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2009
City of Xirsquoan
Briceno Maribel
Garza Mike
McKelvey Gene
Parthasarathy Ranga
Saulsberry Hattie
GENB 7297 International Business Residency
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract 2
History 3
Geography 4
Economy 4
Business 6
Government 8
Education 9
Culture 9
Tourism 10
References 18
Appendix A 20
Appendix B 20
Appendix C 21
2
ABSTRACT
The city of Xirsquoan has a long and amazing history beginning with the construction of Banpo
Village by a group of late Neolithic people circa 5000 BC Xirsquoan is one of the four Ancient
Capital Cities of China literally meaning Western Peace Xirsquoan is one of Chinarsquos most advanced
cities in higher education On average one in six people have a bachelor degree or higher Xirsquoan
represents a very important economic development area in 21st century regional strategy in
China It has been labeled as the top city in software industry and as a perfect fit for
entrepreneurship development Xirsquoanrsquos tax policies abundant energy supply coupled with cheap
land and labor create the perfect scenario for Chinese and overseas investors There are five
leading industries in Xirsquoan high-tech equipment manufacturing tourism modern services and
cultural industry all of which play key roles in their economic growth The city of Xirsquoan has a
large skilled workforce and a highly educated population Xirsquoan is the largest industrial center in
Chinas mid-west and northwest with a large amount of import-export business done in the
industrial sector Xirsquoan ranks third in the number of students in China after Beijing and
Shanghai Currently Xirsquoan has forty-three functional government departments with one mayor
and eight executive vice mayors who belong to the Communist Party of China which has
supreme political authority and power Xirsquoan is a touristrsquos paradise The major attractions include
the Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses Bell and Drum tower and the city wall The
city entices its visitors with a variety of fine dining shopping and sightseeing experiences
3
HISTORY
Xirsquoan has a long and amazing history beginning with the construction of Banpo Village by a
group of late Neolithic people circa 5000 BC A team of archeologists also found Lantian Man
remains that date back 500000 years before the present within 50 kilometers of Xirsquoan Xirsquoan is
one of the four Ancient Capital Cities of China literally meaning Western Peace It served as
the capital of several dynasties including Zhou (1045 BC to 256 BC) Qin (221 BC to 206 BC)
Han (202 BC to 220 AD) Sui (581 AD to 618 AD) and Tang (618 AD to 907 AD)
Chinarsquos first unified government came under Emperor Qin Shi Huang of the Qin dynasty and
whose government seat was in Xirsquoan While the Emperor is credited with building 6000 miles
of roads 1000 miles of canals for flood control transportation and irrigation and consolidating
three sections of wall that would be part of The Great Wall he is best known for ordering the
creation of 8000 terracotta army pieces including foot soldiers horses chariots archers and
cavalry This was done to fulfill the local ritual of burying your servants and advisors alive with
the Emperor when he dies
Xirsquoan became the eastern end of the Silk Road a primary trading route between China and the
rest of the world under the Han emperor Wudi The intent of the Silk Road was to trade with
India and to develop military alliances at the same time The military alliances were deemed to
be impractical but the silk quickly became very popular with silk trading as far west as Rome
Xirsquoan was renamed Changrsquoan meaning ldquoPerpetual Peacerdquo and became one of the largest in the
world at that time covering 139 square miles
While the effect of religion on China will be discussed in further depth later in this paper it is
important to comment on the Famen Temple This Buddhist temple dates from 67 AD and
contains a 13 story brick pagoda as part of a monastery In August of 1981 a rain storm caused
the pagoda to collapse revealing a 1000 year old underground vault containing treasures of the
Tang and other dynasties given as offerings The list included gold and silver utensils pearls and
precious stones and religious items but the most unusual treasure was a finger bone of Buddha
offered to the Emperor of China during the Tang dynasty1
4
GEOGRAPHY
Xian is located in central China on the Guanzhong plains at an average elevation of 400 meters
above sea level and an annual precipitation of 1100 millimeters Qinling mountains to the south
of Xian have one of the five famous Chinese mountains namely ldquoMount Huashanrdquo which is the
most spectacular and precipitous mountain peak in the country1 The others are the historically
famous Buddhist mountain Mount Zhongnan which abounds in historical relics and Mount
Taibai 3767 m above sea level is similar to Mount Fuji in Japan very spectacular and even
snow-capped in summer2 Xian has a warm temperate continental climate The region is
characterized by hot humid summers and cold dry winters Summer seasons also experience
frequent but short thunderstorms However due to its overall fine climate and interesting terrain
the city of Xirsquoan excels as a tourist place The average high temperature (F) is 77 and low is 58
for the month of May By the end of 2005 Xian had a population of 807 million Compared to
the census data from 2000 the population has increased by 656700 persons from 741 million
The population distribution slightly favors the male with 5166 male and 4834 female
991 of Xian residents are Han Chinese (traditional Chinese)1 The city is surrounded by a city
wall in its middle the Bell Tower (钟楼 Zhōngloacuteu) From this one the four main streets descend
into the four points of the compass They are North-Street (北大街 Běidagravejiē) East-Street
(东大街 Dōngdagravejiē) South-Street (南大街 Naacutendagravejiē) and West-Street (西大街 Xīdagravejiē)
ECONOMY
Xirsquoan represents a very important economic development area in 21st century regional strategy
in China It has been labeled as the top city in software industry and as a perfect fit for
entrepreneurship development Xirsquoanrsquos tax policies abundant energy supply coupled with cheap
land and labor create the perfect scenario for Chinese and overseas investors There are five
leading industries in Xirsquoan high-tech equipment manufacturing tourism modern services and
cultural industry all of which play key roles in their economic growth In the layout of
nationwide regional economy Xirsquoan has a regional advantage of connecting Asia and Europe
and for that reason it has become a hub for aviation railway roads trade finance and
distribution of resources3 Xirsquoanrsquo is rich in oil natural gas coal and water resources which
5
contribute to its ability of provide adequate energy supply for industrial and residential use
Compared with eastern China cities Xirsquoan has better energy prices
Xian has consistently received large amounts of foreign direct investment amounts among other
cities in western China Some financial entities have been formed in Xian taking government-
owned commercial banks as the main body but allowing interactions and coexistence of private
financial institutions Import-export in the industrial sector makes up more than 60 of the citys
total trading volume As per information from Xirsquoan Municipal Bureau of Commerce and
Trade4 from January to November 2008 Xirsquoanrsquos total retail sales of consumer goods reached
10413 billion Yuan with an increase by 255 compared to 2007 It is the first time for Xirsquoanrsquos
total retail sales of consumer goods to exceed 100 billion Yuan In 2008 the total value of the
Shaanxi province imports and exports reached 836 billion USD an increase of 215 over the
previous year Of this total the value of imports was 297 billion USD up by 336 and the
value of exports was 540 billion USD up by 157 Official jobless rate (~ 4) isnrsquot of much
use in weighing unemployment because it doesnt include migrant workers or anyone not
officially registered as a recipient of unemployment benefits Xirsquoanrsquos social security system is
being improved by local government and insurance systems for old-age pension unemployment
medical care work injury and maternity have been established5
Xian has created a development pattern of ldquofour zones and one baserdquo (High-tech Industrial
Development Zone Economic and Technological Development Zone New Qujiang District
Chan-Ba River Ecological Zone and Yanliang National Aeronautic High-tech Industry Base)
that has evolved as the center of scientific and IT achievements Even though Xirsquoan has become
an attractive city to investors and has created a phenomenal environment for capital attraction
the worldwide financial crisis has affected the development of industrial economy and the impact
has spread to all aspects of production The local government has implemented some measures to
maintain the economic growth such as
(i) The ldquoCoordination Command Centerrdquo has been established to ensure continuity of economic
growth and promotion of industrial sales
(ii) Government subsidy for loans and enhancement of policies to coordinate efforts between
banks and investors on credit funds
6
(iii) Increase of stocks of key industrial products
Xirsquoanrsquos government6 is using some tax incentives to attract companies and professionals to
relocate there for example (i) Newly established high-tech industry companies of production
type where the production period exceeds 10 years can be exempted from income tax for its
first two profit-making years and enjoy reduction on the basis of income tax rate of 75 where
the technology still remains qualified as high-tech after the specified period for tax reduction
companies can apply for extension for 3 years of reduction by 10 and by 5 for the rest of the
years (ii) Foreign invested enterprises of the type encouraged by state in Xirsquoan Hi-tech Industry
Development Zone can enjoy reduction by 15 prior to 2010 where the current reduction period
is up (iii) Persons or bodies (including foreign invested enterprises foreign invested research
and development center foreign enterprises and foreign personals) whose scope of business is
technology transfer technology development or related consultation or services can be
exempted from business tax
There are some recent announcements of capital investment7 such as the cooperation of Shaanxi
Yanchang Petroleum Group with Shell and Shaanxi Tianli Investment Co Ltd to set up the
headquarters of Shaanxi Yanchang Shell Petroleum Co Ltd at the Xirsquoan high-tech zone The
project with a total investment of 147 million USD will introduce globally advanced
technologies and management experiences for Xirsquoan Currently more than 90 companies of the
Fortune 500s have established their presence in the city The retail sales industry is also being
attractive for foreign investors and currently retail giants like Metro Carrefour and Wal-Mart
have entered Xirsquoan
BUSINESS
The city of Xirsquoan has a large skilled workforce and a highly educated population Xirsquoan is the
largest industrial center in Chinas mid-west and northwest with a large amount of import-export
business done in the industrial sector 8
Industrial Sector The industrial sector makes up more than 60 of the citys total trading
volume along with the technology industry The major industries in Xirsquoan are iron steel
aluminum coal and chemicals fertilizers 89
7
Software Industry The growing economy of Xirsquoan supports the development of a software
industry that has become a pioneer in Chinarsquos software industry The major products that are
produced in Xirsquoan are computer software IT microelectronics and video and audio components
The Hi-tech industries Development Zone houses 7500 enterprises of which approximately ten
percent are foreign funded and it includes manufacturers research and development
laboratories
OutsourcingBPO Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry has experienced tremendous
growth in Xirsquoan with China extending huge tax incentives to companies to relocate there along
with a large amount of college educated human capital to choose from within the 100
universities in Xirsquoan 10
Xirsquoan is destined to become one of the worldrsquos BPO capitals according
to a team of successful Chinese business leaders (from overseas and from China) Senior
Officials of Xirsquoan and the Shanxi Provincial Administration Xirsquoanrsquos bid for BPO fame is driven
from Xirsquoanrsquos Software Park (a National Software Industry Base and a Software Export Base)
located in one of Chinarsquos premier centers for science and technology As Chinese are rapidly
adapting to western requirements investing in BPO related training quality certification and
gathering appropriate advice from the international marketplace they will be highly successful
and become a world leading BPO player
Telecommunications Industry Another key industry in Xirsquoan is telecommunications Xirsquoan is
Chinas leading center of training for engineers The universities and local companies of Xirsquoan
have provided hundreds of thousands of engineers for the Chinese telecommunications industry
With having available human talent has allowed major domestic and multinational
telecommunications vendors to set up Research amp Development centers andor factories in
Xirsquoan including Fujitsu and Siemens 89
Aerospace Industry Xirsquoan also plays a role in Aerospace with the State Development and
Reform Commission approved the planning of Xirsquoan National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base
on December 26 2007 The National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base of Xirsquoan set to cover 23
square km will focus on developing satellites new materials energies IT and other technologies
for civil applications From its establishment Xirsquoanrsquos Aerospace Science and Technology
Industrial Base have focused on the development of the civil space industry including equipment
manufacturing software and service outsourcing Apart from the core area the base will cover
8
Xirsquoan and the Guanzhong area (the central China) and the expansion zone will reach Northwest
China and Southwest China It is expected that by 2012 the total Aerospace industry output can
reach 28 billion US Dollars along with global competitiveness 89
Computer Gaming Industry The computer gaming industry is key sector in Xirsquoan with the
assistance of 100 universities in the area which has lead to the largest net bar in the world with
more than 3000 computers is located in Xirsquoan Xirsquoan is one of the biggest educational centers
throughout the Chinese nation that has already hosted worldwide game competitions such as
ACON5 CEG2006 and WCG2006
Xirsquoan has shown success by attracting foreign and domestic investment with organizations such
as Intel Fujitsu Philips Sybase and Nortel setting up shop within the city By consistently
receiving large foreign direct investment in western China has lead to new industries such as
pharmaceuticals medical equipment biotechnology and new materials which have steadily
grown in Xirsquoan 8 9
GOVERNMENT
Xirsquoan has forty-three functional government departments with one mayor eight executive vice
mayors that operate in the Peoples Republic of Chinarsquos government that is divided among three
bodies the Communist Party of China the state and the Peoples Liberation Army The
Communist Party of China was founded in 1921 and the Partys position has supreme political
authority and power in Xirsquoan The majority of mayors in Xirsquoan belong to the Communist Party
and were born and raised within Shaanxi Province 11
Xirsquoan Law Xirsquoanrsquos law is derived from the old legal code of the Ninefold Celestial Empire and
enforced by the Mandarin Magistrates12
If an offender is caught committing a crime they can
expect to be left in a cell until the next magistrate is available to hear the case When called to
court an offender is allowed to hire a pleader to speak for them if they wish to have the facts of
the accusation presented by an official accuser the pleader or accused gives their defense and the
magistrate then makes his decision and sentence Xirsquoanrsquos laws toward crimes tend to be fairly
straightforward where theft or fraud is punished by seven fold restitution however should the
thief be unable to pay they may be enthralled(made into a slave or servant who is held in
bondage) or suffer mutilation depending on the magistrates inclination Murder is punished with
9
thralldom should the victim be a commoner execution if the victim is a scholar and execution
after torture if the victim is of the princely class Insulting behavior towards a daifu (doctor) is
fined and insults towards the zhuhou are punished with fines and whipping Impersonation of a
city official or a class above ones own is met with thralldom or death Disturbing the peace or
creating a public hazard is met with fines with thralldom for those who cannot pay Sufficiently
obnoxious behavior of any other kind may be treated as a crime in Xirsquoan law
EDUCATION
Xirsquoan is one of Chinarsquos most advanced cities in higher education Xirsquoan ranks third in the
number of students in China after Beijing and Shanghai On an average one in six people have a
higher education of a bachelor degree or more Xian Jiaotong University is one of the major
university in Xirsquoan and has an enrollment of around 32000 students and offerrsquos 199 Masters and
114 PhD1 programs in Science Engineering Medicine Economics Management Arts
Language and Law In 2006 in partnership with the University of Liverpool Xirsquoan Jiaotong
University opened a joint University in Suzhou the Xirsquoan Jiaotong-Liverpool University This is
an independent University in its own right and as such is the first Sino-British University to be
approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education Xidian University founded in 1931 is a key
national university dedicated primarily to electronic technology and information which is
integrated with a wide range of academic subjects including engineering physical science social
science foreign languages and business management Currently Xidian University has become a
base of education and high-tech research in the field of electronic information In addition there
are several other public private and military colleges in Xirsquoan1
CULTURE
One of the great mysteries of Xirsquoan is how an ancient culture can mix the new one giving a
wonderful and memorable experience to foreigners who enjoy a city both as it was long time ago
and as it is at 21st century Due to Xirsquoanrsquos long history as a capital of China it is enriched with
many cultural treasures that make the city outstanding compared to other cultural cities The
accumulation of incredible cultural heritages during past centuries won Xirsquoan its fame as the
natural history museum There are many high quality cultural relics that are not only precious
and rare in China but also around the globe That ancient look distinctive social practice and art
10
represent the spirit of contemporary Xian as well as its unique culture resources which are
essential to Xirsquoanrsquos urban and social development
The culture of Xirsquoan is inherited from the traditions of one of the worlds earliest civilizations
The Guanzhong Ren were the cultural antecedent of Xirsquoanese their cultural features are drawn
from the Ten Specialities of Guanzhong Ren Another major part of this culture is Eight Great
Sights of Changan storied scenic areas in the region The drama of the original Xirsquoanese culture
Qinqiang is the oldest and most extensive Chinese Opera of the four major types of Chinese
opera13
Xian is roughly 98 Buddhist and Taoist 1 Christian 1 Muslim and other
denominations However as the Eastern terminus of the Silk Road Xian shows signs of
imported religions Modern Xian has a more prominent religious side than most Chinese cities
TOURISM
Setting foot on the ancient wall stroll on the city there is another vision thickly dotted road
network international airport modern communication equipment which connect Xian to the
world as well as a great deal of tourism service facility such as hotels bowling hall and large-
scale stores The ancient historical famous city which has some ongoing archaeological projects
has developed into a multi-function modern tourism city and it is no doubt that dig of historical
culture connation make this ancient city more attractive14
Bell in the morning and drum in the evening enable people in Xirsquoan enjoy very much
Transportation and infrastructure Locals often speak about Within city walls and Outside city
walls when talking about locations Outside the walls the southern part is the most interesting it
offers shopping streets bars and some nightlife Dont get confused by different names in tourist
guides addresses and bus stops Nandajie Nanda-Street South-Street South-Avenue are all the
same 9
By Foot Xian has many areas that are easily accessible on foot In many commercial
residential educations zones in the city especially in the shopping and entertainment districts
around the Bell Tower underpasses and overpasses have been built for the safety and
convenience of pedestrians
11
By Bike Fortunately Xirsquoans main sites (with the notable exception of the Terracotta Warriors)
are bunched fairly close together so renting a bike is a good option Be wary of the narrow
streets and cars that squeeze you out of the way Electric bikes are very popular among students
and offer easy transportation in and around the city for many residents
By Car There has been a significant increase in the number of privately-owned vehicles among
middle and upper class households in Xian Traffic is heavy and the rule of thumb is keep
going no matter what (although drivers do note red lights) However many intersections still
lack sufficiently visible traffic lights and the right-of-way is virtually non-existent except at large
intersections with traffic police and signals
By Taxi Taxi services are numerous Watch the taxi drivers in Xirsquoan as the industry is not
regulated as it is in other larger cities like Beijing You may find yourself being taken on a long
ride around town to get where you are going It can also be difficult to convince them to take you
anywhere (even to the railway station) if in doubt get your hotel or hostel to write down the
place you want to go in Chinese Trips within the city walls are generally in the yen10 range
longer trips to the attractions south of the city are in the yen12-20 range Especially when you take
a longer ride like to or from the airport it is always good advice to insist on using the taxi meter
The rate for the normal (green) taxis is yen6 for the first two kilometers and then yen15 for every
additional kilometer Waiting times longer than 2 minutes will be charged yen15 per minute After
11PM the starting price is yen7 At the airport and around some of the big hotels you might also
find black taxis They charge yen24 per kilometer but are more spacious and comfortable
By Bus Many citizens of Xian still commute to work on one of more than 200 bus routes
Although the price is much more economical foreigners are not encouraged to take the long
distance buses due to general hardship and fatigue
By Train There are plenty of trains transporting passengers to and from most of the major cities
inside China Located at the center of China it often takes one day to travel from Xirsquoan to other
cities by train Keep in mind train tickets usually cannot be booked unless you are doing so very
far in advance Traveling hard means you will share a small room with up to three other locals
They may smoke snore or watch portable tvs while you try to sleep Do not travel hard if you
are uncomfortable with these things Xirsquoan Station is located at the north end of Jiefang Lu
12
(解放路) In Xirsquoan it is very easy for one to get to the railway station by city bus from anywhere
in the city But please be aware that there are several stops around the station Fortunately all of
them are no more than 200 meters from the station
What To See amp Do
(i) Walk along the City walls and see the South Gate (南门 Naacutenmeacuten) (illuminated at night)
(ii) Bicycling around the city walls will take about 2 hours
(iii) Walk through the Hui Muslim Quarter (回民街 Huiacutemiacuten Jiē) sampling food1
A deposit is required to rent a bike of at least yen200 or your passport however we do not
recommend releasing your passport to any non government official Make sure that you keep the
deposit ticket the bike vendor will not give you the deposit back without it
FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2
City Wall of Xian Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses
Xirsquoan is one of only two cities with intact surrounding walls in China (Figure 1) This wall has
been restored and is wide enough to easily ride 5 bikes across You can hire one at the top of the
South or East gate you must return it where you got it If you want to foot it though a complete
loop of the walls takes approximately 3 hours The landscaped park around the base of the
exterior walls and moat also makes for a pleasant stroll and gives a different perspective on the
battlements and towers There is a small museum inside the city walls at Hanguang Gate about
halfway between the southwest corner and the South Gate accessible from the top of the city
13
wall itself Look for a staircase down inside a covered structure Inside are the unrestored
remains of a gatehouse and a calligraphy collection [yen40 entry fee or yen20 if you have student
card (as of Nov 08)]
The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses (Figure 2) was discovered in eastern outer
suburbs of Xian Shaanxi province by local farmers drilling a water well 15 miles east of Lishan
(a mountain) This discovery prompted archaeologists to proceed to Shaanxi Province China to
investigate The Terracotta Army is a form of funerary art buried with the First Emperor of Qin
(Qin Shi Huang Shi Huang means the first emperor) in 210-209 BCE (he declared himself the
first emperor of China in 221 BCE to the end of his life in 210 BCE) Their purpose was to help
rule another empire with Shi Huang Di in the afterlife Consequently they are also sometimes
referred to as Qins Armies Mount Lishan is also where the material to make the terracotta
warriors originated In addition to the warriors an entire man-made necropolis for the emperor
has been excavated 15
FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4
Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda
As the symbol of the old-line Xirsquoan Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 3) is a well-preserved
ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists It is located in the southern suburb of Xirsquoan
City about 4 kilometers (249 miles) from the downtown of the city It is rated as a National Key
Cultural Relic Preserve This attraction can be divided into three parts the Big Wild Goose
Pagoda the Da Cien Temple and the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda 13
North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 4) is composed of waterscape fountains a
cultural square gardens and tourist paths There you can taste real Chinese culture and traditions
and fully enjoy the truly attractive views With reliefs on the theme of the prosperous Tang
14
Dynasty 200-meter-long (656-foot-long) sculpture groups 8 groups of sculpted figures 40
