China’s Terracotta Warriors

terracotta Warriors Sandra Bauknecht

Yesterday I went an hour by car east of Xi’an to the Shaanxi province, where the famous Terracotta Army or the “Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses” can be seen. The collection of sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, was only discovered in 1974 by coincidence by a group of farmers when they were digging a water well a little further away of the Qin Emperor’s tomb mound at Mount Li (Lishan). The terracotta figures are life-sized and vary in height, uniform and hairstyle. Only a section of the site is presently excavated. It is a very impressive sightseeing spot that was truly worth visiting.

My look: Pink hot pants by Abercrombie & Fitch, the “Zurich” tee I designed for Closed and sneakers by Nike.

terracotta soldiers- Sandra Bauknecht 2

Terracotta Soldiers

terracotta

Today, I am flying to Lijiang, located in Yunnan province, the so-called Venice of the Orient. Stay tuned for more coming up soon…

LoL, Sandra

Sandra Bauknecht Xian Terracotta

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht

Greetings from Xi’an

Greetings from Xian - Sandra Bauknecht

Yesterday, I flew with Shanghai Airlines to Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi province, and one of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history. It was a very bumpy ride and I was very happy when I arrived safely.

Xi’an is perhaps most famed as the home of the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (post coming up tomorrow) and for its rich cultural heritage, but the city is also increasingly known as a center of high-tech development. Here, antiquity meets modernity and you can still see and enjoy the “old China” Xi’an has a large number of colleges and universities and its future is very promising. Below you can enjoy the places you must see when in town and some of my favourite moments.

Xian City Wall 2

The City Wall of Xi’an is the most complete one that has survived in China.

Sandra Bauknecht Xian 2

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

An icon of Xi’an, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a well-preserved ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda - Buddha Temple

Entrance Buddha Temple 1

Small Wild Goose Pagoda Xian

Another important landmark in Xi’an is the Small Wild Goose Pagoda. Its top was partly destroyed by an earthquake.

Xian Kids

Small Wild Goose Pagoda

No matter where in the world, it’s all about love…

Blind Massage 2

I also visited the muslim quarter in Xi’an. The Beiyuanmen Muslim Market, which is great for souvenirs and food, is the perfect choice after you have finished your sightseeing tour in the city center.

LoL, Sandra

Xian3

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht