Don’t you HATE it when people set up blogs, and then never post on them?
Us too. It’s so inconsiderate.
In any case, please choose your favorite reason for the recent lack of news from the Middle Kingdom:
a) A wild panda attack left Hannah without the use of her thumbs and forefingers.
b) The recent UFO over Shanghai/Beijing did, in fact, capture us for 38 minutes and we have been forbidden to speak of the incident (and really everything else is boring by comparison)
c) In a fit of rabid frustration at not being able to watch the Michigan State season opener, all electronics in our apartment became the victim of a tennis-racket wielding John.
d) Hannah tried to go to the gym, fell off the treadmill, and has been nursing injuries (and dignity) ever since….wait…that may have happened…
So, moving on!
Since arriving in China, one of the permanent features of our “Bucket List” has been a trip to see the Terra Cotta Army in Xi’an. For those who are staring at their screens blankly, here’s the gist:
A farmer digs a hole in 1974 and uncovers a perfectly preserved, larger than life, statue of an ancient Chinese warrior (Qin dynasty). Upon digging a few more holes, he realizes that beneath his feet is an entire ARMY of warriors, each with incredibly detailed armor (depending on rank), hair styles, weapons, etc. Estimates now claim the site to contain 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses. All made by hand. All arranged in perfect battle formation. And all buried 2,000 years ago. Wikipedia can take it from here.
The site is, without exaggerating, breath taking. Moving among the three leaves you with the same wide-eyed, how-is-this-possible feeling a small child (or Hannah) gets when they come downstairs on Christmas morning. It is also, to be honest, a bit unnerving as there is a voice in your head whispering “Get out. You’ve seen this movie. They all come to life and kill the unsuspecting, camera-toting tourists.”
Please check out our pictures on Flickr (linked from this site)…but here are a few of our favorites…
The rest of our trip to Xi’an was relatively uneventful, consisting of the usual explorations…with particular highpoints marked by the discovery of beer apparently sponsored by the NBA, and dumplings shaped like the animals inside them. Oh China…
What a sight! Also, those dumplings look delicious.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a chance to visit Xi'an. Reminds me of basic training only the lines for the mess hall were longer and we didn't get beer & dumplings.
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