China 2000 Years Ago

I am in the City of Xian (pr. Sheeyan). This is the city from whose eyes you can see the history of China. From the Lantian Man to the Bronze Casting techniques developed in the Zhou dynasty period to The Terracotta Warriors of the Qin (pr. Chin) Emperor Shihuang to the Travelogues of the Silk Route during the Tan Dynasty, it is all here.
Like the Patterns emerging through a kaleidoscope, a plethora of historic patterns are forever merging and disintegrating in your mind. The Shaanxi History Museum is resplendent with the fossils, artifacts and antiques of the whole spectrum of the colorful Chinese history. But even more majestic is the Museum of The Terracotta Warriors. 8000 soldiers made of clay make quite a visual in your psyche and remain there forever. Infantry, kneeling archers, standing archers, officers, commanders and generals stand tall at the service of the Emperor who believed that this army would serve him in his afterlife on Earth (apparently he did not believe that his soul would go to heaven!).
Modern Xian is a mix of Mall-Brand culture and traditional native people (whom the locals call ' Minority People') especially the Chinese Muslims who have a street dedicated to their community. The Modern Structures go hand-in-hand with the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower of the Tang Dynasty.
The Xian experience is very unlike that of any other city. Be it the Choing Qing (pr. Choing Ching)cuisine (although not truly from this area, which is a medley of vegetables and meat which is to be put into a pot of boiling soup that is kept next to you where you add your own sauces ranging from mildly flavored to fiery hot!) or the relaxing Tui-na Massage or the Tang Dynasty Palace Music & Dances show ( both of which are very much recommended by the author)each experience enriches your mind, the feeling which I could describe only as 'Floating in the air'.
Indians are in for a treat because here is a Pagoda called the Wild Goose Pagoda established by a Buddhist Monk called Xuan Zang who is better known in India as Hiuen Tsang. Yep, he is the same fellow who visited India during the reign of Asoka The Great and carried back with him the philosophy, the scriptures and the comments of Buddhism. He is pivotal in the spread of Buddhism in China.
Just go to Xian and enjoy!
For more pictures go to my Fickr page : http://www.flickr.com/photos/maitreya8/