The streets of Xi'an. Not in the small Muslim quarter tangle of streets, but out on the broad boulevard. People and more people.
We are on our way to the Terra Cotta warriors, about 40 minutes outside of the walled city of Xi'an. After about 15 minutes on the road, the traffic stops. Drivers, passengers all around us immediately turn off their cars and get out. Our guide took the opportunity for a smoke and walked way ahead. We completely lost track of him. After about 10 minutes, he returned. Soon thereafter the traffic started rolling like normal. No slow pace, just on the road again. Weird. This is China. Don't know what stopped us.
This is the Emperor Qin Shihuang, (meaning the First Emperor of Qin, which was the first Emperor of China) who came to the position at age 13. He was born as Ying Zheng, but changed his name after he conquered six states and established the first united centrally-ruled feudal country. It was after this unification that he named himself Qin Shihuang. He began building his mausoleum soon after he gained the throne as King of the Qin State at age 13. The Mausoleum, warriors, horses were still not completed at his death at age 51, 210 B.C. It is said that over 700,000 workers were involved in the building of his tomb, (covering an area of 56.25 square kilometers) which includes an underground palace, inner and outer city walls, the terra-cotta warriors and horses, vaults of stone armor and helmets, vaults of terra-cotta acrobatic figures, vaults of civil officials, rare birds and unfamiliar animals, bronze water birds, a bronze crane, two 3/4 size bronze chariots and horses. I wish I could write a book to you on all the information about the excavation of these warriors and their history. It is facsinating and still continuing. Qin Shihuang was truly the first to unite China, established a feudal system, started county administrations, standardized weights, money, Chinese characters, started the "Great Wall" and "highways". There were some cruel aspects of his rule as well, but I will leave those for you to discover!
The first of 3 excavations that we saw. Many more are known of but not being excavated until better tools and facilities can be used to preserve them.
It is absolutely stunning and overwhelming, the number of soldiers in just this one area. All faces are unique.
The soldiers are facing east, prepared for battle to protect from the enemy who would be approaching from this direction.
Storey catching the spirit of the soldiers!
Some close ups of the gorgeous soldiers. This is a kneeling archer. There are infantrymen, archers, standing and kneeling, calvary, . . . .
everything one would need to be protected from their enemies in the after life!
This is how the warriors were originally found, fully painted. That is why they are waiting on better technology before unearthing the rest. The paint just disappears when meeting with the air.
An extraordinary, moving experience to see this grandeur of accomplishment by humankind in 200 B.C. What are we leaving?
We are back in Xi'an, and while the others are resting at the Sofitel, Paige, Ridley and I adventure out to bike on the wall surrounding Xi'an. The old city is completely walled in by a tremendous structure. We grab a pedicab and squeeze in. 
The south gate of the wall.
Being the holiday week, the wall was very busy and all the bikes were taken. We decided to walk to one of the corners. These are guard towers posted frequently along the wall. The air was so bad this day that we felt it was probably better not to be exerting ourselves anymore than necessary.
Heading back to the hotel in another pedicab with Ridley literally hanging off the side the whole way.
While we were gone Storey went to the pool and jumped in in her clothes, so happy to be in a pool! It was beautiful. 
Paige and Grammy at the pool. Paige then went and worked out in the exercize room. Ahh, the little amenities. (Looks like Grammy did a little shopping while we were gone!)
We stayed in and went to the buffet at the Sofitel restaurant that was a feast beyond measure. Everything one could desire from any part of the world: Japan, China, Arab,Western - German, French, Scandanavian, America. We had some happy campers at the dinner table! Home via plane the next day. Nancy, Ridley and I went to the Muslim quarter one more time to look around before taking off in the afternoon. Quite an easy experience hopping on a plane. It seemed quite luxurious after our train adventures. We were back to Shanghai in no time!Well, I have actually completed our trip. Many weeks and adventures later we have caught up! It is Halloween today. Look for girls in costumes next!
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