Xian

Travel Advice for Seniors: Xian

Following a two-hour train ride, we arrived at our next stop on our five and half week trek through China and Malaysia. Xian is home to the Terra Cotta warriors. This was a must-see for both of us as we had read many articles about them and had to see them in person.

Interestingly, the train left Luoyang at the recently built train station. There was hardly anyone in the terminal and the train ride itself was very comfortable. It was more like a special occasion for those onboard and even snack boxes were passed out.

At the time of our visit, Xian was a “second tier” city that had only recently been given a new status and money to make tourism improvements. This was obvious when we arrived at the airport and walked outside to meet our guide, through large groups of people sitting on blankets on the ground, some with chickens and goats,waiting for their friends or relatives to arrive. We rolled our roller suitcases down a slanted concrete slope next to the stairs down the airport entry.

One could really tell the difference between Beijing and Shanghai as opposed to Xian. The buildings were older, and it was only beginning to produce tourist type destinations that were not well attended. A work in progress.

However, the main attraction is the fabulous repository of funerary art, the Terra Cotta Warriors. These warriors signified the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, buried in 210 BCE and were buried to protect him in his afterlife. More than 2000 warriors have been excavated and more than 6000 have not as yet. The actual tomb of Qin has not yet been opened for fear of booby traps. The excavation continues during the days, and you can walk around the vast covered building housing the warriors and watch the people work. There is also a museum on the grounds that shows more up-close finds. Please allow plenty of time to be awestruck by this incredible sight.

We also visited the Banpo Museum, which houses a collection of artifacts from the Banpo archeological site including several reconstructed houses from the Neolithic period, about 6000 years ago.

Our next stop was the Houqing Hot Springs Pools and Palace. The Palace is best known for the love story of Tang Emperor Xuanzong and his consort Yang Yuhuan. The grounds and the pools are beautiful and well landscaped. Interestingly, they had a private bathing pool available for reservation at the time of our visit, and though we didn’t have a reservation, it was open, and we were able to bathe in one of the private baths. A very imperial touch!

Rounding out our day was a visit to Small Goose Pagoda, that as well as its sister, Big Goose Pagoda, both are ancient pagodas that house relics and scriptures.

Second of our three day stay in Xian was a further tour of the Terra Cotta Army as well as a trip to the Tang Imperial tombs. The tombs from this era are located in mountains. The tombs from this site are not opened as archeologists wanted to make sure that the technology is in place to preserve the fine fabrics and delicate works of art that are no doubt encased uninterrupted for hundreds of years when exposed to excavation. The site itself is a very long walk, but the stone sculptures along the spirit way are a pleasant diversion.

Our next stop was Famen Si, built by the Eastern Han dynasty. It is a 13-tiered pagoda that is said houses the finger of the Buddha. There is a whole “cultural scenic area” built up around the pagoda and a celebration of the Buddhist faith. It’s a bit like the Las Vegas of Buddhism as the figures are overly large and spectacular. It is a long walk through this park but there are several interesting stops along the way. Take water/comfortable shoes definitely for this stop.

Our final stop was at the Temple of Eight Immortals, It is a Taoist temple built during the Song dynasty. Taoism is about living in harmony with the universe’s ultimate creative principle, the Tao.

Even with a hectic schedule, we still made time to have exceptional dumplings at De Fa Chang which were endless and delicious. Note that foreigners had a separate room here, so as to have some privacy from the watching eyes of the locals.

Xian is a must-see stop in China. There is plenty to see and do there, besides the Terra Cotta Warriors, but that is indeed the worthy main attraction.

Where we stayed: Xian Tianyu Gloria Grand Hotel, breakfast included.

How we got there: Train from Luoyang to Xian, then private transfer to hotel.This was part of a five-and-a-half week private tour through China and Malaysia.

General Accessibility Information: Most large cities are somewhat accessible, particularly hotels, some transportation and some major sights. Outside of the major cities, accessibility is generally less frequent to find. Also, be prepared for curious onlookers. Call in advance to verify and make specialty arrangements.See our sections on specialty apps and accessible travel for more on accessibility assistance.