relievos on the land and 22 styles of musical fountains
FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6 FIGURE 7
Bell Tower and Drum Tower Jingyun bell Muslim Quarter
Each Ming Dynasty city had a bell tower and a drum tower Xirsquoan was not an exception The
Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xian (Figure 5) date back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
The two are located in the center of the Xirsquoan city connecting the four roads from east south
west and north The bell (Figure 6) was sounded at dawn and the drum at dusk each day in
ancient time Today the Tower can only be accessed from the entrance on Bei Dajie where
visitors have to purchase their tickets To the west of the Bell Tower is the Drum Tower This is
a smaller building located in a busy street which is full of street traders and hawkers 17
Xirsquoan used to be the starting point of the Silk Road This road linked Constantinople with China
The journey used to take more than two years Horses camels and carriages brought precious
goods from one part of the world to the other But it was not only material things that were
transported culture religion and languages were also brought to China from what is Turkey
today Two of the worlds leading religions arrived in China along the Silk Route Buddhism and
Islam Islam became particularly popular in the city of Xirsquoan Still today part of the population of
Xirsquoan is Muslim In the center there is the Muslim Quarter (Figure 7) with its handicraft shops
Muslim restaurants and the famous Muslim Mosque It is recommended visiting the Muslim
Quarter on your own The best time to visit is in the afternoon Do not rush Take your time to
enjoy its small streets and numerous shops where you can buy traditional handicrafts It is good
to come here in the afternoon not only to see the vivid and hectic streets at their busiest but also
to have dinner in one of the Muslim Restaurant 15
15
Shopping
Souvenirs If you are visiting the Terracotta Warriors be prepared to meet some of the most
hardcore hawkers you are likely to meet anywhere If you keep quiet they will usually bargain
themselves down in front of you in desperate pleas for your money Buy a 15 cm Terracotta
warrior for yen5-10 even if they offer it to you for yen45 Wood-carved Buddhas and Dragons can
bought for about the same value They are fortunately kept at a distance from the actual site
Actually many travelers report to enjoy this experience Its definitely not a reason to avoid
seeing the Terracotta Warriors The exit from the pit areas to the parking lot leads through long
avenues lined with souvenir stalls and shops The barkers will try to get your business but are
not as aggressive as the touts at the entrance or immediate exits Inside the museum the ldquoreportly
authenticrdquo warriors may cost yen100 The best place to buy souvenirs in the city center is the
bazaar area behind the Drum Tower in the Muslim Quarter around the Great Mosque The seller
usually offers you a very high price and even if you bring them down by 50 they will still
make a big profit This is also a good place to buy folk art specifically folk style block prints in a
single shop which go for about yen50 if you can stand bargaining when the older gentleman artist
himself is standing right there This area is also full of fake name-brand products like watches
bags clothes Bargain hard 1
Another souvenir shopping area is Calligraphy Street It is located near South Gate inside the
city wall towards the east Walking down south street on the left side continue to where the road
splits in front of South Gate and turn left to find the entrance gate next to a small pagoda
Midway do a slight dog leg to the right At the far end is the Forest of Steles Less hectic that the
Muslim Quarter Tang Tricolored Pottery is a style that was lost and has now been recreated
from pieces of pottery found in tombs It is graphic in image and eye-pleasing in color The
factory recreating the style offers over 100 varieties of items like statues animals and utensils
Paper cut is regards the most important arts form in Xian The artisan cut the different pattern of
the picture by hand
Clothes Xian is amazingly cheap for clothes East Street (Dongda Jie) the eastern of the four
big streets descending from the central Bell Tower has regular fashion shops South Street
(Nanda Jie) has finer clothes and shoes (eg Louis Vuitton) Local youngsters buy in Baihui
16
Market 百汇市场） in Xiaozhai (小寨) yen10 by Taxi from city center Its one of those fake-
brand markets Sport shoes should be less than yen150 pullovers and nice jeans sometimes less
than yen100 lots of cheap fashion accessories This is also a great place for DVDs and CDs but
understand these are mostly pirated copies Kangfu Lu is outside the East city wall (straight
through the North East Gate) and a great place for a bargain Nothing is (bargained for) over yen50
and most clothes can be bargained down to about yen20 if you are really aggressive
Department Stores Located between the ancient Bell tower and Drum tower Century Ginwa
Shopping Mall is a landscaped square with profound cultural connotations as well as a high
quality exclusive shopping center The mall opened in 1998 and now houses over sixty world-
famous brands for discriminating customers including Bally Burberry Dior Givenchy
Lancome Estee Lauder and other all of which make Ginwa a fashion center in Xirsquoan Opposite
Ginwa is Kai Yuan Shopping Mall one of the biggest department stores in Xirsquoan Both the price
and the quality of the commodities and the sales service are often praised by shoppers who have
made it one of the most popular shopping places in Xirsquoan Supermarkets are numerous in Xirsquoan
and are primarily distributed around universities and communities However there are some in
the city center and the suburbs that are also easily accessible The most famous include
Vanguard Ai Jia (IGA) Hao You Duo (Trust-Mart) Yi Chu Lian Hua (Lotus Supercenter) Ren
Ren Le etc
Dining
Snacks Visitors to Xirsquoan are recommended to do two things one is to see the clay figures of
terra cotta warriors and horses The other is to taste Yang Rou Pao Mo (a soup dish that involves
breaking wheat flour flat bread into a bowl and adding a delicious mutton stock) Before dinner
you will be served one or two pieces of wheat flour flat bread which you break into tiny chunks
the smaller the better The waiter or the waitress will then hand your bowl to the cook who mixes
the bread and mutton soup with an appropriate relish When the steaming hot meal is brought in
the waiter will also offer you sweet crisp pickled garlic coriander and hot pepper sauce The
most famous the Tong Sheng Xirsquoang (Prosperity and Fortune) Beef and Lamb Paomo
Restaurant done in Tang Dynasty style is a time-honored establishment in the Xirsquoan Bell and
Drum Tower Square 18
17
Next to Tong Sheng Xirsquoang is a great restaurant De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant with its
own version of the Dumpling Banquet Ingredients for the dumpling fillings include various
meats vegetables and seasonings Cooking methods include steaming boiling pan-frying deep
frying and roasting Many flavors including salty sweet hot and sour are offered Other house
specialties include Peking dumplings steamed sweet bean paste buns steamed shrimp paste
buns and various uniquely spiced dishes While guests sample various delicacies traditionally
waiters will explain the cuisine culture of each dumpling One of Xirsquoans most famous specialties
is the Guan Tang Baozi (steamed buns served with sauces inside) served at Jia Brothers
Restaurant in Muslim Snack Street Youll know youre there when you see the monstrous blue
arch over the entrance and a wall festooned with photographs of Xirsquoan notables - TV hosts
writers and musicians The specialty dish is Guan Tang Bao Zi with a choice of beef lamb or
three flavors - lamb mushroom and prawns The buns have piping-hot soup inside so caution
is advised This dish is best washed down with Ba Bao Xi Fan a bowl of sweet rice porridge
filled with peanuts sultanas hawthorn and medlar berries
Fanji is the famous vendor of Shaanxis most widely consumed snack Rou Jia Mo finely
chopped pork stuffed in toasted wheat flour flat bread A piece of good-quality (youzhi) bread
and a bowl of mung bean flour soup will cost you no more than 10 Yuan The state-run
atmosphere is quaint and friendly and the numerous awards that decorate the walls are well
deserved The restaurant is in a lane opposite the Drum Tower south of West Main Street
Besides guan tang baozi in Jia BrothersRestaurant there is barbeque in the Pingwa Kaorou
Shop sour cabbage and beef fried rice in Honghong Suancai Chaomi Restraunt and beef
noodles in Yifenli Restaurant If you would like to taste all the local food at one time in a budget
meal Xirsquoan Restaurant (Xirsquoan Fan Zhuang) offers more than 100 varieties in its first-floor self-
service restaurant It charges only CNY18 per person and is very popular with visitors
Drinking The Chinese are big drinkers especially in Northern and Western China It does not
matter if it is lunch or dinner as long as a meal is being hosted there will be alcohol Chinese
wine is the favorite followed by red wine and beer Chinese wine is more like fuel than liquor
having an alcohol concentration as high as 60 No matter how good a drinker you may think of
yourself never ever challenge a Chinese into a drinking contest They will win hands down 18
18
REFERENCES
1 Wikitravel 2009 Wikitravelorg httpwikitravelorgenXian
2 Xingzhong W 1990 Tourist geography of Xirsquoan GeoJournal 21 147-153
3 Official website of Xirsquoan Municipal Government 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureaboutaboutb
4 Xirsquoan Municipal Commerce and Trade Bureau 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureGovernmentdepartmentsbinfid=142232ampcategoryid=
5 Investment environment of Xirsquoan 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian200811911_1ht
ml (originally reported November 20)
6 Xirsquoan Favorable policies for foreign-invested enterprises 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian2008073868_1
html (originally reported July 21)
7 13th Investment amp Trade Forum for Cooperation between East amp West China 2009
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleNewsnewsgovernmentnews20090410020_1html
(originally reported April 15)
8 Xirsquoan ndash Business Information 2009 httpwwwbiztradeshowscomchinaxianbusinesshtml
9 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiXirsquoan
10 Lewis Bill 2007 Xirsquoan Chinas Western BPO Capital New West China Location can
compete with worlds best to become Major Global BPO and Outsourcing Destination
httpwwwchnsourcingcomarticleArticleotc135320070606093234html (originally reported
June 6)
11 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiGovernment_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China
12 Red Tide Mux 2008 httpredtidewikidotcomxian-laws (originally reported March 23)
13 Facts about Xirsquoan 2009 httpwwwxian-travelcomfactshtm
14 Tourism Administration of Xirsquoan 2006-2008 httpen1xian-tourismcomleadasp
15 Travel China Guide 2009
httpwwwtravelchinaguidecomattractionshaanxixianbigwildgoosehtm
16 Tour ndashBeijingcom 2008
httpwwwtour-beijingcomxian_attractionsbell_tower_drum_towerphp
17 Virtouristcom 2008 httpwwwvirtouristcomasiachinaxian21htm
19
18 Understanding Chinese Business Culture and Etiquette April 19 2009 httpwwwchinese-
culturenethtmlchinese_business_culturehtml
20
APPENDIX A
GDP per Capita yen 27000
Major Exports Machinery electrical products data processing
equipment apparel textile steel mobile phones
Major Foreign Exchange Counters ANZ Grindlays ICICI Standard Chartered amp Thomas
Cook
Key Industries
Iron steel aluminum and other metals coal
chemicals fertilizers consumer products including
footwear toys and electronics
APPENDIX B
Approximate journey times to other major cities Beijing 11-13 hours Chengdu 13-18 hours
Chongqing 14 hours Guangzhou 24 hours Kunming 36-53 hours Lanzhou 8-10 hours Lhasa
36 hours Shanghai 16-20 hours Urumqi 31-56 hours Wuhan 14-18 hours and Zhengzhou 7
hours
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract 2
History 3
Geography 4
Economy 4
Business 6
Government 8
Education 9
Culture 9
Tourism 10
References 18
Appendix A 20
Appendix B 20
Appendix C 21
2
ABSTRACT
The city of Xirsquoan has a long and amazing history beginning with the construction of Banpo
Village by a group of late Neolithic people circa 5000 BC Xirsquoan is one of the four Ancient
Capital Cities of China literally meaning Western Peace Xirsquoan is one of Chinarsquos most advanced
cities in higher education On average one in six people have a bachelor degree or higher Xirsquoan
represents a very important economic development area in 21st century regional strategy in
China It has been labeled as the top city in software industry and as a perfect fit for
entrepreneurship development Xirsquoanrsquos tax policies abundant energy supply coupled with cheap
land and labor create the perfect scenario for Chinese and overseas investors There are five
leading industries in Xirsquoan high-tech equipment manufacturing tourism modern services and
cultural industry all of which play key roles in their economic growth The city of Xirsquoan has a
large skilled workforce and a highly educated population Xirsquoan is the largest industrial center in
Chinas mid-west and northwest with a large amount of import-export business done in the
industrial sector Xirsquoan ranks third in the number of students in China after Beijing and
Shanghai Currently Xirsquoan has forty-three functional government departments with one mayor
and eight executive vice mayors who belong to the Communist Party of China which has
supreme political authority and power Xirsquoan is a touristrsquos paradise The major attractions include
the Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses Bell and Drum tower and the city wall The
city entices its visitors with a variety of fine dining shopping and sightseeing experiences
3
HISTORY
Xirsquoan has a long and amazing history beginning with the construction of Banpo Village by a
group of late Neolithic people circa 5000 BC A team of archeologists also found Lantian Man
remains that date back 500000 years before the present within 50 kilometers of Xirsquoan Xirsquoan is
one of the four Ancient Capital Cities of China literally meaning Western Peace It served as
the capital of several dynasties including Zhou (1045 BC to 256 BC) Qin (221 BC to 206 BC)
Han (202 BC to 220 AD) Sui (581 AD to 618 AD) and Tang (618 AD to 907 AD)
Chinarsquos first unified government came under Emperor Qin Shi Huang of the Qin dynasty and
whose government seat was in Xirsquoan While the Emperor is credited with building 6000 miles
of roads 1000 miles of canals for flood control transportation and irrigation and consolidating
three sections of wall that would be part of The Great Wall he is best known for ordering the
creation of 8000 terracotta army pieces including foot soldiers horses chariots archers and
cavalry This was done to fulfill the local ritual of burying your servants and advisors alive with
the Emperor when he dies
Xirsquoan became the eastern end of the Silk Road a primary trading route between China and the
rest of the world under the Han emperor Wudi The intent of the Silk Road was to trade with
India and to develop military alliances at the same time The military alliances were deemed to
be impractical but the silk quickly became very popular with silk trading as far west as Rome
Xirsquoan was renamed Changrsquoan meaning ldquoPerpetual Peacerdquo and became one of the largest in the
world at that time covering 139 square miles
While the effect of religion on China will be discussed in further depth later in this paper it is
important to comment on the Famen Temple This Buddhist temple dates from 67 AD and
contains a 13 story brick pagoda as part of a monastery In August of 1981 a rain storm caused
the pagoda to collapse revealing a 1000 year old underground vault containing treasures of the
Tang and other dynasties given as offerings The list included gold and silver utensils pearls and
precious stones and religious items but the most unusual treasure was a finger bone of Buddha
offered to the Emperor of China during the Tang dynasty1
4
GEOGRAPHY
Xian is located in central China on the Guanzhong plains at an average elevation of 400 meters
above sea level and an annual precipitation of 1100 millimeters Qinling mountains to the south
of Xian have one of the five famous Chinese mountains namely ldquoMount Huashanrdquo which is the
most spectacular and precipitous mountain peak in the country1 The others are the historically
famous Buddhist mountain Mount Zhongnan which abounds in historical relics and Mount
Taibai 3767 m above sea level is similar to Mount Fuji in Japan very spectacular and even
snow-capped in summer2 Xian has a warm temperate continental climate The region is
characterized by hot humid summers and cold dry winters Summer seasons also experience
frequent but short thunderstorms However due to its overall fine climate and interesting terrain
the city of Xirsquoan excels as a tourist place The average high temperature (F) is 77 and low is 58
for the month of May By the end of 2005 Xian had a population of 807 million Compared to
the census data from 2000 the population has increased by 656700 persons from 741 million
The population distribution slightly favors the male with 5166 male and 4834 female
991 of Xian residents are Han Chinese (traditional Chinese)1 The city is surrounded by a city
wall in its middle the Bell Tower (钟楼 Zhōngloacuteu) From this one the four main streets descend
into the four points of the compass They are North-Street (北大街 Běidagravejiē) East-Street
(东大街 Dōngdagravejiē) South-Street (南大街 Naacutendagravejiē) and West-Street (西大街 Xīdagravejiē)
ECONOMY
Xirsquoan represents a very important economic development area in 21st century regional strategy
in China It has been labeled as the top city in software industry and as a perfect fit for
entrepreneurship development Xirsquoanrsquos tax policies abundant energy supply coupled with cheap
land and labor create the perfect scenario for Chinese and overseas investors There are five
leading industries in Xirsquoan high-tech equipment manufacturing tourism modern services and
cultural industry all of which play key roles in their economic growth In the layout of
nationwide regional economy Xirsquoan has a regional advantage of connecting Asia and Europe
and for that reason it has become a hub for aviation railway roads trade finance and
distribution of resources3 Xirsquoanrsquo is rich in oil natural gas coal and water resources which
5
contribute to its ability of provide adequate energy supply for industrial and residential use
Compared with eastern China cities Xirsquoan has better energy prices
Xian has consistently received large amounts of foreign direct investment amounts among other
cities in western China Some financial entities have been formed in Xian taking government-
owned commercial banks as the main body but allowing interactions and coexistence of private
financial institutions Import-export in the industrial sector makes up more than 60 of the citys
total trading volume As per information from Xirsquoan Municipal Bureau of Commerce and
Trade4 from January to November 2008 Xirsquoanrsquos total retail sales of consumer goods reached
10413 billion Yuan with an increase by 255 compared to 2007 It is the first time for Xirsquoanrsquos
total retail sales of consumer goods to exceed 100 billion Yuan In 2008 the total value of the
Shaanxi province imports and exports reached 836 billion USD an increase of 215 over the
previous year Of this total the value of imports was 297 billion USD up by 336 and the
value of exports was 540 billion USD up by 157 Official jobless rate (~ 4) isnrsquot of much
use in weighing unemployment because it doesnt include migrant workers or anyone not
officially registered as a recipient of unemployment benefits Xirsquoanrsquos social security system is
being improved by local government and insurance systems for old-age pension unemployment
medical care work injury and maternity have been established5
Xian has created a development pattern of ldquofour zones and one baserdquo (High-tech Industrial
Development Zone Economic and Technological Development Zone New Qujiang District
Chan-Ba River Ecological Zone and Yanliang National Aeronautic High-tech Industry Base)
that has evolved as the center of scientific and IT achievements Even though Xirsquoan has become
an attractive city to investors and has created a phenomenal environment for capital attraction
the worldwide financial crisis has affected the development of industrial economy and the impact
has spread to all aspects of production The local government has implemented some measures to
maintain the economic growth such as
(i) The ldquoCoordination Command Centerrdquo has been established to ensure continuity of economic
growth and promotion of industrial sales
(ii) Government subsidy for loans and enhancement of policies to coordinate efforts between
banks and investors on credit funds
6
(iii) Increase of stocks of key industrial products
Xirsquoanrsquos government6 is using some tax incentives to attract companies and professionals to
relocate there for example (i) Newly established high-tech industry companies of production
type where the production period exceeds 10 years can be exempted from income tax for its
first two profit-making years and enjoy reduction on the basis of income tax rate of 75 where
the technology still remains qualified as high-tech after the specified period for tax reduction
companies can apply for extension for 3 years of reduction by 10 and by 5 for the rest of the
years (ii) Foreign invested enterprises of the type encouraged by state in Xirsquoan Hi-tech Industry
Development Zone can enjoy reduction by 15 prior to 2010 where the current reduction period
is up (iii) Persons or bodies (including foreign invested enterprises foreign invested research
and development center foreign enterprises and foreign personals) whose scope of business is
technology transfer technology development or related consultation or services can be
exempted from business tax
There are some recent announcements of capital investment7 such as the cooperation of Shaanxi
Yanchang Petroleum Group with Shell and Shaanxi Tianli Investment Co Ltd to set up the
headquarters of Shaanxi Yanchang Shell Petroleum Co Ltd at the Xirsquoan high-tech zone The
project with a total investment of 147 million USD will introduce globally advanced
technologies and management experiences for Xirsquoan Currently more than 90 companies of the
Fortune 500s have established their presence in the city The retail sales industry is also being
attractive for foreign investors and currently retail giants like Metro Carrefour and Wal-Mart
have entered Xirsquoan
BUSINESS
The city of Xirsquoan has a large skilled workforce and a highly educated population Xirsquoan is the
largest industrial center in Chinas mid-west and northwest with a large amount of import-export
business done in the industrial sector 8
Industrial Sector The industrial sector makes up more than 60 of the citys total trading
volume along with the technology industry The major industries in Xirsquoan are iron steel
aluminum coal and chemicals fertilizers 89
7
Software Industry The growing economy of Xirsquoan supports the development of a software
industry that has become a pioneer in Chinarsquos software industry The major products that are
produced in Xirsquoan are computer software IT microelectronics and video and audio components
The Hi-tech industries Development Zone houses 7500 enterprises of which approximately ten
percent are foreign funded and it includes manufacturers research and development
laboratories
OutsourcingBPO Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry has experienced tremendous
growth in Xirsquoan with China extending huge tax incentives to companies to relocate there along
with a large amount of college educated human capital to choose from within the 100
universities in Xirsquoan 10
Xirsquoan is destined to become one of the worldrsquos BPO capitals according
to a team of successful Chinese business leaders (from overseas and from China) Senior
Officials of Xirsquoan and the Shanxi Provincial Administration Xirsquoanrsquos bid for BPO fame is driven
from Xirsquoanrsquos Software Park (a National Software Industry Base and a Software Export Base)
located in one of Chinarsquos premier centers for science and technology As Chinese are rapidly
adapting to western requirements investing in BPO related training quality certification and
gathering appropriate advice from the international marketplace they will be highly successful
and become a world leading BPO player
Telecommunications Industry Another key industry in Xirsquoan is telecommunications Xirsquoan is
Chinas leading center of training for engineers The universities and local companies of Xirsquoan
have provided hundreds of thousands of engineers for the Chinese telecommunications industry
With having available human talent has allowed major domestic and multinational
telecommunications vendors to set up Research amp Development centers andor factories in
Xirsquoan including Fujitsu and Siemens 89
Aerospace Industry Xirsquoan also plays a role in Aerospace with the State Development and
Reform Commission approved the planning of Xirsquoan National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base
on December 26 2007 The National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base of Xirsquoan set to cover 23
square km will focus on developing satellites new materials energies IT and other technologies
for civil applications From its establishment Xirsquoanrsquos Aerospace Science and Technology
Industrial Base have focused on the development of the civil space industry including equipment
manufacturing software and service outsourcing Apart from the core area the base will cover
8
Xirsquoan and the Guanzhong area (the central China) and the expansion zone will reach Northwest
China and Southwest China It is expected that by 2012 the total Aerospace industry output can
reach 28 billion US Dollars along with global competitiveness 89
Computer Gaming Industry The computer gaming industry is key sector in Xirsquoan with the
assistance of 100 universities in the area which has lead to the largest net bar in the world with
more than 3000 computers is located in Xirsquoan Xirsquoan is one of the biggest educational centers
throughout the Chinese nation that has already hosted worldwide game competitions such as
ACON5 CEG2006 and WCG2006
Xirsquoan has shown success by attracting foreign and domestic investment with organizations such
as Intel Fujitsu Philips Sybase and Nortel setting up shop within the city By consistently
receiving large foreign direct investment in western China has lead to new industries such as
pharmaceuticals medical equipment biotechnology and new materials which have steadily
grown in Xirsquoan 8 9
GOVERNMENT
Xirsquoan has forty-three functional government departments with one mayor eight executive vice
mayors that operate in the Peoples Republic of Chinarsquos government that is divided among three
bodies the Communist Party of China the state and the Peoples Liberation Army The
Communist Party of China was founded in 1921 and the Partys position has supreme political
