"Things to do in Xian" Xian Shan by mccrorj

I like most tourists visited Xian for one reason only and that was to see the terracotta warriors. In reality I left feeling a little deflated. Impressive though the site is it's a long way to travel for a couple of hours and then view warriors that you'll have seen a hundred times before on telly or in a magazine. When I had visited the site I was left wondering what else to do. In reality I ended up sharing a drink with an Australian couple I had met. I did walk the city walls which was excellent. Long broad walls on which you can walk or cycle lovely way to see the city.

atop the city walls in xian

The trip to the warriors included the routine stop at a jade factory. We then visited the Big Goose Pagoda which was pleasant, quiet, no Chinese sized crowds and on to the Royal springs. This was a winter retreat for the royal family. Hadn't read much about either the springs or the Pagoda but as always the tour guide spoke perfect english.

• Pros:City Walls, the warriors, dumplings and the large goose pagoda
• Cons:Bus drivers, roads outside the city walls and the dust in winter
• In a nutshell:Everyone should see the warriors but it's a long journey for a couple of hours