xian day 6

Xian is the discovery place of the famous Terra Cotta Warriors.  The government has built museums around the actual dig sites and there is actually digging and piecing together ancient pieces every day.  Every day new discoveries are found.  It is amazing.  The first emporer of China and his heir spent 80 years building statues and warriors to take to the afterlife with them.  The tomb of the emporer has been located, but it is surrounded by a river of mercury, under ground, to protect it from intruders, so the Chinese havent figured out how to get to it yet. 

 

Before the museum itself, we went to the clay factory that makes the reproductions of the warriors in all life sizes and small statues.  We learned how they are made and fired, etc.  We bought replica warriors and also a dragon tile for Maggie.  There was also authentic silk rug making on site.  Some small ones take 2-3 years to make. they sell for thousands and thousands. One chinese guy told me that one "had my name on it" and even though I agree, it was still not affordable to me. 

 

When we got to the dig site, we were able to meet the discover of the terra cotta warrior site.  He was a farmer in the 1970's who was digging a well and found some relics.  We got a book signing and pictures with him. 

 

Xian was the first capital of china and population is 8 million, as opposed to current capital city, Beijing which has 14 million.