authority and power in Xirsquoan The majority of mayors in Xirsquoan belong to the Communist Party
and were born and raised within Shaanxi Province 11
Xirsquoan Law Xirsquoanrsquos law is derived from the old legal code of the Ninefold Celestial Empire and
enforced by the Mandarin Magistrates12
If an offender is caught committing a crime they can
expect to be left in a cell until the next magistrate is available to hear the case When called to
court an offender is allowed to hire a pleader to speak for them if they wish to have the facts of
the accusation presented by an official accuser the pleader or accused gives their defense and the
magistrate then makes his decision and sentence Xirsquoanrsquos laws toward crimes tend to be fairly
straightforward where theft or fraud is punished by seven fold restitution however should the
thief be unable to pay they may be enthralled(made into a slave or servant who is held in
bondage) or suffer mutilation depending on the magistrates inclination Murder is punished with
9
thralldom should the victim be a commoner execution if the victim is a scholar and execution
after torture if the victim is of the princely class Insulting behavior towards a daifu (doctor) is
fined and insults towards the zhuhou are punished with fines and whipping Impersonation of a
city official or a class above ones own is met with thralldom or death Disturbing the peace or
creating a public hazard is met with fines with thralldom for those who cannot pay Sufficiently
obnoxious behavior of any other kind may be treated as a crime in Xirsquoan law
EDUCATION
Xirsquoan is one of Chinarsquos most advanced cities in higher education Xirsquoan ranks third in the
number of students in China after Beijing and Shanghai On an average one in six people have a
higher education of a bachelor degree or more Xian Jiaotong University is one of the major
university in Xirsquoan and has an enrollment of around 32000 students and offerrsquos 199 Masters and
114 PhD1 programs in Science Engineering Medicine Economics Management Arts
Language and Law In 2006 in partnership with the University of Liverpool Xirsquoan Jiaotong
University opened a joint University in Suzhou the Xirsquoan Jiaotong-Liverpool University This is
an independent University in its own right and as such is the first Sino-British University to be
approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education Xidian University founded in 1931 is a key
national university dedicated primarily to electronic technology and information which is
integrated with a wide range of academic subjects including engineering physical science social
science foreign languages and business management Currently Xidian University has become a
base of education and high-tech research in the field of electronic information In addition there
are several other public private and military colleges in Xirsquoan1
CULTURE
One of the great mysteries of Xirsquoan is how an ancient culture can mix the new one giving a
wonderful and memorable experience to foreigners who enjoy a city both as it was long time ago
and as it is at 21st century Due to Xirsquoanrsquos long history as a capital of China it is enriched with
many cultural treasures that make the city outstanding compared to other cultural cities The
accumulation of incredible cultural heritages during past centuries won Xirsquoan its fame as the
natural history museum There are many high quality cultural relics that are not only precious
and rare in China but also around the globe That ancient look distinctive social practice and art
10
represent the spirit of contemporary Xian as well as its unique culture resources which are
essential to Xirsquoanrsquos urban and social development
The culture of Xirsquoan is inherited from the traditions of one of the worlds earliest civilizations
The Guanzhong Ren were the cultural antecedent of Xirsquoanese their cultural features are drawn
from the Ten Specialities of Guanzhong Ren Another major part of this culture is Eight Great
Sights of Changan storied scenic areas in the region The drama of the original Xirsquoanese culture
Qinqiang is the oldest and most extensive Chinese Opera of the four major types of Chinese
opera13
Xian is roughly 98 Buddhist and Taoist 1 Christian 1 Muslim and other
denominations However as the Eastern terminus of the Silk Road Xian shows signs of
imported religions Modern Xian has a more prominent religious side than most Chinese cities
TOURISM
Setting foot on the ancient wall stroll on the city there is another vision thickly dotted road
network international airport modern communication equipment which connect Xian to the
world as well as a great deal of tourism service facility such as hotels bowling hall and large-
scale stores The ancient historical famous city which has some ongoing archaeological projects
has developed into a multi-function modern tourism city and it is no doubt that dig of historical
culture connation make this ancient city more attractive14
Bell in the morning and drum in the evening enable people in Xirsquoan enjoy very much
Transportation and infrastructure Locals often speak about Within city walls and Outside city
walls when talking about locations Outside the walls the southern part is the most interesting it
offers shopping streets bars and some nightlife Dont get confused by different names in tourist
guides addresses and bus stops Nandajie Nanda-Street South-Street South-Avenue are all the
same 9
By Foot Xian has many areas that are easily accessible on foot In many commercial
residential educations zones in the city especially in the shopping and entertainment districts
around the Bell Tower underpasses and overpasses have been built for the safety and
convenience of pedestrians
11
By Bike Fortunately Xirsquoans main sites (with the notable exception of the Terracotta Warriors)
are bunched fairly close together so renting a bike is a good option Be wary of the narrow
streets and cars that squeeze you out of the way Electric bikes are very popular among students
and offer easy transportation in and around the city for many residents
By Car There has been a significant increase in the number of privately-owned vehicles among
middle and upper class households in Xian Traffic is heavy and the rule of thumb is keep
going no matter what (although drivers do note red lights) However many intersections still
lack sufficiently visible traffic lights and the right-of-way is virtually non-existent except at large
intersections with traffic police and signals
By Taxi Taxi services are numerous Watch the taxi drivers in Xirsquoan as the industry is not
regulated as it is in other larger cities like Beijing You may find yourself being taken on a long
ride around town to get where you are going It can also be difficult to convince them to take you
anywhere (even to the railway station) if in doubt get your hotel or hostel to write down the
place you want to go in Chinese Trips within the city walls are generally in the yen10 range
longer trips to the attractions south of the city are in the yen12-20 range Especially when you take
a longer ride like to or from the airport it is always good advice to insist on using the taxi meter
The rate for the normal (green) taxis is yen6 for the first two kilometers and then yen15 for every
additional kilometer Waiting times longer than 2 minutes will be charged yen15 per minute After
11PM the starting price is yen7 At the airport and around some of the big hotels you might also
find black taxis They charge yen24 per kilometer but are more spacious and comfortable
By Bus Many citizens of Xian still commute to work on one of more than 200 bus routes
Although the price is much more economical foreigners are not encouraged to take the long
distance buses due to general hardship and fatigue
By Train There are plenty of trains transporting passengers to and from most of the major cities
inside China Located at the center of China it often takes one day to travel from Xirsquoan to other
cities by train Keep in mind train tickets usually cannot be booked unless you are doing so very
far in advance Traveling hard means you will share a small room with up to three other locals
They may smoke snore or watch portable tvs while you try to sleep Do not travel hard if you
are uncomfortable with these things Xirsquoan Station is located at the north end of Jiefang Lu
12
(解放路) In Xirsquoan it is very easy for one to get to the railway station by city bus from anywhere
in the city But please be aware that there are several stops around the station Fortunately all of
them are no more than 200 meters from the station
What To See amp Do
(i) Walk along the City walls and see the South Gate (南门 Naacutenmeacuten) (illuminated at night)
(ii) Bicycling around the city walls will take about 2 hours
(iii) Walk through the Hui Muslim Quarter (回民街 Huiacutemiacuten Jiē) sampling food1
A deposit is required to rent a bike of at least yen200 or your passport however we do not
recommend releasing your passport to any non government official Make sure that you keep the
deposit ticket the bike vendor will not give you the deposit back without it
FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2
City Wall of Xian Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses
Xirsquoan is one of only two cities with intact surrounding walls in China (Figure 1) This wall has
been restored and is wide enough to easily ride 5 bikes across You can hire one at the top of the
South or East gate you must return it where you got it If you want to foot it though a complete
loop of the walls takes approximately 3 hours The landscaped park around the base of the
exterior walls and moat also makes for a pleasant stroll and gives a different perspective on the
battlements and towers There is a small museum inside the city walls at Hanguang Gate about
halfway between the southwest corner and the South Gate accessible from the top of the city
13
wall itself Look for a staircase down inside a covered structure Inside are the unrestored
remains of a gatehouse and a calligraphy collection [yen40 entry fee or yen20 if you have student
card (as of Nov 08)]
The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses (Figure 2) was discovered in eastern outer
suburbs of Xian Shaanxi province by local farmers drilling a water well 15 miles east of Lishan
(a mountain) This discovery prompted archaeologists to proceed to Shaanxi Province China to
investigate The Terracotta Army is a form of funerary art buried with the First Emperor of Qin
(Qin Shi Huang Shi Huang means the first emperor) in 210-209 BCE (he declared himself the
first emperor of China in 221 BCE to the end of his life in 210 BCE) Their purpose was to help
rule another empire with Shi Huang Di in the afterlife Consequently they are also sometimes
referred to as Qins Armies Mount Lishan is also where the material to make the terracotta
warriors originated In addition to the warriors an entire man-made necropolis for the emperor
has been excavated 15
FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4
Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda
As the symbol of the old-line Xirsquoan Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 3) is a well-preserved
ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists It is located in the southern suburb of Xirsquoan
City about 4 kilometers (249 miles) from the downtown of the city It is rated as a National Key
Cultural Relic Preserve This attraction can be divided into three parts the Big Wild Goose
Pagoda the Da Cien Temple and the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda 13
North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 4) is composed of waterscape fountains a
cultural square gardens and tourist paths There you can taste real Chinese culture and traditions
and fully enjoy the truly attractive views With reliefs on the theme of the prosperous Tang
14
Dynasty 200-meter-long (656-foot-long) sculpture groups 8 groups of sculpted figures 40
relievos on the land and 22 styles of musical fountains
FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6 FIGURE 7
Bell Tower and Drum Tower Jingyun bell Muslim Quarter
Each Ming Dynasty city had a bell tower and a drum tower Xirsquoan was not an exception The
Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xian (Figure 5) date back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
The two are located in the center of the Xirsquoan city connecting the four roads from east south
west and north The bell (Figure 6) was sounded at dawn and the drum at dusk each day in
ancient time Today the Tower can only be accessed from the entrance on Bei Dajie where
visitors have to purchase their tickets To the west of the Bell Tower is the Drum Tower This is
a smaller building located in a busy street which is full of street traders and hawkers 17
Xirsquoan used to be the starting point of the Silk Road This road linked Constantinople with China
The journey used to take more than two years Horses camels and carriages brought precious
goods from one part of the world to the other But it was not only material things that were
transported culture religion and languages were also brought to China from what is Turkey
today Two of the worlds leading religions arrived in China along the Silk Route Buddhism and
Islam Islam became particularly popular in the city of Xirsquoan Still today part of the population of
Xirsquoan is Muslim In the center there is the Muslim Quarter (Figure 7) with its handicraft shops
Muslim restaurants and the famous Muslim Mosque It is recommended visiting the Muslim
Quarter on your own The best time to visit is in the afternoon Do not rush Take your time to
enjoy its small streets and numerous shops where you can buy traditional handicrafts It is good
to come here in the afternoon not only to see the vivid and hectic streets at their busiest but also
to have dinner in one of the Muslim Restaurant 15
15
Shopping
Souvenirs If you are visiting the Terracotta Warriors be prepared to meet some of the most
hardcore hawkers you are likely to meet anywhere If you keep quiet they will usually bargain
themselves down in front of you in desperate pleas for your money Buy a 15 cm Terracotta
warrior for yen5-10 even if they offer it to you for yen45 Wood-carved Buddhas and Dragons can
bought for about the same value They are fortunately kept at a distance from the actual site
Actually many travelers report to enjoy this experience Its definitely not a reason to avoid
seeing the Terracotta Warriors The exit from the pit areas to the parking lot leads through long
avenues lined with souvenir stalls and shops The barkers will try to get your business but are
not as aggressive as the touts at the entrance or immediate exits Inside the museum the ldquoreportly
authenticrdquo warriors may cost yen100 The best place to buy souvenirs in the city center is the
bazaar area behind the Drum Tower in the Muslim Quarter around the Great Mosque The seller
usually offers you a very high price and even if you bring them down by 50 they will still
make a big profit This is also a good place to buy folk art specifically folk style block prints in a
single shop which go for about yen50 if you can stand bargaining when the older gentleman artist
himself is standing right there This area is also full of fake name-brand products like watches
bags clothes Bargain hard 1
Another souvenir shopping area is Calligraphy Street It is located near South Gate inside the
city wall towards the east Walking down south street on the left side continue to where the road
splits in front of South Gate and turn left to find the entrance gate next to a small pagoda
Midway do a slight dog leg to the right At the far end is the Forest of Steles Less hectic that the
Muslim Quarter Tang Tricolored Pottery is a style that was lost and has now been recreated
from pieces of pottery found in tombs It is graphic in image and eye-pleasing in color The
factory recreating the style offers over 100 varieties of items like statues animals and utensils
Paper cut is regards the most important arts form in Xian The artisan cut the different pattern of
the picture by hand
Clothes Xian is amazingly cheap for clothes East Street (Dongda Jie) the eastern of the four
big streets descending from the central Bell Tower has regular fashion shops South Street
(Nanda Jie) has finer clothes and shoes (eg Louis Vuitton) Local youngsters buy in Baihui
16
Market 百汇市场） in Xiaozhai (小寨) yen10 by Taxi from city center Its one of those fake-
brand markets Sport shoes should be less than yen150 pullovers and nice jeans sometimes less
than yen100 lots of cheap fashion accessories This is also a great place for DVDs and CDs but
understand these are mostly pirated copies Kangfu Lu is outside the East city wall (straight
through the North East Gate) and a great place for a bargain Nothing is (bargained for) over yen50
and most clothes can be bargained down to about yen20 if you are really aggressive
Department Stores Located between the ancient Bell tower and Drum tower Century Ginwa
Shopping Mall is a landscaped square with profound cultural connotations as well as a high
quality exclusive shopping center The mall opened in 1998 and now houses over sixty world-
famous brands for discriminating customers including Bally Burberry Dior Givenchy
Lancome Estee Lauder and other all of which make Ginwa a fashion center in Xirsquoan Opposite
Ginwa is Kai Yuan Shopping Mall one of the biggest department stores in Xirsquoan Both the price
and the quality of the commodities and the sales service are often praised by shoppers who have
made it one of the most popular shopping places in Xirsquoan Supermarkets are numerous in Xirsquoan
and are primarily distributed around universities and communities However there are some in
the city center and the suburbs that are also easily accessible The most famous include
Vanguard Ai Jia (IGA) Hao You Duo (Trust-Mart) Yi Chu Lian Hua (Lotus Supercenter) Ren
Ren Le etc
Dining
Snacks Visitors to Xirsquoan are recommended to do two things one is to see the clay figures of
terra cotta warriors and horses The other is to taste Yang Rou Pao Mo (a soup dish that involves
breaking wheat flour flat bread into a bowl and adding a delicious mutton stock) Before dinner
you will be served one or two pieces of wheat flour flat bread which you break into tiny chunks
the smaller the better The waiter or the waitress will then hand your bowl to the cook who mixes
the bread and mutton soup with an appropriate relish When the steaming hot meal is brought in
the waiter will also offer you sweet crisp pickled garlic coriander and hot pepper sauce The
most famous the Tong Sheng Xirsquoang (Prosperity and Fortune) Beef and Lamb Paomo
Restaurant done in Tang Dynasty style is a time-honored establishment in the Xirsquoan Bell and
Drum Tower Square 18
17
Next to Tong Sheng Xirsquoang is a great restaurant De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant with its
own version of the Dumpling Banquet Ingredients for the dumpling fillings include various
meats vegetables and seasonings Cooking methods include steaming boiling pan-frying deep
frying and roasting Many flavors including salty sweet hot and sour are offered Other house
specialties include Peking dumplings steamed sweet bean paste buns steamed shrimp paste
buns and various uniquely spiced dishes While guests sample various delicacies traditionally
waiters will explain the cuisine culture of each dumpling One of Xirsquoans most famous specialties
is the Guan Tang Baozi (steamed buns served with sauces inside) served at Jia Brothers
Restaurant in Muslim Snack Street Youll know youre there when you see the monstrous blue
arch over the entrance and a wall festooned with photographs of Xirsquoan notables - TV hosts
writers and musicians The specialty dish is Guan Tang Bao Zi with a choice of beef lamb or
three flavors - lamb mushroom and prawns The buns have piping-hot soup inside so caution
is advised This dish is best washed down with Ba Bao Xi Fan a bowl of sweet rice porridge
filled with peanuts sultanas hawthorn and medlar berries
Fanji is the famous vendor of Shaanxis most widely consumed snack Rou Jia Mo finely
chopped pork stuffed in toasted wheat flour flat bread A piece of good-quality (youzhi) bread
and a bowl of mung bean flour soup will cost you no more than 10 Yuan The state-run
atmosphere is quaint and friendly and the numerous awards that decorate the walls are well
deserved The restaurant is in a lane opposite the Drum Tower south of West Main Street
Besides guan tang baozi in Jia BrothersRestaurant there is barbeque in the Pingwa Kaorou
Shop sour cabbage and beef fried rice in Honghong Suancai Chaomi Restraunt and beef
noodles in Yifenli Restaurant If you would like to taste all the local food at one time in a budget
meal Xirsquoan Restaurant (Xirsquoan Fan Zhuang) offers more than 100 varieties in its first-floor self-
service restaurant It charges only CNY18 per person and is very popular with visitors
Drinking The Chinese are big drinkers especially in Northern and Western China It does not
matter if it is lunch or dinner as long as a meal is being hosted there will be alcohol Chinese
wine is the favorite followed by red wine and beer Chinese wine is more like fuel than liquor
having an alcohol concentration as high as 60 No matter how good a drinker you may think of
yourself never ever challenge a Chinese into a drinking contest They will win hands down 18
18
REFERENCES
1 Wikitravel 2009 Wikitravelorg httpwikitravelorgenXian
2 Xingzhong W 1990 Tourist geography of Xirsquoan GeoJournal 21 147-153
3 Official website of Xirsquoan Municipal Government 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureaboutaboutb
4 Xirsquoan Municipal Commerce and Trade Bureau 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureGovernmentdepartmentsbinfid=142232ampcategoryid=
5 Investment environment of Xirsquoan 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian200811911_1ht
ml (originally reported November 20)
6 Xirsquoan Favorable policies for foreign-invested enterprises 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian2008073868_1
html (originally reported July 21)
7 13th Investment amp Trade Forum for Cooperation between East amp West China 2009
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleNewsnewsgovernmentnews20090410020_1html
(originally reported April 15)
8 Xirsquoan ndash Business Information 2009 httpwwwbiztradeshowscomchinaxianbusinesshtml
9 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiXirsquoan
10 Lewis Bill 2007 Xirsquoan Chinas Western BPO Capital New West China Location can
compete with worlds best to become Major Global BPO and Outsourcing Destination
httpwwwchnsourcingcomarticleArticleotc135320070606093234html (originally reported
June 6)
11 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiGovernment_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China
12 Red Tide Mux 2008 httpredtidewikidotcomxian-laws (originally reported March 23)
13 Facts about Xirsquoan 2009 httpwwwxian-travelcomfactshtm
14 Tourism Administration of Xirsquoan 2006-2008 httpen1xian-tourismcomleadasp
15 Travel China Guide 2009
httpwwwtravelchinaguidecomattractionshaanxixianbigwildgoosehtm
16 Tour ndashBeijingcom 2008
httpwwwtour-beijingcomxian_attractionsbell_tower_drum_towerphp
17 Virtouristcom 2008 httpwwwvirtouristcomasiachinaxian21htm
19
18 Understanding Chinese Business Culture and Etiquette April 19 2009 httpwwwchinese-
culturenethtmlchinese_business_culturehtml
20
APPENDIX A
GDP per Capita yen 27000
Major Exports Machinery electrical products data processing
equipment apparel textile steel mobile phones
Major Foreign Exchange Counters ANZ Grindlays ICICI Standard Chartered amp Thomas
Cook
Key Industries
Iron steel aluminum and other metals coal
chemicals fertilizers consumer products including
footwear toys and electronics
APPENDIX B
Approximate journey times to other major cities Beijing 11-13 hours Chengdu 13-18 hours
Chongqing 14 hours Guangzhou 24 hours Kunming 36-53 hours Lanzhou 8-10 hours Lhasa
36 hours Shanghai 16-20 hours Urumqi 31-56 hours Wuhan 14-18 hours and Zhengzhou 7
hours
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
2
ABSTRACT
The city of Xirsquoan has a long and amazing history beginning with the construction of Banpo
Village by a group of late Neolithic people circa 5000 BC Xirsquoan is one of the four Ancient
Capital Cities of China literally meaning Western Peace Xirsquoan is one of Chinarsquos most advanced
cities in higher education On average one in six people have a bachelor degree or higher Xirsquoan
represents a very important economic development area in 21st century regional strategy in
China It has been labeled as the top city in software industry and as a perfect fit for
entrepreneurship development Xirsquoanrsquos tax policies abundant energy supply coupled with cheap
land and labor create the perfect scenario for Chinese and overseas investors There are five
leading industries in Xirsquoan high-tech equipment manufacturing tourism modern services and
cultural industry all of which play key roles in their economic growth The city of Xirsquoan has a
large skilled workforce and a highly educated population Xirsquoan is the largest industrial center in
Chinas mid-west and northwest with a large amount of import-export business done in the
industrial sector Xirsquoan ranks third in the number of students in China after Beijing and
Shanghai Currently Xirsquoan has forty-three functional government departments with one mayor
and eight executive vice mayors who belong to the Communist Party of China which has
supreme political authority and power Xirsquoan is a touristrsquos paradise The major attractions include
the Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses Bell and Drum tower and the city wall The
city entices its visitors with a variety of fine dining shopping and sightseeing experiences
3
HISTORY
Xirsquoan has a long and amazing history beginning with the construction of Banpo Village by a
group of late Neolithic people circa 5000 BC A team of archeologists also found Lantian Man
remains that date back 500000 years before the present within 50 kilometers of Xirsquoan Xirsquoan is
one of the four Ancient Capital Cities of China literally meaning Western Peace It served as
the capital of several dynasties including Zhou (1045 BC to 256 BC) Qin (221 BC to 206 BC)
Han (202 BC to 220 AD) Sui (581 AD to 618 AD) and Tang (618 AD to 907 AD)
Chinarsquos first unified government came under Emperor Qin Shi Huang of the Qin dynasty and
whose government seat was in Xirsquoan While the Emperor is credited with building 6000 miles
of roads 1000 miles of canals for flood control transportation and irrigation and consolidating
three sections of wall that would be part of The Great Wall he is best known for ordering the
creation of 8000 terracotta army pieces including foot soldiers horses chariots archers and
cavalry This was done to fulfill the local ritual of burying your servants and advisors alive with
the Emperor when he dies
Xirsquoan became the eastern end of the Silk Road a primary trading route between China and the
rest of the world under the Han emperor Wudi The intent of the Silk Road was to trade with
India and to develop military alliances at the same time The military alliances were deemed to
be impractical but the silk quickly became very popular with silk trading as far west as Rome
Xirsquoan was renamed Changrsquoan meaning ldquoPerpetual Peacerdquo and became one of the largest in the
