The recently commenced Chinese Year of the Dragon is considered auspicious by so many that there's an imminent baby boom's in China this year. Here, the world isn't going to end anytime soon, in contrast to the 2012 Mayan doomsday prediction. So, with hope and optimism back in the air, why not fly to China and to the over-3,000-year-old ancient city of Xi'an.
If not for the Great Wall of China, the City Wall of Xi'an makes a compelling case to be part of an exquisite list. Imagine viewing a city while strolling on its wall. The Wall runs over 25 km, wide enough to make a 3-lane road. If you didn't guess already, the Chinese have always been fond of big structures; this Wall is no exception.
We rode bicycles atop and were privy to a bird's-eye view of some traditional stuff – dances, music and structures, as well as many non-traditional people, as well as hordes of organized Western tourists.
Cultural shows in Xi'an, viewed from the wall
Traditional dances in Xi'an, viewed from atop the wall
The terracotta army, first discovered in 1974, was buried with Qin Shi Huang in 209-210 BC, the first Emperor of China, and meant to protect him in his afterlife. Standing tall and strong, they look ready for battle. The Terracotta Army has over 8,000 soldiers, and 130 chariots with 520 horses. There are also terracotta non-military personnel – officials, acrobats and musicians.
A lot these terracotta sculptures are still under excavation. You may want to hire a tour guide for more information. Else you may end up eavesdropping. From what the Emperor's subjects thought of him to what locals think about the farmer who accidentally unraveled the site – the tales we heard from were thought-provoking, next only to hearing it from the horse's mouth.
Huashan is one of China's five sacred Taoist Mountains, along with Hengshan in the North, Taishan, Songshan and Hengshan in the South. This mountain range has five peaks in the shape of a flower, and that's where it gets its name. Huashan literally means 'Flower Mountain'. The trek, however, is anything but rosy – it involves wading through gusty winds, up steep steps and narrow paths, with trek distances being part of the tough experience.
We went up the closest peak, North Peak at a height of 1615 meters. The trek took us four hours and involved some detours through placid streams and quaint rocks, giving the main path a picturesque view. Due to time constraints we couldn't trek to the highest peak, the South Peak at a height of 2155 meters, nor could we camp on the mountain, as most avid mountaineers would do.
As students, the Xi'an trip fit seamlessly into our travel budget. The major costs, approximated, amounted to comes to 750 RMB (< 6000 INR):
Train to and from Beijing: 400 RMB
Hostel stay for 2 nights: 200 RMB
Food for the weekend: 100 RMB
3-hour bus ride Xi'an-Huashan & back: 50 RMB
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