No visit to China will be complete without a few days' stay in Xi'an. As one of China's seven ancient national capitals, it served as the capital for 12 dynasties over 1,000 years, thus Xi'an is blessed with a great number of precious relics and historical sites. Hotspots here include the Army of Terra Cotta Warriors (the eighth Wonder of the World), two historical Buddhist Pagodas (Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Small Wild Goose Pagoda), the Great Mosque, the Ancient City Wall, Banpo site, Stele ForestĄ Xi'an was the starting point of the Silk Road, an ancient trade route that extended from Asia to Europe and played an important role in economic and cultural exchange between the East and the West in ancient times. |