world at that time covering 139 square miles
While the effect of religion on China will be discussed in further depth later in this paper it is
important to comment on the Famen Temple This Buddhist temple dates from 67 AD and
contains a 13 story brick pagoda as part of a monastery In August of 1981 a rain storm caused
the pagoda to collapse revealing a 1000 year old underground vault containing treasures of the
Tang and other dynasties given as offerings The list included gold and silver utensils pearls and
precious stones and religious items but the most unusual treasure was a finger bone of Buddha
offered to the Emperor of China during the Tang dynasty1
4
GEOGRAPHY
Xian is located in central China on the Guanzhong plains at an average elevation of 400 meters
above sea level and an annual precipitation of 1100 millimeters Qinling mountains to the south
of Xian have one of the five famous Chinese mountains namely ldquoMount Huashanrdquo which is the
most spectacular and precipitous mountain peak in the country1 The others are the historically
famous Buddhist mountain Mount Zhongnan which abounds in historical relics and Mount
Taibai 3767 m above sea level is similar to Mount Fuji in Japan very spectacular and even
snow-capped in summer2 Xian has a warm temperate continental climate The region is
characterized by hot humid summers and cold dry winters Summer seasons also experience
frequent but short thunderstorms However due to its overall fine climate and interesting terrain
the city of Xirsquoan excels as a tourist place The average high temperature (F) is 77 and low is 58
for the month of May By the end of 2005 Xian had a population of 807 million Compared to
the census data from 2000 the population has increased by 656700 persons from 741 million
The population distribution slightly favors the male with 5166 male and 4834 female
991 of Xian residents are Han Chinese (traditional Chinese)1 The city is surrounded by a city
wall in its middle the Bell Tower (钟楼 Zhōngloacuteu) From this one the four main streets descend
into the four points of the compass They are North-Street (北大街 Běidagravejiē) East-Street
(东大街 Dōngdagravejiē) South-Street (南大街 Naacutendagravejiē) and West-Street (西大街 Xīdagravejiē)
ECONOMY
Xirsquoan represents a very important economic development area in 21st century regional strategy
in China It has been labeled as the top city in software industry and as a perfect fit for
entrepreneurship development Xirsquoanrsquos tax policies abundant energy supply coupled with cheap
land and labor create the perfect scenario for Chinese and overseas investors There are five
leading industries in Xirsquoan high-tech equipment manufacturing tourism modern services and
cultural industry all of which play key roles in their economic growth In the layout of
nationwide regional economy Xirsquoan has a regional advantage of connecting Asia and Europe
and for that reason it has become a hub for aviation railway roads trade finance and
distribution of resources3 Xirsquoanrsquo is rich in oil natural gas coal and water resources which
5
contribute to its ability of provide adequate energy supply for industrial and residential use
Compared with eastern China cities Xirsquoan has better energy prices
Xian has consistently received large amounts of foreign direct investment amounts among other
cities in western China Some financial entities have been formed in Xian taking government-
owned commercial banks as the main body but allowing interactions and coexistence of private
financial institutions Import-export in the industrial sector makes up more than 60 of the citys
total trading volume As per information from Xirsquoan Municipal Bureau of Commerce and
Trade4 from January to November 2008 Xirsquoanrsquos total retail sales of consumer goods reached
10413 billion Yuan with an increase by 255 compared to 2007 It is the first time for Xirsquoanrsquos
total retail sales of consumer goods to exceed 100 billion Yuan In 2008 the total value of the
Shaanxi province imports and exports reached 836 billion USD an increase of 215 over the
previous year Of this total the value of imports was 297 billion USD up by 336 and the
value of exports was 540 billion USD up by 157 Official jobless rate (~ 4) isnrsquot of much
use in weighing unemployment because it doesnt include migrant workers or anyone not
officially registered as a recipient of unemployment benefits Xirsquoanrsquos social security system is
being improved by local government and insurance systems for old-age pension unemployment
medical care work injury and maternity have been established5
Xian has created a development pattern of ldquofour zones and one baserdquo (High-tech Industrial
Development Zone Economic and Technological Development Zone New Qujiang District
Chan-Ba River Ecological Zone and Yanliang National Aeronautic High-tech Industry Base)
that has evolved as the center of scientific and IT achievements Even though Xirsquoan has become
an attractive city to investors and has created a phenomenal environment for capital attraction
the worldwide financial crisis has affected the development of industrial economy and the impact
has spread to all aspects of production The local government has implemented some measures to
maintain the economic growth such as
(i) The ldquoCoordination Command Centerrdquo has been established to ensure continuity of economic
growth and promotion of industrial sales
(ii) Government subsidy for loans and enhancement of policies to coordinate efforts between
banks and investors on credit funds
6
(iii) Increase of stocks of key industrial products
Xirsquoanrsquos government6 is using some tax incentives to attract companies and professionals to
relocate there for example (i) Newly established high-tech industry companies of production
type where the production period exceeds 10 years can be exempted from income tax for its
first two profit-making years and enjoy reduction on the basis of income tax rate of 75 where
the technology still remains qualified as high-tech after the specified period for tax reduction
companies can apply for extension for 3 years of reduction by 10 and by 5 for the rest of the
years (ii) Foreign invested enterprises of the type encouraged by state in Xirsquoan Hi-tech Industry
Development Zone can enjoy reduction by 15 prior to 2010 where the current reduction period
is up (iii) Persons or bodies (including foreign invested enterprises foreign invested research
and development center foreign enterprises and foreign personals) whose scope of business is
technology transfer technology development or related consultation or services can be
exempted from business tax
There are some recent announcements of capital investment7 such as the cooperation of Shaanxi
Yanchang Petroleum Group with Shell and Shaanxi Tianli Investment Co Ltd to set up the
headquarters of Shaanxi Yanchang Shell Petroleum Co Ltd at the Xirsquoan high-tech zone The
project with a total investment of 147 million USD will introduce globally advanced
technologies and management experiences for Xirsquoan Currently more than 90 companies of the
Fortune 500s have established their presence in the city The retail sales industry is also being
attractive for foreign investors and currently retail giants like Metro Carrefour and Wal-Mart
have entered Xirsquoan
BUSINESS
The city of Xirsquoan has a large skilled workforce and a highly educated population Xirsquoan is the
largest industrial center in Chinas mid-west and northwest with a large amount of import-export
business done in the industrial sector 8
Industrial Sector The industrial sector makes up more than 60 of the citys total trading
volume along with the technology industry The major industries in Xirsquoan are iron steel
aluminum coal and chemicals fertilizers 89
7
Software Industry The growing economy of Xirsquoan supports the development of a software
industry that has become a pioneer in Chinarsquos software industry The major products that are
produced in Xirsquoan are computer software IT microelectronics and video and audio components
The Hi-tech industries Development Zone houses 7500 enterprises of which approximately ten
percent are foreign funded and it includes manufacturers research and development
laboratories
OutsourcingBPO Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry has experienced tremendous
growth in Xirsquoan with China extending huge tax incentives to companies to relocate there along
with a large amount of college educated human capital to choose from within the 100
universities in Xirsquoan 10
Xirsquoan is destined to become one of the worldrsquos BPO capitals according
to a team of successful Chinese business leaders (from overseas and from China) Senior
Officials of Xirsquoan and the Shanxi Provincial Administration Xirsquoanrsquos bid for BPO fame is driven
from Xirsquoanrsquos Software Park (a National Software Industry Base and a Software Export Base)
located in one of Chinarsquos premier centers for science and technology As Chinese are rapidly
adapting to western requirements investing in BPO related training quality certification and
gathering appropriate advice from the international marketplace they will be highly successful
and become a world leading BPO player
Telecommunications Industry Another key industry in Xirsquoan is telecommunications Xirsquoan is
Chinas leading center of training for engineers The universities and local companies of Xirsquoan
have provided hundreds of thousands of engineers for the Chinese telecommunications industry
With having available human talent has allowed major domestic and multinational
telecommunications vendors to set up Research amp Development centers andor factories in
Xirsquoan including Fujitsu and Siemens 89
Aerospace Industry Xirsquoan also plays a role in Aerospace with the State Development and
Reform Commission approved the planning of Xirsquoan National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base
on December 26 2007 The National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base of Xirsquoan set to cover 23
square km will focus on developing satellites new materials energies IT and other technologies
for civil applications From its establishment Xirsquoanrsquos Aerospace Science and Technology
Industrial Base have focused on the development of the civil space industry including equipment
manufacturing software and service outsourcing Apart from the core area the base will cover
8
Xirsquoan and the Guanzhong area (the central China) and the expansion zone will reach Northwest
China and Southwest China It is expected that by 2012 the total Aerospace industry output can
reach 28 billion US Dollars along with global competitiveness 89
Computer Gaming Industry The computer gaming industry is key sector in Xirsquoan with the
assistance of 100 universities in the area which has lead to the largest net bar in the world with
more than 3000 computers is located in Xirsquoan Xirsquoan is one of the biggest educational centers
throughout the Chinese nation that has already hosted worldwide game competitions such as
ACON5 CEG2006 and WCG2006
Xirsquoan has shown success by attracting foreign and domestic investment with organizations such
as Intel Fujitsu Philips Sybase and Nortel setting up shop within the city By consistently
receiving large foreign direct investment in western China has lead to new industries such as
pharmaceuticals medical equipment biotechnology and new materials which have steadily
grown in Xirsquoan 8 9
GOVERNMENT
Xirsquoan has forty-three functional government departments with one mayor eight executive vice
mayors that operate in the Peoples Republic of Chinarsquos government that is divided among three
bodies the Communist Party of China the state and the Peoples Liberation Army The
Communist Party of China was founded in 1921 and the Partys position has supreme political
authority and power in Xirsquoan The majority of mayors in Xirsquoan belong to the Communist Party
and were born and raised within Shaanxi Province 11
Xirsquoan Law Xirsquoanrsquos law is derived from the old legal code of the Ninefold Celestial Empire and
enforced by the Mandarin Magistrates12
If an offender is caught committing a crime they can
expect to be left in a cell until the next magistrate is available to hear the case When called to
court an offender is allowed to hire a pleader to speak for them if they wish to have the facts of
the accusation presented by an official accuser the pleader or accused gives their defense and the
magistrate then makes his decision and sentence Xirsquoanrsquos laws toward crimes tend to be fairly
straightforward where theft or fraud is punished by seven fold restitution however should the
thief be unable to pay they may be enthralled(made into a slave or servant who is held in
bondage) or suffer mutilation depending on the magistrates inclination Murder is punished with
9
thralldom should the victim be a commoner execution if the victim is a scholar and execution
after torture if the victim is of the princely class Insulting behavior towards a daifu (doctor) is
fined and insults towards the zhuhou are punished with fines and whipping Impersonation of a
city official or a class above ones own is met with thralldom or death Disturbing the peace or
creating a public hazard is met with fines with thralldom for those who cannot pay Sufficiently
obnoxious behavior of any other kind may be treated as a crime in Xirsquoan law
EDUCATION
Xirsquoan is one of Chinarsquos most advanced cities in higher education Xirsquoan ranks third in the
number of students in China after Beijing and Shanghai On an average one in six people have a
higher education of a bachelor degree or more Xian Jiaotong University is one of the major
university in Xirsquoan and has an enrollment of around 32000 students and offerrsquos 199 Masters and
114 PhD1 programs in Science Engineering Medicine Economics Management Arts
Language and Law In 2006 in partnership with the University of Liverpool Xirsquoan Jiaotong
University opened a joint University in Suzhou the Xirsquoan Jiaotong-Liverpool University This is
an independent University in its own right and as such is the first Sino-British University to be
approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education Xidian University founded in 1931 is a key
national university dedicated primarily to electronic technology and information which is
integrated with a wide range of academic subjects including engineering physical science social
science foreign languages and business management Currently Xidian University has become a
base of education and high-tech research in the field of electronic information In addition there
are several other public private and military colleges in Xirsquoan1
CULTURE
One of the great mysteries of Xirsquoan is how an ancient culture can mix the new one giving a
wonderful and memorable experience to foreigners who enjoy a city both as it was long time ago
and as it is at 21st century Due to Xirsquoanrsquos long history as a capital of China it is enriched with
many cultural treasures that make the city outstanding compared to other cultural cities The
accumulation of incredible cultural heritages during past centuries won Xirsquoan its fame as the
natural history museum There are many high quality cultural relics that are not only precious
and rare in China but also around the globe That ancient look distinctive social practice and art
10
represent the spirit of contemporary Xian as well as its unique culture resources which are
essential to Xirsquoanrsquos urban and social development
The culture of Xirsquoan is inherited from the traditions of one of the worlds earliest civilizations
The Guanzhong Ren were the cultural antecedent of Xirsquoanese their cultural features are drawn
from the Ten Specialities of Guanzhong Ren Another major part of this culture is Eight Great
Sights of Changan storied scenic areas in the region The drama of the original Xirsquoanese culture
Qinqiang is the oldest and most extensive Chinese Opera of the four major types of Chinese
opera13
Xian is roughly 98 Buddhist and Taoist 1 Christian 1 Muslim and other
denominations However as the Eastern terminus of the Silk Road Xian shows signs of
imported religions Modern Xian has a more prominent religious side than most Chinese cities
TOURISM
Setting foot on the ancient wall stroll on the city there is another vision thickly dotted road
network international airport modern communication equipment which connect Xian to the
world as well as a great deal of tourism service facility such as hotels bowling hall and large-
scale stores The ancient historical famous city which has some ongoing archaeological projects
has developed into a multi-function modern tourism city and it is no doubt that dig of historical
culture connation make this ancient city more attractive14
Bell in the morning and drum in the evening enable people in Xirsquoan enjoy very much
Transportation and infrastructure Locals often speak about Within city walls and Outside city
walls when talking about locations Outside the walls the southern part is the most interesting it
offers shopping streets bars and some nightlife Dont get confused by different names in tourist
guides addresses and bus stops Nandajie Nanda-Street South-Street South-Avenue are all the
same 9
By Foot Xian has many areas that are easily accessible on foot In many commercial
residential educations zones in the city especially in the shopping and entertainment districts
around the Bell Tower underpasses and overpasses have been built for the safety and
convenience of pedestrians
11
By Bike Fortunately Xirsquoans main sites (with the notable exception of the Terracotta Warriors)
are bunched fairly close together so renting a bike is a good option Be wary of the narrow
streets and cars that squeeze you out of the way Electric bikes are very popular among students
and offer easy transportation in and around the city for many residents
By Car There has been a significant increase in the number of privately-owned vehicles among
middle and upper class households in Xian Traffic is heavy and the rule of thumb is keep
going no matter what (although drivers do note red lights) However many intersections still
lack sufficiently visible traffic lights and the right-of-way is virtually non-existent except at large
intersections with traffic police and signals
By Taxi Taxi services are numerous Watch the taxi drivers in Xirsquoan as the industry is not
regulated as it is in other larger cities like Beijing You may find yourself being taken on a long
ride around town to get where you are going It can also be difficult to convince them to take you
anywhere (even to the railway station) if in doubt get your hotel or hostel to write down the
place you want to go in Chinese Trips within the city walls are generally in the yen10 range
longer trips to the attractions south of the city are in the yen12-20 range Especially when you take
a longer ride like to or from the airport it is always good advice to insist on using the taxi meter
The rate for the normal (green) taxis is yen6 for the first two kilometers and then yen15 for every
additional kilometer Waiting times longer than 2 minutes will be charged yen15 per minute After
11PM the starting price is yen7 At the airport and around some of the big hotels you might also
find black taxis They charge yen24 per kilometer but are more spacious and comfortable
By Bus Many citizens of Xian still commute to work on one of more than 200 bus routes
Although the price is much more economical foreigners are not encouraged to take the long
distance buses due to general hardship and fatigue
By Train There are plenty of trains transporting passengers to and from most of the major cities
inside China Located at the center of China it often takes one day to travel from Xirsquoan to other
cities by train Keep in mind train tickets usually cannot be booked unless you are doing so very
far in advance Traveling hard means you will share a small room with up to three other locals
They may smoke snore or watch portable tvs while you try to sleep Do not travel hard if you
are uncomfortable with these things Xirsquoan Station is located at the north end of Jiefang Lu
12
(解放路) In Xirsquoan it is very easy for one to get to the railway station by city bus from anywhere
in the city But please be aware that there are several stops around the station Fortunately all of
them are no more than 200 meters from the station
What To See amp Do
(i) Walk along the City walls and see the South Gate (南门 Naacutenmeacuten) (illuminated at night)
(ii) Bicycling around the city walls will take about 2 hours
(iii) Walk through the Hui Muslim Quarter (回民街 Huiacutemiacuten Jiē) sampling food1
A deposit is required to rent a bike of at least yen200 or your passport however we do not
recommend releasing your passport to any non government official Make sure that you keep the
deposit ticket the bike vendor will not give you the deposit back without it
FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2
City Wall of Xian Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses
Xirsquoan is one of only two cities with intact surrounding walls in China (Figure 1) This wall has
been restored and is wide enough to easily ride 5 bikes across You can hire one at the top of the
South or East gate you must return it where you got it If you want to foot it though a complete
loop of the walls takes approximately 3 hours The landscaped park around the base of the
exterior walls and moat also makes for a pleasant stroll and gives a different perspective on the
battlements and towers There is a small museum inside the city walls at Hanguang Gate about
halfway between the southwest corner and the South Gate accessible from the top of the city
13
wall itself Look for a staircase down inside a covered structure Inside are the unrestored
remains of a gatehouse and a calligraphy collection [yen40 entry fee or yen20 if you have student
card (as of Nov 08)]
The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses (Figure 2) was discovered in eastern outer
suburbs of Xian Shaanxi province by local farmers drilling a water well 15 miles east of Lishan
(a mountain) This discovery prompted archaeologists to proceed to Shaanxi Province China to
investigate The Terracotta Army is a form of funerary art buried with the First Emperor of Qin
(Qin Shi Huang Shi Huang means the first emperor) in 210-209 BCE (he declared himself the
first emperor of China in 221 BCE to the end of his life in 210 BCE) Their purpose was to help
rule another empire with Shi Huang Di in the afterlife Consequently they are also sometimes
referred to as Qins Armies Mount Lishan is also where the material to make the terracotta
warriors originated In addition to the warriors an entire man-made necropolis for the emperor
has been excavated 15
FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4
Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda
As the symbol of the old-line Xirsquoan Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 3) is a well-preserved
ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists It is located in the southern suburb of Xirsquoan
City about 4 kilometers (249 miles) from the downtown of the city It is rated as a National Key
Cultural Relic Preserve This attraction can be divided into three parts the Big Wild Goose
Pagoda the Da Cien Temple and the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda 13
North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 4) is composed of waterscape fountains a
cultural square gardens and tourist paths There you can taste real Chinese culture and traditions
and fully enjoy the truly attractive views With reliefs on the theme of the prosperous Tang
14
Dynasty 200-meter-long (656-foot-long) sculpture groups 8 groups of sculpted figures 40
relievos on the land and 22 styles of musical fountains
FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6 FIGURE 7
Bell Tower and Drum Tower Jingyun bell Muslim Quarter
Each Ming Dynasty city had a bell tower and a drum tower Xirsquoan was not an exception The
Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xian (Figure 5) date back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
The two are located in the center of the Xirsquoan city connecting the four roads from east south
west and north The bell (Figure 6) was sounded at dawn and the drum at dusk each day in
ancient time Today the Tower can only be accessed from the entrance on Bei Dajie where
visitors have to purchase their tickets To the west of the Bell Tower is the Drum Tower This is
a smaller building located in a busy street which is full of street traders and hawkers 17
Xirsquoan used to be the starting point of the Silk Road This road linked Constantinople with China
The journey used to take more than two years Horses camels and carriages brought precious
goods from one part of the world to the other But it was not only material things that were
transported culture religion and languages were also brought to China from what is Turkey
today Two of the worlds leading religions arrived in China along the Silk Route Buddhism and
Islam Islam became particularly popular in the city of Xirsquoan Still today part of the population of
Xirsquoan is Muslim In the center there is the Muslim Quarter (Figure 7) with its handicraft shops
Muslim restaurants and the famous Muslim Mosque It is recommended visiting the Muslim
Quarter on your own The best time to visit is in the afternoon Do not rush Take your time to
enjoy its small streets and numerous shops where you can buy traditional handicrafts It is good
to come here in the afternoon not only to see the vivid and hectic streets at their busiest but also
to have dinner in one of the Muslim Restaurant 15
15
Shopping
Souvenirs If you are visiting the Terracotta Warriors be prepared to meet some of the most
hardcore hawkers you are likely to meet anywhere If you keep quiet they will usually bargain
themselves down in front of you in desperate pleas for your money Buy a 15 cm Terracotta
warrior for yen5-10 even if they offer it to you for yen45 Wood-carved Buddhas and Dragons can
bought for about the same value They are fortunately kept at a distance from the actual site
Actually many travelers report to enjoy this experience Its definitely not a reason to avoid
seeing the Terracotta Warriors The exit from the pit areas to the parking lot leads through long
avenues lined with souvenir stalls and shops The barkers will try to get your business but are
not as aggressive as the touts at the entrance or immediate exits Inside the museum the ldquoreportly
authenticrdquo warriors may cost yen100 The best place to buy souvenirs in the city center is the
bazaar area behind the Drum Tower in the Muslim Quarter around the Great Mosque The seller
usually offers you a very high price and even if you bring them down by 50 they will still
make a big profit This is also a good place to buy folk art specifically folk style block prints in a
single shop which go for about yen50 if you can stand bargaining when the older gentleman artist
himself is standing right there This area is also full of fake name-brand products like watches
bags clothes Bargain hard 1
Another souvenir shopping area is Calligraphy Street It is located near South Gate inside the
city wall towards the east Walking down south street on the left side continue to where the road
splits in front of South Gate and turn left to find the entrance gate next to a small pagoda
Midway do a slight dog leg to the right At the far end is the Forest of Steles Less hectic that the
