Xian

The Chinese have a saying, ” Go to Beijing if you want to see a thousand years of Chinese history. Go visit Shanghai if you want one hundred. However, if you want to see three thousand years of Chinese history, visit Xian.

Famous for thick noodles, the terra-cotta army, and it’s Muslim quarter, Xian may have been the furthest I’ve ever been from home, both geographically and culturally. Historically the seat of several dynasties, Xian is now one of many rapidly developing Chinese boom cities.

Xian, and my interesting train ride over, feels vastly different than Beijing. My simplified synopsis would be: Beijing is China’s effort to be an east meets west metropolis. Xian however, is more internationally isolated, and thus more unmistakably Chinese (though you may still here Justin Beiber blaring from somebody’s mp3 player).

Below are a but a few captures from Xian, untouched straight from the camera. I’m looking forward to getting them onto the computer back home and putting them (and a few hundred others) through a bit of photofinishing, but thats a ways away. Until then this wordpress app will have to do! Peace.