Ch 15: Reflections on Xi'an

Xian was a beautiful city- the end and beginning of the Silk Road. The food and culture reflect this unique geographic position. There are hoards of Muslim food vendors and the food is delicious. A lot of noodles, breads, and meats on sticks. Chinese people love spicy food. All of the northern and central Chinese food we've had has been spicy.

The city is a great mix of the old and the new. The city walls that defended the town for over 1500 years are still up- but now they defend sky scrapers and lux apartments. We stayed at the Bell Tower at the center of the city. Down the street is the Drum Tower. The tolls in the morning and the drum tower at night. I'm told it's been this way since the first emperors lived in this ancient capital. The view from our Hostel is awesome as we can see both towers and the modern buidlings that have sprung up around them. Xian in many ways resembles Japan. The Chinese architecture is Tang Dynasty era- the period in time when Japan was mostly influenced by Chinese culture. I suppose then it's really Japan that resembles Xian.

The museum of Shaanxi history was a good look at dynastic art and artifacts going back 4000 years. The number of items on display was impressive and definitely worth the visit. At night the streets are alive with food vendors and the young people of the city who love to stay out until the wee morning. There's a different world to Xian when the sun sets. The young people in the city as in many places in China have a positive attitude toward China's future (It's a question I like to ask once I begin to talk to locals).