Muslim Quarter Tang Tricolored Pottery is a style that was lost and has now been recreated
from pieces of pottery found in tombs It is graphic in image and eye-pleasing in color The
factory recreating the style offers over 100 varieties of items like statues animals and utensils
Paper cut is regards the most important arts form in Xian The artisan cut the different pattern of
the picture by hand
Clothes Xian is amazingly cheap for clothes East Street (Dongda Jie) the eastern of the four
big streets descending from the central Bell Tower has regular fashion shops South Street
(Nanda Jie) has finer clothes and shoes (eg Louis Vuitton) Local youngsters buy in Baihui
16
Market 百汇市场） in Xiaozhai (小寨) yen10 by Taxi from city center Its one of those fake-
brand markets Sport shoes should be less than yen150 pullovers and nice jeans sometimes less
than yen100 lots of cheap fashion accessories This is also a great place for DVDs and CDs but
understand these are mostly pirated copies Kangfu Lu is outside the East city wall (straight
through the North East Gate) and a great place for a bargain Nothing is (bargained for) over yen50
and most clothes can be bargained down to about yen20 if you are really aggressive
Department Stores Located between the ancient Bell tower and Drum tower Century Ginwa
Shopping Mall is a landscaped square with profound cultural connotations as well as a high
quality exclusive shopping center The mall opened in 1998 and now houses over sixty world-
famous brands for discriminating customers including Bally Burberry Dior Givenchy
Lancome Estee Lauder and other all of which make Ginwa a fashion center in Xirsquoan Opposite
Ginwa is Kai Yuan Shopping Mall one of the biggest department stores in Xirsquoan Both the price
and the quality of the commodities and the sales service are often praised by shoppers who have
made it one of the most popular shopping places in Xirsquoan Supermarkets are numerous in Xirsquoan
and are primarily distributed around universities and communities However there are some in
the city center and the suburbs that are also easily accessible The most famous include
Vanguard Ai Jia (IGA) Hao You Duo (Trust-Mart) Yi Chu Lian Hua (Lotus Supercenter) Ren
Ren Le etc
Dining
Snacks Visitors to Xirsquoan are recommended to do two things one is to see the clay figures of
terra cotta warriors and horses The other is to taste Yang Rou Pao Mo (a soup dish that involves
breaking wheat flour flat bread into a bowl and adding a delicious mutton stock) Before dinner
you will be served one or two pieces of wheat flour flat bread which you break into tiny chunks
the smaller the better The waiter or the waitress will then hand your bowl to the cook who mixes
the bread and mutton soup with an appropriate relish When the steaming hot meal is brought in
the waiter will also offer you sweet crisp pickled garlic coriander and hot pepper sauce The
most famous the Tong Sheng Xirsquoang (Prosperity and Fortune) Beef and Lamb Paomo
Restaurant done in Tang Dynasty style is a time-honored establishment in the Xirsquoan Bell and
Drum Tower Square 18
17
Next to Tong Sheng Xirsquoang is a great restaurant De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant with its
own version of the Dumpling Banquet Ingredients for the dumpling fillings include various
meats vegetables and seasonings Cooking methods include steaming boiling pan-frying deep
frying and roasting Many flavors including salty sweet hot and sour are offered Other house
specialties include Peking dumplings steamed sweet bean paste buns steamed shrimp paste
buns and various uniquely spiced dishes While guests sample various delicacies traditionally
waiters will explain the cuisine culture of each dumpling One of Xirsquoans most famous specialties
is the Guan Tang Baozi (steamed buns served with sauces inside) served at Jia Brothers
Restaurant in Muslim Snack Street Youll know youre there when you see the monstrous blue
arch over the entrance and a wall festooned with photographs of Xirsquoan notables - TV hosts
writers and musicians The specialty dish is Guan Tang Bao Zi with a choice of beef lamb or
three flavors - lamb mushroom and prawns The buns have piping-hot soup inside so caution
is advised This dish is best washed down with Ba Bao Xi Fan a bowl of sweet rice porridge
filled with peanuts sultanas hawthorn and medlar berries
Fanji is the famous vendor of Shaanxis most widely consumed snack Rou Jia Mo finely
chopped pork stuffed in toasted wheat flour flat bread A piece of good-quality (youzhi) bread
and a bowl of mung bean flour soup will cost you no more than 10 Yuan The state-run
atmosphere is quaint and friendly and the numerous awards that decorate the walls are well
deserved The restaurant is in a lane opposite the Drum Tower south of West Main Street
Besides guan tang baozi in Jia BrothersRestaurant there is barbeque in the Pingwa Kaorou
Shop sour cabbage and beef fried rice in Honghong Suancai Chaomi Restraunt and beef
noodles in Yifenli Restaurant If you would like to taste all the local food at one time in a budget
meal Xirsquoan Restaurant (Xirsquoan Fan Zhuang) offers more than 100 varieties in its first-floor self-
service restaurant It charges only CNY18 per person and is very popular with visitors
Drinking The Chinese are big drinkers especially in Northern and Western China It does not
matter if it is lunch or dinner as long as a meal is being hosted there will be alcohol Chinese
wine is the favorite followed by red wine and beer Chinese wine is more like fuel than liquor
having an alcohol concentration as high as 60 No matter how good a drinker you may think of
yourself never ever challenge a Chinese into a drinking contest They will win hands down 18
18
REFERENCES
1 Wikitravel 2009 Wikitravelorg httpwikitravelorgenXian
2 Xingzhong W 1990 Tourist geography of Xirsquoan GeoJournal 21 147-153
3 Official website of Xirsquoan Municipal Government 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureaboutaboutb
4 Xirsquoan Municipal Commerce and Trade Bureau 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureGovernmentdepartmentsbinfid=142232ampcategoryid=
5 Investment environment of Xirsquoan 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian200811911_1ht
ml (originally reported November 20)
6 Xirsquoan Favorable policies for foreign-invested enterprises 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian2008073868_1
html (originally reported July 21)
7 13th Investment amp Trade Forum for Cooperation between East amp West China 2009
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleNewsnewsgovernmentnews20090410020_1html
(originally reported April 15)
8 Xirsquoan ndash Business Information 2009 httpwwwbiztradeshowscomchinaxianbusinesshtml
9 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiXirsquoan
10 Lewis Bill 2007 Xirsquoan Chinas Western BPO Capital New West China Location can
compete with worlds best to become Major Global BPO and Outsourcing Destination
httpwwwchnsourcingcomarticleArticleotc135320070606093234html (originally reported
June 6)
11 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiGovernment_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China
12 Red Tide Mux 2008 httpredtidewikidotcomxian-laws (originally reported March 23)
13 Facts about Xirsquoan 2009 httpwwwxian-travelcomfactshtm
14 Tourism Administration of Xirsquoan 2006-2008 httpen1xian-tourismcomleadasp
15 Travel China Guide 2009
httpwwwtravelchinaguidecomattractionshaanxixianbigwildgoosehtm
16 Tour ndashBeijingcom 2008
httpwwwtour-beijingcomxian_attractionsbell_tower_drum_towerphp
17 Virtouristcom 2008 httpwwwvirtouristcomasiachinaxian21htm
19
18 Understanding Chinese Business Culture and Etiquette April 19 2009 httpwwwchinese-
culturenethtmlchinese_business_culturehtml
20
APPENDIX A
GDP per Capita yen 27000
Major Exports Machinery electrical products data processing
equipment apparel textile steel mobile phones
Major Foreign Exchange Counters ANZ Grindlays ICICI Standard Chartered amp Thomas
Cook
Key Industries
Iron steel aluminum and other metals coal
chemicals fertilizers consumer products including
footwear toys and electronics
APPENDIX B
Approximate journey times to other major cities Beijing 11-13 hours Chengdu 13-18 hours
Chongqing 14 hours Guangzhou 24 hours Kunming 36-53 hours Lanzhou 8-10 hours Lhasa
36 hours Shanghai 16-20 hours Urumqi 31-56 hours Wuhan 14-18 hours and Zhengzhou 7
hours
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
3
HISTORY
Xirsquoan has a long and amazing history beginning with the construction of Banpo Village by a
group of late Neolithic people circa 5000 BC A team of archeologists also found Lantian Man
remains that date back 500000 years before the present within 50 kilometers of Xirsquoan Xirsquoan is
one of the four Ancient Capital Cities of China literally meaning Western Peace It served as
the capital of several dynasties including Zhou (1045 BC to 256 BC) Qin (221 BC to 206 BC)
Han (202 BC to 220 AD) Sui (581 AD to 618 AD) and Tang (618 AD to 907 AD)
Chinarsquos first unified government came under Emperor Qin Shi Huang of the Qin dynasty and
whose government seat was in Xirsquoan While the Emperor is credited with building 6000 miles
of roads 1000 miles of canals for flood control transportation and irrigation and consolidating
three sections of wall that would be part of The Great Wall he is best known for ordering the
creation of 8000 terracotta army pieces including foot soldiers horses chariots archers and
cavalry This was done to fulfill the local ritual of burying your servants and advisors alive with
the Emperor when he dies
Xirsquoan became the eastern end of the Silk Road a primary trading route between China and the
rest of the world under the Han emperor Wudi The intent of the Silk Road was to trade with
India and to develop military alliances at the same time The military alliances were deemed to
be impractical but the silk quickly became very popular with silk trading as far west as Rome
Xirsquoan was renamed Changrsquoan meaning ldquoPerpetual Peacerdquo and became one of the largest in the
world at that time covering 139 square miles
While the effect of religion on China will be discussed in further depth later in this paper it is
important to comment on the Famen Temple This Buddhist temple dates from 67 AD and
contains a 13 story brick pagoda as part of a monastery In August of 1981 a rain storm caused
the pagoda to collapse revealing a 1000 year old underground vault containing treasures of the
Tang and other dynasties given as offerings The list included gold and silver utensils pearls and
precious stones and religious items but the most unusual treasure was a finger bone of Buddha
offered to the Emperor of China during the Tang dynasty1
4
GEOGRAPHY
Xian is located in central China on the Guanzhong plains at an average elevation of 400 meters
above sea level and an annual precipitation of 1100 millimeters Qinling mountains to the south
of Xian have one of the five famous Chinese mountains namely ldquoMount Huashanrdquo which is the
most spectacular and precipitous mountain peak in the country1 The others are the historically
famous Buddhist mountain Mount Zhongnan which abounds in historical relics and Mount
Taibai 3767 m above sea level is similar to Mount Fuji in Japan very spectacular and even
snow-capped in summer2 Xian has a warm temperate continental climate The region is
characterized by hot humid summers and cold dry winters Summer seasons also experience
frequent but short thunderstorms However due to its overall fine climate and interesting terrain
the city of Xirsquoan excels as a tourist place The average high temperature (F) is 77 and low is 58
for the month of May By the end of 2005 Xian had a population of 807 million Compared to
the census data from 2000 the population has increased by 656700 persons from 741 million
The population distribution slightly favors the male with 5166 male and 4834 female
991 of Xian residents are Han Chinese (traditional Chinese)1 The city is surrounded by a city
wall in its middle the Bell Tower (钟楼 Zhōngloacuteu) From this one the four main streets descend
into the four points of the compass They are North-Street (北大街 Běidagravejiē) East-Street
(东大街 Dōngdagravejiē) South-Street (南大街 Naacutendagravejiē) and West-Street (西大街 Xīdagravejiē)
ECONOMY
Xirsquoan represents a very important economic development area in 21st century regional strategy
in China It has been labeled as the top city in software industry and as a perfect fit for
entrepreneurship development Xirsquoanrsquos tax policies abundant energy supply coupled with cheap
land and labor create the perfect scenario for Chinese and overseas investors There are five
leading industries in Xirsquoan high-tech equipment manufacturing tourism modern services and
cultural industry all of which play key roles in their economic growth In the layout of
nationwide regional economy Xirsquoan has a regional advantage of connecting Asia and Europe
and for that reason it has become a hub for aviation railway roads trade finance and
distribution of resources3 Xirsquoanrsquo is rich in oil natural gas coal and water resources which
5
contribute to its ability of provide adequate energy supply for industrial and residential use
Compared with eastern China cities Xirsquoan has better energy prices
Xian has consistently received large amounts of foreign direct investment amounts among other
cities in western China Some financial entities have been formed in Xian taking government-
owned commercial banks as the main body but allowing interactions and coexistence of private
financial institutions Import-export in the industrial sector makes up more than 60 of the citys
total trading volume As per information from Xirsquoan Municipal Bureau of Commerce and
Trade4 from January to November 2008 Xirsquoanrsquos total retail sales of consumer goods reached
10413 billion Yuan with an increase by 255 compared to 2007 It is the first time for Xirsquoanrsquos
total retail sales of consumer goods to exceed 100 billion Yuan In 2008 the total value of the
Shaanxi province imports and exports reached 836 billion USD an increase of 215 over the
previous year Of this total the value of imports was 297 billion USD up by 336 and the
value of exports was 540 billion USD up by 157 Official jobless rate (~ 4) isnrsquot of much
use in weighing unemployment because it doesnt include migrant workers or anyone not
officially registered as a recipient of unemployment benefits Xirsquoanrsquos social security system is
being improved by local government and insurance systems for old-age pension unemployment
medical care work injury and maternity have been established5
Xian has created a development pattern of ldquofour zones and one baserdquo (High-tech Industrial
Development Zone Economic and Technological Development Zone New Qujiang District
Chan-Ba River Ecological Zone and Yanliang National Aeronautic High-tech Industry Base)
that has evolved as the center of scientific and IT achievements Even though Xirsquoan has become
an attractive city to investors and has created a phenomenal environment for capital attraction
the worldwide financial crisis has affected the development of industrial economy and the impact
has spread to all aspects of production The local government has implemented some measures to
maintain the economic growth such as
(i) The ldquoCoordination Command Centerrdquo has been established to ensure continuity of economic
growth and promotion of industrial sales
(ii) Government subsidy for loans and enhancement of policies to coordinate efforts between
banks and investors on credit funds
6
(iii) Increase of stocks of key industrial products
Xirsquoanrsquos government6 is using some tax incentives to attract companies and professionals to
relocate there for example (i) Newly established high-tech industry companies of production
type where the production period exceeds 10 years can be exempted from income tax for its
first two profit-making years and enjoy reduction on the basis of income tax rate of 75 where
the technology still remains qualified as high-tech after the specified period for tax reduction
companies can apply for extension for 3 years of reduction by 10 and by 5 for the rest of the
years (ii) Foreign invested enterprises of the type encouraged by state in Xirsquoan Hi-tech Industry
Development Zone can enjoy reduction by 15 prior to 2010 where the current reduction period
is up (iii) Persons or bodies (including foreign invested enterprises foreign invested research
and development center foreign enterprises and foreign personals) whose scope of business is
technology transfer technology development or related consultation or services can be
exempted from business tax
There are some recent announcements of capital investment7 such as the cooperation of Shaanxi
Yanchang Petroleum Group with Shell and Shaanxi Tianli Investment Co Ltd to set up the
headquarters of Shaanxi Yanchang Shell Petroleum Co Ltd at the Xirsquoan high-tech zone The
project with a total investment of 147 million USD will introduce globally advanced
technologies and management experiences for Xirsquoan Currently more than 90 companies of the
Fortune 500s have established their presence in the city The retail sales industry is also being
attractive for foreign investors and currently retail giants like Metro Carrefour and Wal-Mart
have entered Xirsquoan
BUSINESS
The city of Xirsquoan has a large skilled workforce and a highly educated population Xirsquoan is the
largest industrial center in Chinas mid-west and northwest with a large amount of import-export
business done in the industrial sector 8
Industrial Sector The industrial sector makes up more than 60 of the citys total trading
volume along with the technology industry The major industries in Xirsquoan are iron steel
aluminum coal and chemicals fertilizers 89
7
Software Industry The growing economy of Xirsquoan supports the development of a software
industry that has become a pioneer in Chinarsquos software industry The major products that are
produced in Xirsquoan are computer software IT microelectronics and video and audio components
The Hi-tech industries Development Zone houses 7500 enterprises of which approximately ten
percent are foreign funded and it includes manufacturers research and development
laboratories
OutsourcingBPO Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry has experienced tremendous
growth in Xirsquoan with China extending huge tax incentives to companies to relocate there along
with a large amount of college educated human capital to choose from within the 100
universities in Xirsquoan 10
Xirsquoan is destined to become one of the worldrsquos BPO capitals according
to a team of successful Chinese business leaders (from overseas and from China) Senior
Officials of Xirsquoan and the Shanxi Provincial Administration Xirsquoanrsquos bid for BPO fame is driven
from Xirsquoanrsquos Software Park (a National Software Industry Base and a Software Export Base)
located in one of Chinarsquos premier centers for science and technology As Chinese are rapidly
adapting to western requirements investing in BPO related training quality certification and
gathering appropriate advice from the international marketplace they will be highly successful
and become a world leading BPO player
Telecommunications Industry Another key industry in Xirsquoan is telecommunications Xirsquoan is
Chinas leading center of training for engineers The universities and local companies of Xirsquoan
have provided hundreds of thousands of engineers for the Chinese telecommunications industry
With having available human talent has allowed major domestic and multinational
telecommunications vendors to set up Research amp Development centers andor factories in
Xirsquoan including Fujitsu and Siemens 89
Aerospace Industry Xirsquoan also plays a role in Aerospace with the State Development and
Reform Commission approved the planning of Xirsquoan National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base
on December 26 2007 The National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base of Xirsquoan set to cover 23
square km will focus on developing satellites new materials energies IT and other technologies
for civil applications From its establishment Xirsquoanrsquos Aerospace Science and Technology
Industrial Base have focused on the development of the civil space industry including equipment
manufacturing software and service outsourcing Apart from the core area the base will cover
8
Xirsquoan and the Guanzhong area (the central China) and the expansion zone will reach Northwest
China and Southwest China It is expected that by 2012 the total Aerospace industry output can
reach 28 billion US Dollars along with global competitiveness 89
Computer Gaming Industry The computer gaming industry is key sector in Xirsquoan with the
assistance of 100 universities in the area which has lead to the largest net bar in the world with
more than 3000 computers is located in Xirsquoan Xirsquoan is one of the biggest educational centers
throughout the Chinese nation that has already hosted worldwide game competitions such as
ACON5 CEG2006 and WCG2006
Xirsquoan has shown success by attracting foreign and domestic investment with organizations such
as Intel Fujitsu Philips Sybase and Nortel setting up shop within the city By consistently
receiving large foreign direct investment in western China has lead to new industries such as
pharmaceuticals medical equipment biotechnology and new materials which have steadily
grown in Xirsquoan 8 9
GOVERNMENT
Xirsquoan has forty-three functional government departments with one mayor eight executive vice
mayors that operate in the Peoples Republic of Chinarsquos government that is divided among three
bodies the Communist Party of China the state and the Peoples Liberation Army The
Communist Party of China was founded in 1921 and the Partys position has supreme political
authority and power in Xirsquoan The majority of mayors in Xirsquoan belong to the Communist Party
and were born and raised within Shaanxi Province 11
Xirsquoan Law Xirsquoanrsquos law is derived from the old legal code of the Ninefold Celestial Empire and
enforced by the Mandarin Magistrates12
If an offender is caught committing a crime they can
expect to be left in a cell until the next magistrate is available to hear the case When called to
court an offender is allowed to hire a pleader to speak for them if they wish to have the facts of
the accusation presented by an official accuser the pleader or accused gives their defense and the
magistrate then makes his decision and sentence Xirsquoanrsquos laws toward crimes tend to be fairly
straightforward where theft or fraud is punished by seven fold restitution however should the
thief be unable to pay they may be enthralled(made into a slave or servant who is held in
bondage) or suffer mutilation depending on the magistrates inclination Murder is punished with
9
thralldom should the victim be a commoner execution if the victim is a scholar and execution
after torture if the victim is of the princely class Insulting behavior towards a daifu (doctor) is
fined and insults towards the zhuhou are punished with fines and whipping Impersonation of a
city official or a class above ones own is met with thralldom or death Disturbing the peace or
creating a public hazard is met with fines with thralldom for those who cannot pay Sufficiently
obnoxious behavior of any other kind may be treated as a crime in Xirsquoan law
EDUCATION
Xirsquoan is one of Chinarsquos most advanced cities in higher education Xirsquoan ranks third in the
number of students in China after Beijing and Shanghai On an average one in six people have a
higher education of a bachelor degree or more Xian Jiaotong University is one of the major
university in Xirsquoan and has an enrollment of around 32000 students and offerrsquos 199 Masters and
114 PhD1 programs in Science Engineering Medicine Economics Management Arts
Language and Law In 2006 in partnership with the University of Liverpool Xirsquoan Jiaotong
University opened a joint University in Suzhou the Xirsquoan Jiaotong-Liverpool University This is
an independent University in its own right and as such is the first Sino-British University to be
approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education Xidian University founded in 1931 is a key
national university dedicated primarily to electronic technology and information which is
integrated with a wide range of academic subjects including engineering physical science social
science foreign languages and business management Currently Xidian University has become a
base of education and high-tech research in the field of electronic information In addition there
are several other public private and military colleges in Xirsquoan1
CULTURE
One of the great mysteries of Xirsquoan is how an ancient culture can mix the new one giving a
wonderful and memorable experience to foreigners who enjoy a city both as it was long time ago
and as it is at 21st century Due to Xirsquoanrsquos long history as a capital of China it is enriched with
many cultural treasures that make the city outstanding compared to other cultural cities The
accumulation of incredible cultural heritages during past centuries won Xirsquoan its fame as the
natural history museum There are many high quality cultural relics that are not only precious
and rare in China but also around the globe That ancient look distinctive social practice and art
10
represent the spirit of contemporary Xian as well as its unique culture resources which are
essential to Xirsquoanrsquos urban and social development
The culture of Xirsquoan is inherited from the traditions of one of the worlds earliest civilizations
The Guanzhong Ren were the cultural antecedent of Xirsquoanese their cultural features are drawn
from the Ten Specialities of Guanzhong Ren Another major part of this culture is Eight Great
Sights of Changan storied scenic areas in the region The drama of the original Xirsquoanese culture
Qinqiang is the oldest and most extensive Chinese Opera of the four major types of Chinese
opera13
Xian is roughly 98 Buddhist and Taoist 1 Christian 1 Muslim and other
denominations However as the Eastern terminus of the Silk Road Xian shows signs of
imported religions Modern Xian has a more prominent religious side than most Chinese cities
TOURISM
Setting foot on the ancient wall stroll on the city there is another vision thickly dotted road
network international airport modern communication equipment which connect Xian to the
world as well as a great deal of tourism service facility such as hotels bowling hall and large-
scale stores The ancient historical famous city which has some ongoing archaeological projects
has developed into a multi-function modern tourism city and it is no doubt that dig of historical
culture connation make this ancient city more attractive14
Bell in the morning and drum in the evening enable people in Xirsquoan enjoy very much
Transportation and infrastructure Locals often speak about Within city walls and Outside city
walls when talking about locations Outside the walls the southern part is the most interesting it
offers shopping streets bars and some nightlife Dont get confused by different names in tourist
guides addresses and bus stops Nandajie Nanda-Street South-Street South-Avenue are all the
same 9
By Foot Xian has many areas that are easily accessible on foot In many commercial
residential educations zones in the city especially in the shopping and entertainment districts
