Imagine a city larger than London in the middle ages, rich with its trade in Silk along the trade route crossing China to the west, over the Tian Shan mountains through Central Asia and finally to the ports of Venice and beyond – this is Xian!
What is also surprising about Xian in the modern world is that a lot of its ancient architecture is still in place; there are the city walls, the bell and drum tower and then its pagodas and of course the Terracotta Warriors.
Alongside the cultural elements is the food, because as you can imagine after 2,000 plus years of trade Xian has a fascinating fusion of cuisine which has been so absorbed into everyday life its origins have been forgotten. The top dish to try is the dumplings. These dumplings arrive in bamboo baskets which have been steamed. To recognise the ingredients you have to look at the package; if the dumpling looks like a pig, then yes, its pork, if it looks fishy then it’s definitely from the sea. A meal of dumplings will satisfy any appetite as they just keep on coming and the bamboo stack gets taller.
One of my favourite places in Xian is the Wild Goose Pagoda. This complex features the first place Buddhism arrived in China from India. Built in 652 AD, the slightly crooked tower is reached by impressive steps, flanked by huge incense burners and dragon figurines. As the pagoda is so important it is preserved well and frequently visited, so you get to see the locals and visitors paying their respects.
When I first went to Xian the Wild Goose Pagoda was in the messy neighbourhood; today the houses and shops are hidden behind a wall and the street leads to a beautiful dancing fountain. If it’s the right night it’s a beautiful experience seeing the colourful lights dance in time with the water spouts. In summary, a western concept integrated with Chinese innovation.
If this sounds like your kind of adventure, check out our tours below: