The wall is surrounded by a large moat. This view is from one of the outcrops so we're able to look down the moat through the groves atop the wall.

Keeping watch

Whitney keeping watch for the enemy.

On the wall

A video from on top of the wall. First looking out of the ancient city, then turning to look within. The top of the outside of the wall has groves and the top of the inside of the wall is flat.

On guard

Whitney on guard.

The ancient city wall of Xi'an

After lunch, we spent some time walking along the ancient city wall of Xi'an. Xi'an is one of the few cities in China where the old city walls are still standing. Built in 1370 during the Ming dynasty, the 12m-high walls form a rectangle with a 14km perimeter.

We entered the wall through the main gate tower. This picture is from the street level with the wall in the background.

Chopstick dispenser

In some restaurants the Chinese dispense chopsticks like we dispense straws in the US.

Lunch

Time to take a break from the cold and grab some lunch. On the menu: yummy steamed pork buns.

But they looked like potatoes

This looked like some of the greatest diced potatoes we had ever seen, so we bought some. Turned out to be gelatinous cubes of grossness. Top three disappointments of the trip. I mean seriously, look how good they look!!!

Snacks

Time for some street snacks in the Muslim Quarter. Here we had what can best be described as a lamb quesadilla.

Shopping

The Muslim Quarter was full of little shopping alleys. We were bombarded with good deals, but didn't find anything we liked.

Tea break

Time to get out of the cold for a bit and warm up with some tea.

The Great Mosque

At the center of Muslim life in Xi'an's Muslim Quarter is The Great Mosque, one of the largest mosques in China.

Muslim Quarter

Behind the Drum Tower is the Muslim Quarter, which has been home to the city's Hui community (Chinese Muslims) for centuries. The narrow lanes are full of butcher shops, sesame-oil factories, men in white skullcaps and women with their heads covered in colored scarves.

Drum Tower

Next stop was the Drum Tower, which also dates back to the 14th century. The beating of the drums marked nightfall.

Bell Tower

First stop was the old Bell Tower, which dates back to the 14th century. The Bell Tower originally held a large bell that was rung at dawn.

Our hostel

Standing outside our hostel, which was right inside another part of the ancient wall. Xi'an was a few degrees warmer than Beijing, but as you can see, still pretty cold. But like good tourists, we ventured out for some city walking.

Hostel pick up

When we got off the train in Xi'an, a girl from the hostel was there to pick us up. The ancient wall of Xi'an (which still surrounds the middle of the city) is in the background, right across the street from the train station.

Sunrise

Sunrise from a moving train in China.

Usher wake up

Nothing like being awakened to an Usher jam first thing in the morning on an overnight train in the middle of China. Seriously. Usher.

Night train video

Cruising through China on the night train.

Bottom bunks

It's great to have the bottom bunks, especially if you've got a little card playing in mind.

Our cabin

The cabins on the sleeper trains have 4 bunks. We had the bottom two. It's tight, but pretty comfortable.

All aboard

Success

Great snacks. Think Chinese fruit roll-ups.

Snacks

Whitney went into a shop at the train station for some snacks. Neither one could understand the other, but they communicated through the international language of yummy treats.

Train station

We're now at the crazy train station waiting for our night train.

Mmmm soup

The next day we roamed around Beijing seeing the sights and waiting to take an 11 hour overnight train to a city called Xi'an. We stopped off for some great dumpling and noddle soup to get out of the cold for a bit.

You may be picking up on the fact that in this sort of debilitating cold being outside was not possible for long stretches of time and warm up sessions inside were essential. Hot soup and tea usually did the trick.

Birthday dessert

Back at the hotel Whitney, had her birthday "cake": Oreos with candles in tea cups.

Duck soup

Time for some duck soup.

Duck head

Mike eating the duck head (of course). You can see the plate of duck meat and duck fat on the table as well.

Duck proceedure

Our waitress showed us how to properly combine the duck with accoutrements.

Side dishes

Some side dishes to go with the duck.

Carving the duck

The chef carving our Peking duck next to the table.

Birthday dinner

Waiting in the lobby for a cab to take us out for a little Peking duck on Whitney's birthday.

Beef flavored chips

Our first experience with beef flavored chips. According to the picture on the box, they were medium rare.

Whitney's birthday

On Whitney's birthday, we roamed around Beijing checking out some sights. It's a lot more difficult to check the guide book for directions when it's 6 degrees Fahrenheit out.

Warm shopping

Warmth and shopping are Whitney's perfect storm right about now.

Dinner in the mall

Even though we were in the mall, we still found a great little spot for dinner. Our first dumplings and buns in China were some good ones.

Mall time

After walking around Wangfujing for a bit, we had to take refuge in one of the MANY (extremely large) shopping malls in Beijing. It's a whole lot warmer in here.