around the Bell Tower underpasses and overpasses have been built for the safety and
convenience of pedestrians
11
By Bike Fortunately Xirsquoans main sites (with the notable exception of the Terracotta Warriors)
are bunched fairly close together so renting a bike is a good option Be wary of the narrow
streets and cars that squeeze you out of the way Electric bikes are very popular among students
and offer easy transportation in and around the city for many residents
By Car There has been a significant increase in the number of privately-owned vehicles among
middle and upper class households in Xian Traffic is heavy and the rule of thumb is keep
going no matter what (although drivers do note red lights) However many intersections still
lack sufficiently visible traffic lights and the right-of-way is virtually non-existent except at large
intersections with traffic police and signals
By Taxi Taxi services are numerous Watch the taxi drivers in Xirsquoan as the industry is not
regulated as it is in other larger cities like Beijing You may find yourself being taken on a long
ride around town to get where you are going It can also be difficult to convince them to take you
anywhere (even to the railway station) if in doubt get your hotel or hostel to write down the
place you want to go in Chinese Trips within the city walls are generally in the yen10 range
longer trips to the attractions south of the city are in the yen12-20 range Especially when you take
a longer ride like to or from the airport it is always good advice to insist on using the taxi meter
The rate for the normal (green) taxis is yen6 for the first two kilometers and then yen15 for every
additional kilometer Waiting times longer than 2 minutes will be charged yen15 per minute After
11PM the starting price is yen7 At the airport and around some of the big hotels you might also
find black taxis They charge yen24 per kilometer but are more spacious and comfortable
By Bus Many citizens of Xian still commute to work on one of more than 200 bus routes
Although the price is much more economical foreigners are not encouraged to take the long
distance buses due to general hardship and fatigue
By Train There are plenty of trains transporting passengers to and from most of the major cities
inside China Located at the center of China it often takes one day to travel from Xirsquoan to other
cities by train Keep in mind train tickets usually cannot be booked unless you are doing so very
far in advance Traveling hard means you will share a small room with up to three other locals
They may smoke snore or watch portable tvs while you try to sleep Do not travel hard if you
are uncomfortable with these things Xirsquoan Station is located at the north end of Jiefang Lu
12
(解放路) In Xirsquoan it is very easy for one to get to the railway station by city bus from anywhere
in the city But please be aware that there are several stops around the station Fortunately all of
them are no more than 200 meters from the station
What To See amp Do
(i) Walk along the City walls and see the South Gate (南门 Naacutenmeacuten) (illuminated at night)
(ii) Bicycling around the city walls will take about 2 hours
(iii) Walk through the Hui Muslim Quarter (回民街 Huiacutemiacuten Jiē) sampling food1
A deposit is required to rent a bike of at least yen200 or your passport however we do not
recommend releasing your passport to any non government official Make sure that you keep the
deposit ticket the bike vendor will not give you the deposit back without it
FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2
City Wall of Xian Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses
Xirsquoan is one of only two cities with intact surrounding walls in China (Figure 1) This wall has
been restored and is wide enough to easily ride 5 bikes across You can hire one at the top of the
South or East gate you must return it where you got it If you want to foot it though a complete
loop of the walls takes approximately 3 hours The landscaped park around the base of the
exterior walls and moat also makes for a pleasant stroll and gives a different perspective on the
battlements and towers There is a small museum inside the city walls at Hanguang Gate about
halfway between the southwest corner and the South Gate accessible from the top of the city
13
wall itself Look for a staircase down inside a covered structure Inside are the unrestored
remains of a gatehouse and a calligraphy collection [yen40 entry fee or yen20 if you have student
card (as of Nov 08)]
The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses (Figure 2) was discovered in eastern outer
suburbs of Xian Shaanxi province by local farmers drilling a water well 15 miles east of Lishan
(a mountain) This discovery prompted archaeologists to proceed to Shaanxi Province China to
investigate The Terracotta Army is a form of funerary art buried with the First Emperor of Qin
(Qin Shi Huang Shi Huang means the first emperor) in 210-209 BCE (he declared himself the
first emperor of China in 221 BCE to the end of his life in 210 BCE) Their purpose was to help
rule another empire with Shi Huang Di in the afterlife Consequently they are also sometimes
referred to as Qins Armies Mount Lishan is also where the material to make the terracotta
warriors originated In addition to the warriors an entire man-made necropolis for the emperor
has been excavated 15
FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4
Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda
As the symbol of the old-line Xirsquoan Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 3) is a well-preserved
ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists It is located in the southern suburb of Xirsquoan
City about 4 kilometers (249 miles) from the downtown of the city It is rated as a National Key
Cultural Relic Preserve This attraction can be divided into three parts the Big Wild Goose
Pagoda the Da Cien Temple and the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda 13
North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 4) is composed of waterscape fountains a
cultural square gardens and tourist paths There you can taste real Chinese culture and traditions
and fully enjoy the truly attractive views With reliefs on the theme of the prosperous Tang
14
Dynasty 200-meter-long (656-foot-long) sculpture groups 8 groups of sculpted figures 40
relievos on the land and 22 styles of musical fountains
FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6 FIGURE 7
Bell Tower and Drum Tower Jingyun bell Muslim Quarter
Each Ming Dynasty city had a bell tower and a drum tower Xirsquoan was not an exception The
Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xian (Figure 5) date back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
The two are located in the center of the Xirsquoan city connecting the four roads from east south
west and north The bell (Figure 6) was sounded at dawn and the drum at dusk each day in
ancient time Today the Tower can only be accessed from the entrance on Bei Dajie where
visitors have to purchase their tickets To the west of the Bell Tower is the Drum Tower This is
a smaller building located in a busy street which is full of street traders and hawkers 17
Xirsquoan used to be the starting point of the Silk Road This road linked Constantinople with China
The journey used to take more than two years Horses camels and carriages brought precious
goods from one part of the world to the other But it was not only material things that were
transported culture religion and languages were also brought to China from what is Turkey
today Two of the worlds leading religions arrived in China along the Silk Route Buddhism and
Islam Islam became particularly popular in the city of Xirsquoan Still today part of the population of
Xirsquoan is Muslim In the center there is the Muslim Quarter (Figure 7) with its handicraft shops
Muslim restaurants and the famous Muslim Mosque It is recommended visiting the Muslim
Quarter on your own The best time to visit is in the afternoon Do not rush Take your time to
enjoy its small streets and numerous shops where you can buy traditional handicrafts It is good
to come here in the afternoon not only to see the vivid and hectic streets at their busiest but also
to have dinner in one of the Muslim Restaurant 15
15
Shopping
Souvenirs If you are visiting the Terracotta Warriors be prepared to meet some of the most
hardcore hawkers you are likely to meet anywhere If you keep quiet they will usually bargain
themselves down in front of you in desperate pleas for your money Buy a 15 cm Terracotta
warrior for yen5-10 even if they offer it to you for yen45 Wood-carved Buddhas and Dragons can
bought for about the same value They are fortunately kept at a distance from the actual site
Actually many travelers report to enjoy this experience Its definitely not a reason to avoid
seeing the Terracotta Warriors The exit from the pit areas to the parking lot leads through long
avenues lined with souvenir stalls and shops The barkers will try to get your business but are
not as aggressive as the touts at the entrance or immediate exits Inside the museum the ldquoreportly
authenticrdquo warriors may cost yen100 The best place to buy souvenirs in the city center is the
bazaar area behind the Drum Tower in the Muslim Quarter around the Great Mosque The seller
usually offers you a very high price and even if you bring them down by 50 they will still
make a big profit This is also a good place to buy folk art specifically folk style block prints in a
single shop which go for about yen50 if you can stand bargaining when the older gentleman artist
himself is standing right there This area is also full of fake name-brand products like watches
bags clothes Bargain hard 1
Another souvenir shopping area is Calligraphy Street It is located near South Gate inside the
city wall towards the east Walking down south street on the left side continue to where the road
splits in front of South Gate and turn left to find the entrance gate next to a small pagoda
Midway do a slight dog leg to the right At the far end is the Forest of Steles Less hectic that the
Muslim Quarter Tang Tricolored Pottery is a style that was lost and has now been recreated
from pieces of pottery found in tombs It is graphic in image and eye-pleasing in color The
factory recreating the style offers over 100 varieties of items like statues animals and utensils
Paper cut is regards the most important arts form in Xian The artisan cut the different pattern of
the picture by hand
Clothes Xian is amazingly cheap for clothes East Street (Dongda Jie) the eastern of the four
big streets descending from the central Bell Tower has regular fashion shops South Street
(Nanda Jie) has finer clothes and shoes (eg Louis Vuitton) Local youngsters buy in Baihui
16
Market 百汇市场） in Xiaozhai (小寨) yen10 by Taxi from city center Its one of those fake-
brand markets Sport shoes should be less than yen150 pullovers and nice jeans sometimes less
than yen100 lots of cheap fashion accessories This is also a great place for DVDs and CDs but
understand these are mostly pirated copies Kangfu Lu is outside the East city wall (straight
through the North East Gate) and a great place for a bargain Nothing is (bargained for) over yen50
and most clothes can be bargained down to about yen20 if you are really aggressive
Department Stores Located between the ancient Bell tower and Drum tower Century Ginwa
Shopping Mall is a landscaped square with profound cultural connotations as well as a high
quality exclusive shopping center The mall opened in 1998 and now houses over sixty world-
famous brands for discriminating customers including Bally Burberry Dior Givenchy
Lancome Estee Lauder and other all of which make Ginwa a fashion center in Xirsquoan Opposite
Ginwa is Kai Yuan Shopping Mall one of the biggest department stores in Xirsquoan Both the price
and the quality of the commodities and the sales service are often praised by shoppers who have
made it one of the most popular shopping places in Xirsquoan Supermarkets are numerous in Xirsquoan
and are primarily distributed around universities and communities However there are some in
the city center and the suburbs that are also easily accessible The most famous include
Vanguard Ai Jia (IGA) Hao You Duo (Trust-Mart) Yi Chu Lian Hua (Lotus Supercenter) Ren
Ren Le etc
Dining
Snacks Visitors to Xirsquoan are recommended to do two things one is to see the clay figures of
terra cotta warriors and horses The other is to taste Yang Rou Pao Mo (a soup dish that involves
breaking wheat flour flat bread into a bowl and adding a delicious mutton stock) Before dinner
you will be served one or two pieces of wheat flour flat bread which you break into tiny chunks
the smaller the better The waiter or the waitress will then hand your bowl to the cook who mixes
the bread and mutton soup with an appropriate relish When the steaming hot meal is brought in
the waiter will also offer you sweet crisp pickled garlic coriander and hot pepper sauce The
most famous the Tong Sheng Xirsquoang (Prosperity and Fortune) Beef and Lamb Paomo
Restaurant done in Tang Dynasty style is a time-honored establishment in the Xirsquoan Bell and
Drum Tower Square 18
17
Next to Tong Sheng Xirsquoang is a great restaurant De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant with its
own version of the Dumpling Banquet Ingredients for the dumpling fillings include various
meats vegetables and seasonings Cooking methods include steaming boiling pan-frying deep
frying and roasting Many flavors including salty sweet hot and sour are offered Other house
specialties include Peking dumplings steamed sweet bean paste buns steamed shrimp paste
buns and various uniquely spiced dishes While guests sample various delicacies traditionally
waiters will explain the cuisine culture of each dumpling One of Xirsquoans most famous specialties
is the Guan Tang Baozi (steamed buns served with sauces inside) served at Jia Brothers
Restaurant in Muslim Snack Street Youll know youre there when you see the monstrous blue
arch over the entrance and a wall festooned with photographs of Xirsquoan notables - TV hosts
writers and musicians The specialty dish is Guan Tang Bao Zi with a choice of beef lamb or
three flavors - lamb mushroom and prawns The buns have piping-hot soup inside so caution
is advised This dish is best washed down with Ba Bao Xi Fan a bowl of sweet rice porridge
filled with peanuts sultanas hawthorn and medlar berries
Fanji is the famous vendor of Shaanxis most widely consumed snack Rou Jia Mo finely
chopped pork stuffed in toasted wheat flour flat bread A piece of good-quality (youzhi) bread
and a bowl of mung bean flour soup will cost you no more than 10 Yuan The state-run
atmosphere is quaint and friendly and the numerous awards that decorate the walls are well
deserved The restaurant is in a lane opposite the Drum Tower south of West Main Street
Besides guan tang baozi in Jia BrothersRestaurant there is barbeque in the Pingwa Kaorou
Shop sour cabbage and beef fried rice in Honghong Suancai Chaomi Restraunt and beef
noodles in Yifenli Restaurant If you would like to taste all the local food at one time in a budget
meal Xirsquoan Restaurant (Xirsquoan Fan Zhuang) offers more than 100 varieties in its first-floor self-
service restaurant It charges only CNY18 per person and is very popular with visitors
Drinking The Chinese are big drinkers especially in Northern and Western China It does not
matter if it is lunch or dinner as long as a meal is being hosted there will be alcohol Chinese
wine is the favorite followed by red wine and beer Chinese wine is more like fuel than liquor
having an alcohol concentration as high as 60 No matter how good a drinker you may think of
yourself never ever challenge a Chinese into a drinking contest They will win hands down 18
18
REFERENCES
1 Wikitravel 2009 Wikitravelorg httpwikitravelorgenXian
2 Xingzhong W 1990 Tourist geography of Xirsquoan GeoJournal 21 147-153
3 Official website of Xirsquoan Municipal Government 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureaboutaboutb
4 Xirsquoan Municipal Commerce and Trade Bureau 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureGovernmentdepartmentsbinfid=142232ampcategoryid=
5 Investment environment of Xirsquoan 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian200811911_1ht
ml (originally reported November 20)
6 Xirsquoan Favorable policies for foreign-invested enterprises 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian2008073868_1
html (originally reported July 21)
7 13th Investment amp Trade Forum for Cooperation between East amp West China 2009
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleNewsnewsgovernmentnews20090410020_1html
(originally reported April 15)
8 Xirsquoan ndash Business Information 2009 httpwwwbiztradeshowscomchinaxianbusinesshtml
9 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiXirsquoan
10 Lewis Bill 2007 Xirsquoan Chinas Western BPO Capital New West China Location can
compete with worlds best to become Major Global BPO and Outsourcing Destination
httpwwwchnsourcingcomarticleArticleotc135320070606093234html (originally reported
June 6)
11 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiGovernment_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China
12 Red Tide Mux 2008 httpredtidewikidotcomxian-laws (originally reported March 23)
13 Facts about Xirsquoan 2009 httpwwwxian-travelcomfactshtm
14 Tourism Administration of Xirsquoan 2006-2008 httpen1xian-tourismcomleadasp
15 Travel China Guide 2009
httpwwwtravelchinaguidecomattractionshaanxixianbigwildgoosehtm
16 Tour ndashBeijingcom 2008
httpwwwtour-beijingcomxian_attractionsbell_tower_drum_towerphp
17 Virtouristcom 2008 httpwwwvirtouristcomasiachinaxian21htm
19
18 Understanding Chinese Business Culture and Etiquette April 19 2009 httpwwwchinese-
culturenethtmlchinese_business_culturehtml
20
APPENDIX A
GDP per Capita yen 27000
Major Exports Machinery electrical products data processing
equipment apparel textile steel mobile phones
Major Foreign Exchange Counters ANZ Grindlays ICICI Standard Chartered amp Thomas
Cook
Key Industries
Iron steel aluminum and other metals coal
chemicals fertilizers consumer products including
footwear toys and electronics
APPENDIX B
Approximate journey times to other major cities Beijing 11-13 hours Chengdu 13-18 hours
Chongqing 14 hours Guangzhou 24 hours Kunming 36-53 hours Lanzhou 8-10 hours Lhasa
36 hours Shanghai 16-20 hours Urumqi 31-56 hours Wuhan 14-18 hours and Zhengzhou 7
hours
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
4
GEOGRAPHY
Xian is located in central China on the Guanzhong plains at an average elevation of 400 meters
above sea level and an annual precipitation of 1100 millimeters Qinling mountains to the south
of Xian have one of the five famous Chinese mountains namely ldquoMount Huashanrdquo which is the
most spectacular and precipitous mountain peak in the country1 The others are the historically
famous Buddhist mountain Mount Zhongnan which abounds in historical relics and Mount
Taibai 3767 m above sea level is similar to Mount Fuji in Japan very spectacular and even
snow-capped in summer2 Xian has a warm temperate continental climate The region is
characterized by hot humid summers and cold dry winters Summer seasons also experience
frequent but short thunderstorms However due to its overall fine climate and interesting terrain
the city of Xirsquoan excels as a tourist place The average high temperature (F) is 77 and low is 58
for the month of May By the end of 2005 Xian had a population of 807 million Compared to
the census data from 2000 the population has increased by 656700 persons from 741 million
The population distribution slightly favors the male with 5166 male and 4834 female
991 of Xian residents are Han Chinese (traditional Chinese)1 The city is surrounded by a city
wall in its middle the Bell Tower (钟楼 Zhōngloacuteu) From this one the four main streets descend
into the four points of the compass They are North-Street (北大街 Běidagravejiē) East-Street
(东大街 Dōngdagravejiē) South-Street (南大街 Naacutendagravejiē) and West-Street (西大街 Xīdagravejiē)
ECONOMY
Xirsquoan represents a very important economic development area in 21st century regional strategy
in China It has been labeled as the top city in software industry and as a perfect fit for
entrepreneurship development Xirsquoanrsquos tax policies abundant energy supply coupled with cheap
land and labor create the perfect scenario for Chinese and overseas investors There are five
leading industries in Xirsquoan high-tech equipment manufacturing tourism modern services and
cultural industry all of which play key roles in their economic growth In the layout of
nationwide regional economy Xirsquoan has a regional advantage of connecting Asia and Europe
and for that reason it has become a hub for aviation railway roads trade finance and
distribution of resources3 Xirsquoanrsquo is rich in oil natural gas coal and water resources which
5
contribute to its ability of provide adequate energy supply for industrial and residential use
Compared with eastern China cities Xirsquoan has better energy prices
Xian has consistently received large amounts of foreign direct investment amounts among other
cities in western China Some financial entities have been formed in Xian taking government-
owned commercial banks as the main body but allowing interactions and coexistence of private
financial institutions Import-export in the industrial sector makes up more than 60 of the citys
total trading volume As per information from Xirsquoan Municipal Bureau of Commerce and
Trade4 from January to November 2008 Xirsquoanrsquos total retail sales of consumer goods reached
10413 billion Yuan with an increase by 255 compared to 2007 It is the first time for Xirsquoanrsquos
total retail sales of consumer goods to exceed 100 billion Yuan In 2008 the total value of the
Shaanxi province imports and exports reached 836 billion USD an increase of 215 over the
previous year Of this total the value of imports was 297 billion USD up by 336 and the
value of exports was 540 billion USD up by 157 Official jobless rate (~ 4) isnrsquot of much
use in weighing unemployment because it doesnt include migrant workers or anyone not
officially registered as a recipient of unemployment benefits Xirsquoanrsquos social security system is
being improved by local government and insurance systems for old-age pension unemployment
medical care work injury and maternity have been established5
Xian has created a development pattern of ldquofour zones and one baserdquo (High-tech Industrial
Development Zone Economic and Technological Development Zone New Qujiang District
Chan-Ba River Ecological Zone and Yanliang National Aeronautic High-tech Industry Base)
that has evolved as the center of scientific and IT achievements Even though Xirsquoan has become
an attractive city to investors and has created a phenomenal environment for capital attraction
the worldwide financial crisis has affected the development of industrial economy and the impact
has spread to all aspects of production The local government has implemented some measures to
maintain the economic growth such as
(i) The ldquoCoordination Command Centerrdquo has been established to ensure continuity of economic
growth and promotion of industrial sales
(ii) Government subsidy for loans and enhancement of policies to coordinate efforts between
banks and investors on credit funds
6
(iii) Increase of stocks of key industrial products
Xirsquoanrsquos government6 is using some tax incentives to attract companies and professionals to
relocate there for example (i) Newly established high-tech industry companies of production
type where the production period exceeds 10 years can be exempted from income tax for its
first two profit-making years and enjoy reduction on the basis of income tax rate of 75 where
the technology still remains qualified as high-tech after the specified period for tax reduction
companies can apply for extension for 3 years of reduction by 10 and by 5 for the rest of the
years (ii) Foreign invested enterprises of the type encouraged by state in Xirsquoan Hi-tech Industry
Development Zone can enjoy reduction by 15 prior to 2010 where the current reduction period
is up (iii) Persons or bodies (including foreign invested enterprises foreign invested research
and development center foreign enterprises and foreign personals) whose scope of business is
technology transfer technology development or related consultation or services can be
exempted from business tax
There are some recent announcements of capital investment7 such as the cooperation of Shaanxi
Yanchang Petroleum Group with Shell and Shaanxi Tianli Investment Co Ltd to set up the
headquarters of Shaanxi Yanchang Shell Petroleum Co Ltd at the Xirsquoan high-tech zone The
project with a total investment of 147 million USD will introduce globally advanced
technologies and management experiences for Xirsquoan Currently more than 90 companies of the
Fortune 500s have established their presence in the city The retail sales industry is also being
attractive for foreign investors and currently retail giants like Metro Carrefour and Wal-Mart
have entered Xirsquoan
BUSINESS
The city of Xirsquoan has a large skilled workforce and a highly educated population Xirsquoan is the
largest industrial center in Chinas mid-west and northwest with a large amount of import-export
business done in the industrial sector 8
Industrial Sector The industrial sector makes up more than 60 of the citys total trading
volume along with the technology industry The major industries in Xirsquoan are iron steel
aluminum coal and chemicals fertilizers 89
7
Software Industry The growing economy of Xirsquoan supports the development of a software
industry that has become a pioneer in Chinarsquos software industry The major products that are
produced in Xirsquoan are computer software IT microelectronics and video and audio components
The Hi-tech industries Development Zone houses 7500 enterprises of which approximately ten
percent are foreign funded and it includes manufacturers research and development
laboratories
OutsourcingBPO Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry has experienced tremendous
growth in Xirsquoan with China extending huge tax incentives to companies to relocate there along
with a large amount of college educated human capital to choose from within the 100
universities in Xirsquoan 10
Xirsquoan is destined to become one of the worldrsquos BPO capitals according
to a team of successful Chinese business leaders (from overseas and from China) Senior
Officials of Xirsquoan and the Shanxi Provincial Administration Xirsquoanrsquos bid for BPO fame is driven
from Xirsquoanrsquos Software Park (a National Software Industry Base and a Software Export Base)
located in one of Chinarsquos premier centers for science and technology As Chinese are rapidly
adapting to western requirements investing in BPO related training quality certification and
gathering appropriate advice from the international marketplace they will be highly successful
and become a world leading BPO player
Telecommunications Industry Another key industry in Xirsquoan is telecommunications Xirsquoan is
Chinas leading center of training for engineers The universities and local companies of Xirsquoan
have provided hundreds of thousands of engineers for the Chinese telecommunications industry
With having available human talent has allowed major domestic and multinational
