Xi'an pictures

Of course, we visited the Terracotta Warriors. They were impressive in their three different excavation sites. This is pit 1, the biggest and original pit that was discovered. Like I said before, though, learning how they fit into Chinese history and more behind the emperor who had them made is the interesting thing.

Xi'an has a large Muslim population that has been there for a long time. They have the best food there as well as a tourist market and interesting streets to explore. I guess these guys were selling bugs (cicadas maybe?) as pets in tiny cages.

The highlight (and most challenging part) of our trip was Hua Shan. I took this picture on Saturday when the sun first came out for the first time in days and shone on the water on the mountain.

We saw these red cloth pieces with locks on both mountains we went to. People buy them and lock them onto the chain as some kind of symbol - maybe a long peaceful life or something.

There were "rest stops" all up the mountain that had places to sit and sold drinks and snacks. Red Bull (or, as the Chinese says, red cow) is apparently a popular choice to fuel your climb.

This is at the North Peak. After we stopped there for a while, we hiked the skinny ridge you can see lined up behind me.

After our night on the mountain and sunrise on the East Peak.


The way they get food up to the places that the cable car doesn't reach is to hire people to carry it up on their shoulders. Some were even carrying large triangular windows (three, I think) on their back. The guys who do this back-breaking work are all oldish and most of them look at least a little sad. This guy, however, was on his way down (it looks like he's packing out the recyclables) and celebrating with a little song and dance!