Weekend Highlights From All

We started this weekend by visiting the Xi'an City Wall. They were starting a marathon when we arrived. There was much activity, with music and dance. We then visited the Muslim Quarter, an open market area filled with the sights and sounds of a busy city of 14 million residents. Sunday the ant bus delivered us to the Terra Cotta Soldiers and then on to Huaqing Pool, a gardens and hot springs region at the foot of the mountains which was the temporary residence of Chiang Kai-shek in the 1930s. We asked everyone to reflect on one highlight from the weekend:
*The detail and technology of ancient civilization.
*2,200 years is a long time.
*It was interesting and also relaxing, a chance to see what I think the local people go to see as well as tourists. (There are approximately 60,000 tourists at the Terra Cotta Warriors Museum each day). It is also interesting that the Chiang Kai-shek exhibit/palace just opened in 2005.
*The artistry and detail of the Terra Cotta Soldiers was far beyond my expectations. The detail of the sole of a general's shoe...amazing.
*Calligraphy is an art/emotion.
*Terra Cotta Soldiers were simply amazing. Surreal. It doesn't seem possible they could be preserved that long.
*Ding Ding hao
*Mao's calligraphy at the Huaqing Pool was beautiful, the translation of a lost poem.
*In awe of knowledge skills and artistry that this civilization had 2,000 years ago.
*Contrasts: we are staying in modern (technology park) section of the city and a few miles away people are living a much more primitive lifestyle.
*Libraries that are being built have always been pointed out by the tour guides. They are large buildings with beautiful architectural designs. Be still my heart!
*It's sunny!
*Amazing because of the ancient culture we experienced. We see a building in Boston from 1648 and think "Wow!" We think that it's old - no - not even close.
*How the Terra Cotta Soldiers Museum has changed since 2001 when I last saw it. Now the entrance looks like a shopping mall.
*The sights, sounds, colors and faces of the Muslim Quarter.