telecommunications vendors to set up Research amp Development centers andor factories in
Xirsquoan including Fujitsu and Siemens 89
Aerospace Industry Xirsquoan also plays a role in Aerospace with the State Development and
Reform Commission approved the planning of Xirsquoan National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base
on December 26 2007 The National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base of Xirsquoan set to cover 23
square km will focus on developing satellites new materials energies IT and other technologies
for civil applications From its establishment Xirsquoanrsquos Aerospace Science and Technology
Industrial Base have focused on the development of the civil space industry including equipment
manufacturing software and service outsourcing Apart from the core area the base will cover
8
Xirsquoan and the Guanzhong area (the central China) and the expansion zone will reach Northwest
China and Southwest China It is expected that by 2012 the total Aerospace industry output can
reach 28 billion US Dollars along with global competitiveness 89
Computer Gaming Industry The computer gaming industry is key sector in Xirsquoan with the
assistance of 100 universities in the area which has lead to the largest net bar in the world with
more than 3000 computers is located in Xirsquoan Xirsquoan is one of the biggest educational centers
throughout the Chinese nation that has already hosted worldwide game competitions such as
ACON5 CEG2006 and WCG2006
Xirsquoan has shown success by attracting foreign and domestic investment with organizations such
as Intel Fujitsu Philips Sybase and Nortel setting up shop within the city By consistently
receiving large foreign direct investment in western China has lead to new industries such as
pharmaceuticals medical equipment biotechnology and new materials which have steadily
grown in Xirsquoan 8 9
GOVERNMENT
Xirsquoan has forty-three functional government departments with one mayor eight executive vice
mayors that operate in the Peoples Republic of Chinarsquos government that is divided among three
bodies the Communist Party of China the state and the Peoples Liberation Army The
Communist Party of China was founded in 1921 and the Partys position has supreme political
authority and power in Xirsquoan The majority of mayors in Xirsquoan belong to the Communist Party
and were born and raised within Shaanxi Province 11
Xirsquoan Law Xirsquoanrsquos law is derived from the old legal code of the Ninefold Celestial Empire and
enforced by the Mandarin Magistrates12
If an offender is caught committing a crime they can
expect to be left in a cell until the next magistrate is available to hear the case When called to
court an offender is allowed to hire a pleader to speak for them if they wish to have the facts of
the accusation presented by an official accuser the pleader or accused gives their defense and the
magistrate then makes his decision and sentence Xirsquoanrsquos laws toward crimes tend to be fairly
straightforward where theft or fraud is punished by seven fold restitution however should the
thief be unable to pay they may be enthralled(made into a slave or servant who is held in
bondage) or suffer mutilation depending on the magistrates inclination Murder is punished with
9
thralldom should the victim be a commoner execution if the victim is a scholar and execution
after torture if the victim is of the princely class Insulting behavior towards a daifu (doctor) is
fined and insults towards the zhuhou are punished with fines and whipping Impersonation of a
city official or a class above ones own is met with thralldom or death Disturbing the peace or
creating a public hazard is met with fines with thralldom for those who cannot pay Sufficiently
obnoxious behavior of any other kind may be treated as a crime in Xirsquoan law
EDUCATION
Xirsquoan is one of Chinarsquos most advanced cities in higher education Xirsquoan ranks third in the
number of students in China after Beijing and Shanghai On an average one in six people have a
higher education of a bachelor degree or more Xian Jiaotong University is one of the major
university in Xirsquoan and has an enrollment of around 32000 students and offerrsquos 199 Masters and
114 PhD1 programs in Science Engineering Medicine Economics Management Arts
Language and Law In 2006 in partnership with the University of Liverpool Xirsquoan Jiaotong
University opened a joint University in Suzhou the Xirsquoan Jiaotong-Liverpool University This is
an independent University in its own right and as such is the first Sino-British University to be
approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education Xidian University founded in 1931 is a key
national university dedicated primarily to electronic technology and information which is
integrated with a wide range of academic subjects including engineering physical science social
science foreign languages and business management Currently Xidian University has become a
base of education and high-tech research in the field of electronic information In addition there
are several other public private and military colleges in Xirsquoan1
CULTURE
One of the great mysteries of Xirsquoan is how an ancient culture can mix the new one giving a
wonderful and memorable experience to foreigners who enjoy a city both as it was long time ago
and as it is at 21st century Due to Xirsquoanrsquos long history as a capital of China it is enriched with
many cultural treasures that make the city outstanding compared to other cultural cities The
accumulation of incredible cultural heritages during past centuries won Xirsquoan its fame as the
natural history museum There are many high quality cultural relics that are not only precious
and rare in China but also around the globe That ancient look distinctive social practice and art
10
represent the spirit of contemporary Xian as well as its unique culture resources which are
essential to Xirsquoanrsquos urban and social development
The culture of Xirsquoan is inherited from the traditions of one of the worlds earliest civilizations
The Guanzhong Ren were the cultural antecedent of Xirsquoanese their cultural features are drawn
from the Ten Specialities of Guanzhong Ren Another major part of this culture is Eight Great
Sights of Changan storied scenic areas in the region The drama of the original Xirsquoanese culture
Qinqiang is the oldest and most extensive Chinese Opera of the four major types of Chinese
opera13
Xian is roughly 98 Buddhist and Taoist 1 Christian 1 Muslim and other
denominations However as the Eastern terminus of the Silk Road Xian shows signs of
imported religions Modern Xian has a more prominent religious side than most Chinese cities
TOURISM
Setting foot on the ancient wall stroll on the city there is another vision thickly dotted road
network international airport modern communication equipment which connect Xian to the
world as well as a great deal of tourism service facility such as hotels bowling hall and large-
scale stores The ancient historical famous city which has some ongoing archaeological projects
has developed into a multi-function modern tourism city and it is no doubt that dig of historical
culture connation make this ancient city more attractive14
Bell in the morning and drum in the evening enable people in Xirsquoan enjoy very much
Transportation and infrastructure Locals often speak about Within city walls and Outside city
walls when talking about locations Outside the walls the southern part is the most interesting it
offers shopping streets bars and some nightlife Dont get confused by different names in tourist
guides addresses and bus stops Nandajie Nanda-Street South-Street South-Avenue are all the
same 9
By Foot Xian has many areas that are easily accessible on foot In many commercial
residential educations zones in the city especially in the shopping and entertainment districts
around the Bell Tower underpasses and overpasses have been built for the safety and
convenience of pedestrians
11
By Bike Fortunately Xirsquoans main sites (with the notable exception of the Terracotta Warriors)
are bunched fairly close together so renting a bike is a good option Be wary of the narrow
streets and cars that squeeze you out of the way Electric bikes are very popular among students
and offer easy transportation in and around the city for many residents
By Car There has been a significant increase in the number of privately-owned vehicles among
middle and upper class households in Xian Traffic is heavy and the rule of thumb is keep
going no matter what (although drivers do note red lights) However many intersections still
lack sufficiently visible traffic lights and the right-of-way is virtually non-existent except at large
intersections with traffic police and signals
By Taxi Taxi services are numerous Watch the taxi drivers in Xirsquoan as the industry is not
regulated as it is in other larger cities like Beijing You may find yourself being taken on a long
ride around town to get where you are going It can also be difficult to convince them to take you
anywhere (even to the railway station) if in doubt get your hotel or hostel to write down the
place you want to go in Chinese Trips within the city walls are generally in the yen10 range
longer trips to the attractions south of the city are in the yen12-20 range Especially when you take
a longer ride like to or from the airport it is always good advice to insist on using the taxi meter
The rate for the normal (green) taxis is yen6 for the first two kilometers and then yen15 for every
additional kilometer Waiting times longer than 2 minutes will be charged yen15 per minute After
11PM the starting price is yen7 At the airport and around some of the big hotels you might also
find black taxis They charge yen24 per kilometer but are more spacious and comfortable
By Bus Many citizens of Xian still commute to work on one of more than 200 bus routes
Although the price is much more economical foreigners are not encouraged to take the long
distance buses due to general hardship and fatigue
By Train There are plenty of trains transporting passengers to and from most of the major cities
inside China Located at the center of China it often takes one day to travel from Xirsquoan to other
cities by train Keep in mind train tickets usually cannot be booked unless you are doing so very
far in advance Traveling hard means you will share a small room with up to three other locals
They may smoke snore or watch portable tvs while you try to sleep Do not travel hard if you
are uncomfortable with these things Xirsquoan Station is located at the north end of Jiefang Lu
12
(解放路) In Xirsquoan it is very easy for one to get to the railway station by city bus from anywhere
in the city But please be aware that there are several stops around the station Fortunately all of
them are no more than 200 meters from the station
What To See amp Do
(i) Walk along the City walls and see the South Gate (南门 Naacutenmeacuten) (illuminated at night)
(ii) Bicycling around the city walls will take about 2 hours
(iii) Walk through the Hui Muslim Quarter (回民街 Huiacutemiacuten Jiē) sampling food1
A deposit is required to rent a bike of at least yen200 or your passport however we do not
recommend releasing your passport to any non government official Make sure that you keep the
deposit ticket the bike vendor will not give you the deposit back without it
FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2
City Wall of Xian Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses
Xirsquoan is one of only two cities with intact surrounding walls in China (Figure 1) This wall has
been restored and is wide enough to easily ride 5 bikes across You can hire one at the top of the
South or East gate you must return it where you got it If you want to foot it though a complete
loop of the walls takes approximately 3 hours The landscaped park around the base of the
exterior walls and moat also makes for a pleasant stroll and gives a different perspective on the
battlements and towers There is a small museum inside the city walls at Hanguang Gate about
halfway between the southwest corner and the South Gate accessible from the top of the city
13
wall itself Look for a staircase down inside a covered structure Inside are the unrestored
remains of a gatehouse and a calligraphy collection [yen40 entry fee or yen20 if you have student
card (as of Nov 08)]
The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses (Figure 2) was discovered in eastern outer
suburbs of Xian Shaanxi province by local farmers drilling a water well 15 miles east of Lishan
(a mountain) This discovery prompted archaeologists to proceed to Shaanxi Province China to
investigate The Terracotta Army is a form of funerary art buried with the First Emperor of Qin
(Qin Shi Huang Shi Huang means the first emperor) in 210-209 BCE (he declared himself the
first emperor of China in 221 BCE to the end of his life in 210 BCE) Their purpose was to help
rule another empire with Shi Huang Di in the afterlife Consequently they are also sometimes
referred to as Qins Armies Mount Lishan is also where the material to make the terracotta
warriors originated In addition to the warriors an entire man-made necropolis for the emperor
has been excavated 15
FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4
Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda
As the symbol of the old-line Xirsquoan Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 3) is a well-preserved
ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists It is located in the southern suburb of Xirsquoan
City about 4 kilometers (249 miles) from the downtown of the city It is rated as a National Key
Cultural Relic Preserve This attraction can be divided into three parts the Big Wild Goose
Pagoda the Da Cien Temple and the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda 13
North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 4) is composed of waterscape fountains a
cultural square gardens and tourist paths There you can taste real Chinese culture and traditions
and fully enjoy the truly attractive views With reliefs on the theme of the prosperous Tang
14
Dynasty 200-meter-long (656-foot-long) sculpture groups 8 groups of sculpted figures 40
relievos on the land and 22 styles of musical fountains
FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6 FIGURE 7
Bell Tower and Drum Tower Jingyun bell Muslim Quarter
Each Ming Dynasty city had a bell tower and a drum tower Xirsquoan was not an exception The
Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xian (Figure 5) date back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
The two are located in the center of the Xirsquoan city connecting the four roads from east south
west and north The bell (Figure 6) was sounded at dawn and the drum at dusk each day in
ancient time Today the Tower can only be accessed from the entrance on Bei Dajie where
visitors have to purchase their tickets To the west of the Bell Tower is the Drum Tower This is
a smaller building located in a busy street which is full of street traders and hawkers 17
Xirsquoan used to be the starting point of the Silk Road This road linked Constantinople with China
The journey used to take more than two years Horses camels and carriages brought precious
goods from one part of the world to the other But it was not only material things that were
transported culture religion and languages were also brought to China from what is Turkey
today Two of the worlds leading religions arrived in China along the Silk Route Buddhism and
Islam Islam became particularly popular in the city of Xirsquoan Still today part of the population of
Xirsquoan is Muslim In the center there is the Muslim Quarter (Figure 7) with its handicraft shops
Muslim restaurants and the famous Muslim Mosque It is recommended visiting the Muslim
Quarter on your own The best time to visit is in the afternoon Do not rush Take your time to
enjoy its small streets and numerous shops where you can buy traditional handicrafts It is good
to come here in the afternoon not only to see the vivid and hectic streets at their busiest but also
to have dinner in one of the Muslim Restaurant 15
15
Shopping
Souvenirs If you are visiting the Terracotta Warriors be prepared to meet some of the most
hardcore hawkers you are likely to meet anywhere If you keep quiet they will usually bargain
themselves down in front of you in desperate pleas for your money Buy a 15 cm Terracotta
warrior for yen5-10 even if they offer it to you for yen45 Wood-carved Buddhas and Dragons can
bought for about the same value They are fortunately kept at a distance from the actual site
Actually many travelers report to enjoy this experience Its definitely not a reason to avoid
seeing the Terracotta Warriors The exit from the pit areas to the parking lot leads through long
avenues lined with souvenir stalls and shops The barkers will try to get your business but are
not as aggressive as the touts at the entrance or immediate exits Inside the museum the ldquoreportly
authenticrdquo warriors may cost yen100 The best place to buy souvenirs in the city center is the
bazaar area behind the Drum Tower in the Muslim Quarter around the Great Mosque The seller
usually offers you a very high price and even if you bring them down by 50 they will still
make a big profit This is also a good place to buy folk art specifically folk style block prints in a
single shop which go for about yen50 if you can stand bargaining when the older gentleman artist
himself is standing right there This area is also full of fake name-brand products like watches
bags clothes Bargain hard 1
Another souvenir shopping area is Calligraphy Street It is located near South Gate inside the
city wall towards the east Walking down south street on the left side continue to where the road
splits in front of South Gate and turn left to find the entrance gate next to a small pagoda
Midway do a slight dog leg to the right At the far end is the Forest of Steles Less hectic that the
Muslim Quarter Tang Tricolored Pottery is a style that was lost and has now been recreated
from pieces of pottery found in tombs It is graphic in image and eye-pleasing in color The
factory recreating the style offers over 100 varieties of items like statues animals and utensils
Paper cut is regards the most important arts form in Xian The artisan cut the different pattern of
the picture by hand
Clothes Xian is amazingly cheap for clothes East Street (Dongda Jie) the eastern of the four
big streets descending from the central Bell Tower has regular fashion shops South Street
(Nanda Jie) has finer clothes and shoes (eg Louis Vuitton) Local youngsters buy in Baihui
16
Market 百汇市场） in Xiaozhai (小寨) yen10 by Taxi from city center Its one of those fake-
brand markets Sport shoes should be less than yen150 pullovers and nice jeans sometimes less
than yen100 lots of cheap fashion accessories This is also a great place for DVDs and CDs but
understand these are mostly pirated copies Kangfu Lu is outside the East city wall (straight
through the North East Gate) and a great place for a bargain Nothing is (bargained for) over yen50
and most clothes can be bargained down to about yen20 if you are really aggressive
Department Stores Located between the ancient Bell tower and Drum tower Century Ginwa
Shopping Mall is a landscaped square with profound cultural connotations as well as a high
quality exclusive shopping center The mall opened in 1998 and now houses over sixty world-
famous brands for discriminating customers including Bally Burberry Dior Givenchy
Lancome Estee Lauder and other all of which make Ginwa a fashion center in Xirsquoan Opposite
Ginwa is Kai Yuan Shopping Mall one of the biggest department stores in Xirsquoan Both the price
and the quality of the commodities and the sales service are often praised by shoppers who have
made it one of the most popular shopping places in Xirsquoan Supermarkets are numerous in Xirsquoan
and are primarily distributed around universities and communities However there are some in
the city center and the suburbs that are also easily accessible The most famous include
Vanguard Ai Jia (IGA) Hao You Duo (Trust-Mart) Yi Chu Lian Hua (Lotus Supercenter) Ren
Ren Le etc
Dining
Snacks Visitors to Xirsquoan are recommended to do two things one is to see the clay figures of
terra cotta warriors and horses The other is to taste Yang Rou Pao Mo (a soup dish that involves
breaking wheat flour flat bread into a bowl and adding a delicious mutton stock) Before dinner
you will be served one or two pieces of wheat flour flat bread which you break into tiny chunks
the smaller the better The waiter or the waitress will then hand your bowl to the cook who mixes
the bread and mutton soup with an appropriate relish When the steaming hot meal is brought in
the waiter will also offer you sweet crisp pickled garlic coriander and hot pepper sauce The
most famous the Tong Sheng Xirsquoang (Prosperity and Fortune) Beef and Lamb Paomo
Restaurant done in Tang Dynasty style is a time-honored establishment in the Xirsquoan Bell and
Drum Tower Square 18
17
Next to Tong Sheng Xirsquoang is a great restaurant De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant with its
own version of the Dumpling Banquet Ingredients for the dumpling fillings include various
meats vegetables and seasonings Cooking methods include steaming boiling pan-frying deep
frying and roasting Many flavors including salty sweet hot and sour are offered Other house
specialties include Peking dumplings steamed sweet bean paste buns steamed shrimp paste
buns and various uniquely spiced dishes While guests sample various delicacies traditionally
waiters will explain the cuisine culture of each dumpling One of Xirsquoans most famous specialties
is the Guan Tang Baozi (steamed buns served with sauces inside) served at Jia Brothers
Restaurant in Muslim Snack Street Youll know youre there when you see the monstrous blue
arch over the entrance and a wall festooned with photographs of Xirsquoan notables - TV hosts
writers and musicians The specialty dish is Guan Tang Bao Zi with a choice of beef lamb or
three flavors - lamb mushroom and prawns The buns have piping-hot soup inside so caution
is advised This dish is best washed down with Ba Bao Xi Fan a bowl of sweet rice porridge
filled with peanuts sultanas hawthorn and medlar berries
Fanji is the famous vendor of Shaanxis most widely consumed snack Rou Jia Mo finely
chopped pork stuffed in toasted wheat flour flat bread A piece of good-quality (youzhi) bread
and a bowl of mung bean flour soup will cost you no more than 10 Yuan The state-run
atmosphere is quaint and friendly and the numerous awards that decorate the walls are well
deserved The restaurant is in a lane opposite the Drum Tower south of West Main Street
Besides guan tang baozi in Jia BrothersRestaurant there is barbeque in the Pingwa Kaorou
Shop sour cabbage and beef fried rice in Honghong Suancai Chaomi Restraunt and beef
noodles in Yifenli Restaurant If you would like to taste all the local food at one time in a budget
meal Xirsquoan Restaurant (Xirsquoan Fan Zhuang) offers more than 100 varieties in its first-floor self-
service restaurant It charges only CNY18 per person and is very popular with visitors
Drinking The Chinese are big drinkers especially in Northern and Western China It does not
matter if it is lunch or dinner as long as a meal is being hosted there will be alcohol Chinese
wine is the favorite followed by red wine and beer Chinese wine is more like fuel than liquor
having an alcohol concentration as high as 60 No matter how good a drinker you may think of
yourself never ever challenge a Chinese into a drinking contest They will win hands down 18
18
REFERENCES
1 Wikitravel 2009 Wikitravelorg httpwikitravelorgenXian
2 Xingzhong W 1990 Tourist geography of Xirsquoan GeoJournal 21 147-153
3 Official website of Xirsquoan Municipal Government 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureaboutaboutb
4 Xirsquoan Municipal Commerce and Trade Bureau 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureGovernmentdepartmentsbinfid=142232ampcategoryid=
5 Investment environment of Xirsquoan 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian200811911_1ht
ml (originally reported November 20)
6 Xirsquoan Favorable policies for foreign-invested enterprises 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian2008073868_1
html (originally reported July 21)
7 13th Investment amp Trade Forum for Cooperation between East amp West China 2009
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleNewsnewsgovernmentnews20090410020_1html
(originally reported April 15)
8 Xirsquoan ndash Business Information 2009 httpwwwbiztradeshowscomchinaxianbusinesshtml
9 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiXirsquoan
10 Lewis Bill 2007 Xirsquoan Chinas Western BPO Capital New West China Location can
compete with worlds best to become Major Global BPO and Outsourcing Destination
httpwwwchnsourcingcomarticleArticleotc135320070606093234html (originally reported
June 6)
11 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiGovernment_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China
12 Red Tide Mux 2008 httpredtidewikidotcomxian-laws (originally reported March 23)
13 Facts about Xirsquoan 2009 httpwwwxian-travelcomfactshtm
14 Tourism Administration of Xirsquoan 2006-2008 httpen1xian-tourismcomleadasp
15 Travel China Guide 2009
httpwwwtravelchinaguidecomattractionshaanxixianbigwildgoosehtm
16 Tour ndashBeijingcom 2008
httpwwwtour-beijingcomxian_attractionsbell_tower_drum_towerphp
17 Virtouristcom 2008 httpwwwvirtouristcomasiachinaxian21htm
19
18 Understanding Chinese Business Culture and Etiquette April 19 2009 httpwwwchinese-
culturenethtmlchinese_business_culturehtml
20
APPENDIX A
GDP per Capita yen 27000
Major Exports Machinery electrical products data processing
equipment apparel textile steel mobile phones
Major Foreign Exchange Counters ANZ Grindlays ICICI Standard Chartered amp Thomas
Cook
Key Industries
Iron steel aluminum and other metals coal
chemicals fertilizers consumer products including
footwear toys and electronics
APPENDIX B
Approximate journey times to other major cities Beijing 11-13 hours Chengdu 13-18 hours
Chongqing 14 hours Guangzhou 24 hours Kunming 36-53 hours Lanzhou 8-10 hours Lhasa
36 hours Shanghai 16-20 hours Urumqi 31-56 hours Wuhan 14-18 hours and Zhengzhou 7
hours
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
5
contribute to its ability of provide adequate energy supply for industrial and residential use
Compared with eastern China cities Xirsquoan has better energy prices
Xian has consistently received large amounts of foreign direct investment amounts among other
cities in western China Some financial entities have been formed in Xian taking government-
owned commercial banks as the main body but allowing interactions and coexistence of private
financial institutions Import-export in the industrial sector makes up more than 60 of the citys
total trading volume As per information from Xirsquoan Municipal Bureau of Commerce and
Trade4 from January to November 2008 Xirsquoanrsquos total retail sales of consumer goods reached
10413 billion Yuan with an increase by 255 compared to 2007 It is the first time for Xirsquoanrsquos
total retail sales of consumer goods to exceed 100 billion Yuan In 2008 the total value of the
Shaanxi province imports and exports reached 836 billion USD an increase of 215 over the
previous year Of this total the value of imports was 297 billion USD up by 336 and the
