Xi’an is the city where the Silk Road starts in direction of the Occident. To me it is somehow the end of my journey. Nevertheless we are going on, and will cycle another 1000 km till we arrive in Beijing.

For some centuries Xi’an was the capital of China, and many impressive buildings remain of this great period. The city walls are still surrounding the old city, and one can cycle on them for some 14 km for a quite unusual visit of the city. But the skyscrapers take more and more over from the pagodas, bell tower, drum tower and other historic buildings.

But Xi’an is also worldwide known for something else: the famous “terracotta warriors”, which can be admired after driving for about one hour outside town. In 1976 a peasant working on his fields discovered this buried army by accident. Excavations are still going on, and up to date, some 2000 warriors and horses have been unearthed. Back in 1976 they were colored, but their color did not resist to light and so it has been decided, not do unearth all of the estimated 4000 remaining warriors, until there is some way to protect them better. The tomb on the emperor Qin himself has not yet been opened for the same reason.

Every one of these 2000 years old, and 1:1 size statues has a different face. Their expression is so amazing and natural that I cannot describe.

In Xi'an is the official start of the silk road, to me my travel finished somehow in this city

Cycling on the city wall

Dr Wang, our cycling guide in Xi'an