value of exports was 540 billion USD up by 157 Official jobless rate (~ 4) isnrsquot of much
use in weighing unemployment because it doesnt include migrant workers or anyone not
officially registered as a recipient of unemployment benefits Xirsquoanrsquos social security system is
being improved by local government and insurance systems for old-age pension unemployment
medical care work injury and maternity have been established5
Xian has created a development pattern of ldquofour zones and one baserdquo (High-tech Industrial
Development Zone Economic and Technological Development Zone New Qujiang District
Chan-Ba River Ecological Zone and Yanliang National Aeronautic High-tech Industry Base)
that has evolved as the center of scientific and IT achievements Even though Xirsquoan has become
an attractive city to investors and has created a phenomenal environment for capital attraction
the worldwide financial crisis has affected the development of industrial economy and the impact
has spread to all aspects of production The local government has implemented some measures to
maintain the economic growth such as
(i) The ldquoCoordination Command Centerrdquo has been established to ensure continuity of economic
growth and promotion of industrial sales
(ii) Government subsidy for loans and enhancement of policies to coordinate efforts between
banks and investors on credit funds
6
(iii) Increase of stocks of key industrial products
Xirsquoanrsquos government6 is using some tax incentives to attract companies and professionals to
relocate there for example (i) Newly established high-tech industry companies of production
type where the production period exceeds 10 years can be exempted from income tax for its
first two profit-making years and enjoy reduction on the basis of income tax rate of 75 where
the technology still remains qualified as high-tech after the specified period for tax reduction
companies can apply for extension for 3 years of reduction by 10 and by 5 for the rest of the
years (ii) Foreign invested enterprises of the type encouraged by state in Xirsquoan Hi-tech Industry
Development Zone can enjoy reduction by 15 prior to 2010 where the current reduction period
is up (iii) Persons or bodies (including foreign invested enterprises foreign invested research
and development center foreign enterprises and foreign personals) whose scope of business is
technology transfer technology development or related consultation or services can be
exempted from business tax
There are some recent announcements of capital investment7 such as the cooperation of Shaanxi
Yanchang Petroleum Group with Shell and Shaanxi Tianli Investment Co Ltd to set up the
headquarters of Shaanxi Yanchang Shell Petroleum Co Ltd at the Xirsquoan high-tech zone The
project with a total investment of 147 million USD will introduce globally advanced
technologies and management experiences for Xirsquoan Currently more than 90 companies of the
Fortune 500s have established their presence in the city The retail sales industry is also being
attractive for foreign investors and currently retail giants like Metro Carrefour and Wal-Mart
have entered Xirsquoan
BUSINESS
The city of Xirsquoan has a large skilled workforce and a highly educated population Xirsquoan is the
largest industrial center in Chinas mid-west and northwest with a large amount of import-export
business done in the industrial sector 8
Industrial Sector The industrial sector makes up more than 60 of the citys total trading
volume along with the technology industry The major industries in Xirsquoan are iron steel
aluminum coal and chemicals fertilizers 89
7
Software Industry The growing economy of Xirsquoan supports the development of a software
industry that has become a pioneer in Chinarsquos software industry The major products that are
produced in Xirsquoan are computer software IT microelectronics and video and audio components
The Hi-tech industries Development Zone houses 7500 enterprises of which approximately ten
percent are foreign funded and it includes manufacturers research and development
laboratories
OutsourcingBPO Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry has experienced tremendous
growth in Xirsquoan with China extending huge tax incentives to companies to relocate there along
with a large amount of college educated human capital to choose from within the 100
universities in Xirsquoan 10
Xirsquoan is destined to become one of the worldrsquos BPO capitals according
to a team of successful Chinese business leaders (from overseas and from China) Senior
Officials of Xirsquoan and the Shanxi Provincial Administration Xirsquoanrsquos bid for BPO fame is driven
from Xirsquoanrsquos Software Park (a National Software Industry Base and a Software Export Base)
located in one of Chinarsquos premier centers for science and technology As Chinese are rapidly
adapting to western requirements investing in BPO related training quality certification and
gathering appropriate advice from the international marketplace they will be highly successful
and become a world leading BPO player
Telecommunications Industry Another key industry in Xirsquoan is telecommunications Xirsquoan is
Chinas leading center of training for engineers The universities and local companies of Xirsquoan
have provided hundreds of thousands of engineers for the Chinese telecommunications industry
With having available human talent has allowed major domestic and multinational
telecommunications vendors to set up Research amp Development centers andor factories in
Xirsquoan including Fujitsu and Siemens 89
Aerospace Industry Xirsquoan also plays a role in Aerospace with the State Development and
Reform Commission approved the planning of Xirsquoan National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base
on December 26 2007 The National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base of Xirsquoan set to cover 23
square km will focus on developing satellites new materials energies IT and other technologies
for civil applications From its establishment Xirsquoanrsquos Aerospace Science and Technology
Industrial Base have focused on the development of the civil space industry including equipment
manufacturing software and service outsourcing Apart from the core area the base will cover
8
Xirsquoan and the Guanzhong area (the central China) and the expansion zone will reach Northwest
China and Southwest China It is expected that by 2012 the total Aerospace industry output can
reach 28 billion US Dollars along with global competitiveness 89
Computer Gaming Industry The computer gaming industry is key sector in Xirsquoan with the
assistance of 100 universities in the area which has lead to the largest net bar in the world with
more than 3000 computers is located in Xirsquoan Xirsquoan is one of the biggest educational centers
throughout the Chinese nation that has already hosted worldwide game competitions such as
ACON5 CEG2006 and WCG2006
Xirsquoan has shown success by attracting foreign and domestic investment with organizations such
as Intel Fujitsu Philips Sybase and Nortel setting up shop within the city By consistently
receiving large foreign direct investment in western China has lead to new industries such as
pharmaceuticals medical equipment biotechnology and new materials which have steadily
grown in Xirsquoan 8 9
GOVERNMENT
Xirsquoan has forty-three functional government departments with one mayor eight executive vice
mayors that operate in the Peoples Republic of Chinarsquos government that is divided among three
bodies the Communist Party of China the state and the Peoples Liberation Army The
Communist Party of China was founded in 1921 and the Partys position has supreme political
authority and power in Xirsquoan The majority of mayors in Xirsquoan belong to the Communist Party
and were born and raised within Shaanxi Province 11
Xirsquoan Law Xirsquoanrsquos law is derived from the old legal code of the Ninefold Celestial Empire and
enforced by the Mandarin Magistrates12
If an offender is caught committing a crime they can
expect to be left in a cell until the next magistrate is available to hear the case When called to
court an offender is allowed to hire a pleader to speak for them if they wish to have the facts of
the accusation presented by an official accuser the pleader or accused gives their defense and the
magistrate then makes his decision and sentence Xirsquoanrsquos laws toward crimes tend to be fairly
straightforward where theft or fraud is punished by seven fold restitution however should the
thief be unable to pay they may be enthralled(made into a slave or servant who is held in
bondage) or suffer mutilation depending on the magistrates inclination Murder is punished with
9
thralldom should the victim be a commoner execution if the victim is a scholar and execution
after torture if the victim is of the princely class Insulting behavior towards a daifu (doctor) is
fined and insults towards the zhuhou are punished with fines and whipping Impersonation of a
city official or a class above ones own is met with thralldom or death Disturbing the peace or
creating a public hazard is met with fines with thralldom for those who cannot pay Sufficiently
obnoxious behavior of any other kind may be treated as a crime in Xirsquoan law
EDUCATION
Xirsquoan is one of Chinarsquos most advanced cities in higher education Xirsquoan ranks third in the
number of students in China after Beijing and Shanghai On an average one in six people have a
higher education of a bachelor degree or more Xian Jiaotong University is one of the major
university in Xirsquoan and has an enrollment of around 32000 students and offerrsquos 199 Masters and
114 PhD1 programs in Science Engineering Medicine Economics Management Arts
Language and Law In 2006 in partnership with the University of Liverpool Xirsquoan Jiaotong
University opened a joint University in Suzhou the Xirsquoan Jiaotong-Liverpool University This is
an independent University in its own right and as such is the first Sino-British University to be
approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education Xidian University founded in 1931 is a key
national university dedicated primarily to electronic technology and information which is
integrated with a wide range of academic subjects including engineering physical science social
science foreign languages and business management Currently Xidian University has become a
base of education and high-tech research in the field of electronic information In addition there
are several other public private and military colleges in Xirsquoan1
CULTURE
One of the great mysteries of Xirsquoan is how an ancient culture can mix the new one giving a
wonderful and memorable experience to foreigners who enjoy a city both as it was long time ago
and as it is at 21st century Due to Xirsquoanrsquos long history as a capital of China it is enriched with
many cultural treasures that make the city outstanding compared to other cultural cities The
accumulation of incredible cultural heritages during past centuries won Xirsquoan its fame as the
natural history museum There are many high quality cultural relics that are not only precious
and rare in China but also around the globe That ancient look distinctive social practice and art
10
represent the spirit of contemporary Xian as well as its unique culture resources which are
essential to Xirsquoanrsquos urban and social development
The culture of Xirsquoan is inherited from the traditions of one of the worlds earliest civilizations
The Guanzhong Ren were the cultural antecedent of Xirsquoanese their cultural features are drawn
from the Ten Specialities of Guanzhong Ren Another major part of this culture is Eight Great
Sights of Changan storied scenic areas in the region The drama of the original Xirsquoanese culture
Qinqiang is the oldest and most extensive Chinese Opera of the four major types of Chinese
opera13
Xian is roughly 98 Buddhist and Taoist 1 Christian 1 Muslim and other
denominations However as the Eastern terminus of the Silk Road Xian shows signs of
imported religions Modern Xian has a more prominent religious side than most Chinese cities
TOURISM
Setting foot on the ancient wall stroll on the city there is another vision thickly dotted road
network international airport modern communication equipment which connect Xian to the
world as well as a great deal of tourism service facility such as hotels bowling hall and large-
scale stores The ancient historical famous city which has some ongoing archaeological projects
has developed into a multi-function modern tourism city and it is no doubt that dig of historical
culture connation make this ancient city more attractive14
Bell in the morning and drum in the evening enable people in Xirsquoan enjoy very much
Transportation and infrastructure Locals often speak about Within city walls and Outside city
walls when talking about locations Outside the walls the southern part is the most interesting it
offers shopping streets bars and some nightlife Dont get confused by different names in tourist
guides addresses and bus stops Nandajie Nanda-Street South-Street South-Avenue are all the
same 9
By Foot Xian has many areas that are easily accessible on foot In many commercial
residential educations zones in the city especially in the shopping and entertainment districts
around the Bell Tower underpasses and overpasses have been built for the safety and
convenience of pedestrians
11
By Bike Fortunately Xirsquoans main sites (with the notable exception of the Terracotta Warriors)
are bunched fairly close together so renting a bike is a good option Be wary of the narrow
streets and cars that squeeze you out of the way Electric bikes are very popular among students
and offer easy transportation in and around the city for many residents
By Car There has been a significant increase in the number of privately-owned vehicles among
middle and upper class households in Xian Traffic is heavy and the rule of thumb is keep
going no matter what (although drivers do note red lights) However many intersections still
lack sufficiently visible traffic lights and the right-of-way is virtually non-existent except at large
intersections with traffic police and signals
By Taxi Taxi services are numerous Watch the taxi drivers in Xirsquoan as the industry is not
regulated as it is in other larger cities like Beijing You may find yourself being taken on a long
ride around town to get where you are going It can also be difficult to convince them to take you
anywhere (even to the railway station) if in doubt get your hotel or hostel to write down the
place you want to go in Chinese Trips within the city walls are generally in the yen10 range
longer trips to the attractions south of the city are in the yen12-20 range Especially when you take
a longer ride like to or from the airport it is always good advice to insist on using the taxi meter
The rate for the normal (green) taxis is yen6 for the first two kilometers and then yen15 for every
additional kilometer Waiting times longer than 2 minutes will be charged yen15 per minute After
11PM the starting price is yen7 At the airport and around some of the big hotels you might also
find black taxis They charge yen24 per kilometer but are more spacious and comfortable
By Bus Many citizens of Xian still commute to work on one of more than 200 bus routes
Although the price is much more economical foreigners are not encouraged to take the long
distance buses due to general hardship and fatigue
By Train There are plenty of trains transporting passengers to and from most of the major cities
inside China Located at the center of China it often takes one day to travel from Xirsquoan to other
cities by train Keep in mind train tickets usually cannot be booked unless you are doing so very
far in advance Traveling hard means you will share a small room with up to three other locals
They may smoke snore or watch portable tvs while you try to sleep Do not travel hard if you
are uncomfortable with these things Xirsquoan Station is located at the north end of Jiefang Lu
12
(解放路) In Xirsquoan it is very easy for one to get to the railway station by city bus from anywhere
in the city But please be aware that there are several stops around the station Fortunately all of
them are no more than 200 meters from the station
What To See amp Do
(i) Walk along the City walls and see the South Gate (南门 Naacutenmeacuten) (illuminated at night)
(ii) Bicycling around the city walls will take about 2 hours
(iii) Walk through the Hui Muslim Quarter (回民街 Huiacutemiacuten Jiē) sampling food1
A deposit is required to rent a bike of at least yen200 or your passport however we do not
recommend releasing your passport to any non government official Make sure that you keep the
deposit ticket the bike vendor will not give you the deposit back without it
FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2
City Wall of Xian Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses
Xirsquoan is one of only two cities with intact surrounding walls in China (Figure 1) This wall has
been restored and is wide enough to easily ride 5 bikes across You can hire one at the top of the
South or East gate you must return it where you got it If you want to foot it though a complete
loop of the walls takes approximately 3 hours The landscaped park around the base of the
exterior walls and moat also makes for a pleasant stroll and gives a different perspective on the
battlements and towers There is a small museum inside the city walls at Hanguang Gate about
halfway between the southwest corner and the South Gate accessible from the top of the city
13
wall itself Look for a staircase down inside a covered structure Inside are the unrestored
remains of a gatehouse and a calligraphy collection [yen40 entry fee or yen20 if you have student
card (as of Nov 08)]
The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses (Figure 2) was discovered in eastern outer
suburbs of Xian Shaanxi province by local farmers drilling a water well 15 miles east of Lishan
(a mountain) This discovery prompted archaeologists to proceed to Shaanxi Province China to
investigate The Terracotta Army is a form of funerary art buried with the First Emperor of Qin
(Qin Shi Huang Shi Huang means the first emperor) in 210-209 BCE (he declared himself the
first emperor of China in 221 BCE to the end of his life in 210 BCE) Their purpose was to help
rule another empire with Shi Huang Di in the afterlife Consequently they are also sometimes
referred to as Qins Armies Mount Lishan is also where the material to make the terracotta
warriors originated In addition to the warriors an entire man-made necropolis for the emperor
has been excavated 15
FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4
Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda
As the symbol of the old-line Xirsquoan Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 3) is a well-preserved
ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists It is located in the southern suburb of Xirsquoan
City about 4 kilometers (249 miles) from the downtown of the city It is rated as a National Key
Cultural Relic Preserve This attraction can be divided into three parts the Big Wild Goose
Pagoda the Da Cien Temple and the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda 13
North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 4) is composed of waterscape fountains a
cultural square gardens and tourist paths There you can taste real Chinese culture and traditions
and fully enjoy the truly attractive views With reliefs on the theme of the prosperous Tang
14
Dynasty 200-meter-long (656-foot-long) sculpture groups 8 groups of sculpted figures 40
relievos on the land and 22 styles of musical fountains
FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6 FIGURE 7
Bell Tower and Drum Tower Jingyun bell Muslim Quarter
Each Ming Dynasty city had a bell tower and a drum tower Xirsquoan was not an exception The
Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xian (Figure 5) date back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
The two are located in the center of the Xirsquoan city connecting the four roads from east south
west and north The bell (Figure 6) was sounded at dawn and the drum at dusk each day in
ancient time Today the Tower can only be accessed from the entrance on Bei Dajie where
visitors have to purchase their tickets To the west of the Bell Tower is the Drum Tower This is
a smaller building located in a busy street which is full of street traders and hawkers 17
Xirsquoan used to be the starting point of the Silk Road This road linked Constantinople with China
The journey used to take more than two years Horses camels and carriages brought precious
goods from one part of the world to the other But it was not only material things that were
transported culture religion and languages were also brought to China from what is Turkey
today Two of the worlds leading religions arrived in China along the Silk Route Buddhism and
Islam Islam became particularly popular in the city of Xirsquoan Still today part of the population of
Xirsquoan is Muslim In the center there is the Muslim Quarter (Figure 7) with its handicraft shops
Muslim restaurants and the famous Muslim Mosque It is recommended visiting the Muslim
Quarter on your own The best time to visit is in the afternoon Do not rush Take your time to
enjoy its small streets and numerous shops where you can buy traditional handicrafts It is good
to come here in the afternoon not only to see the vivid and hectic streets at their busiest but also
to have dinner in one of the Muslim Restaurant 15
15
Shopping
Souvenirs If you are visiting the Terracotta Warriors be prepared to meet some of the most
hardcore hawkers you are likely to meet anywhere If you keep quiet they will usually bargain
themselves down in front of you in desperate pleas for your money Buy a 15 cm Terracotta
warrior for yen5-10 even if they offer it to you for yen45 Wood-carved Buddhas and Dragons can
bought for about the same value They are fortunately kept at a distance from the actual site
Actually many travelers report to enjoy this experience Its definitely not a reason to avoid
seeing the Terracotta Warriors The exit from the pit areas to the parking lot leads through long
avenues lined with souvenir stalls and shops The barkers will try to get your business but are
not as aggressive as the touts at the entrance or immediate exits Inside the museum the ldquoreportly
authenticrdquo warriors may cost yen100 The best place to buy souvenirs in the city center is the
bazaar area behind the Drum Tower in the Muslim Quarter around the Great Mosque The seller
usually offers you a very high price and even if you bring them down by 50 they will still
make a big profit This is also a good place to buy folk art specifically folk style block prints in a
single shop which go for about yen50 if you can stand bargaining when the older gentleman artist
himself is standing right there This area is also full of fake name-brand products like watches
bags clothes Bargain hard 1
Another souvenir shopping area is Calligraphy Street It is located near South Gate inside the
city wall towards the east Walking down south street on the left side continue to where the road
splits in front of South Gate and turn left to find the entrance gate next to a small pagoda
Midway do a slight dog leg to the right At the far end is the Forest of Steles Less hectic that the
Muslim Quarter Tang Tricolored Pottery is a style that was lost and has now been recreated
from pieces of pottery found in tombs It is graphic in image and eye-pleasing in color The
factory recreating the style offers over 100 varieties of items like statues animals and utensils
Paper cut is regards the most important arts form in Xian The artisan cut the different pattern of
the picture by hand
Clothes Xian is amazingly cheap for clothes East Street (Dongda Jie) the eastern of the four
big streets descending from the central Bell Tower has regular fashion shops South Street
(Nanda Jie) has finer clothes and shoes (eg Louis Vuitton) Local youngsters buy in Baihui
16
Market 百汇市场） in Xiaozhai (小寨) yen10 by Taxi from city center Its one of those fake-
brand markets Sport shoes should be less than yen150 pullovers and nice jeans sometimes less
than yen100 lots of cheap fashion accessories This is also a great place for DVDs and CDs but
understand these are mostly pirated copies Kangfu Lu is outside the East city wall (straight
through the North East Gate) and a great place for a bargain Nothing is (bargained for) over yen50
and most clothes can be bargained down to about yen20 if you are really aggressive
Department Stores Located between the ancient Bell tower and Drum tower Century Ginwa
Shopping Mall is a landscaped square with profound cultural connotations as well as a high
quality exclusive shopping center The mall opened in 1998 and now houses over sixty world-
famous brands for discriminating customers including Bally Burberry Dior Givenchy
Lancome Estee Lauder and other all of which make Ginwa a fashion center in Xirsquoan Opposite
Ginwa is Kai Yuan Shopping Mall one of the biggest department stores in Xirsquoan Both the price
and the quality of the commodities and the sales service are often praised by shoppers who have
made it one of the most popular shopping places in Xirsquoan Supermarkets are numerous in Xirsquoan
and are primarily distributed around universities and communities However there are some in
the city center and the suburbs that are also easily accessible The most famous include
Vanguard Ai Jia (IGA) Hao You Duo (Trust-Mart) Yi Chu Lian Hua (Lotus Supercenter) Ren
Ren Le etc
Dining
Snacks Visitors to Xirsquoan are recommended to do two things one is to see the clay figures of
terra cotta warriors and horses The other is to taste Yang Rou Pao Mo (a soup dish that involves
breaking wheat flour flat bread into a bowl and adding a delicious mutton stock) Before dinner
you will be served one or two pieces of wheat flour flat bread which you break into tiny chunks
the smaller the better The waiter or the waitress will then hand your bowl to the cook who mixes
the bread and mutton soup with an appropriate relish When the steaming hot meal is brought in
the waiter will also offer you sweet crisp pickled garlic coriander and hot pepper sauce The
most famous the Tong Sheng Xirsquoang (Prosperity and Fortune) Beef and Lamb Paomo
Restaurant done in Tang Dynasty style is a time-honored establishment in the Xirsquoan Bell and
Drum Tower Square 18
17
Next to Tong Sheng Xirsquoang is a great restaurant De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant with its
own version of the Dumpling Banquet Ingredients for the dumpling fillings include various
meats vegetables and seasonings Cooking methods include steaming boiling pan-frying deep
frying and roasting Many flavors including salty sweet hot and sour are offered Other house
specialties include Peking dumplings steamed sweet bean paste buns steamed shrimp paste
buns and various uniquely spiced dishes While guests sample various delicacies traditionally
waiters will explain the cuisine culture of each dumpling One of Xirsquoans most famous specialties
is the Guan Tang Baozi (steamed buns served with sauces inside) served at Jia Brothers
Restaurant in Muslim Snack Street Youll know youre there when you see the monstrous blue
arch over the entrance and a wall festooned with photographs of Xirsquoan notables - TV hosts
writers and musicians The specialty dish is Guan Tang Bao Zi with a choice of beef lamb or
three flavors - lamb mushroom and prawns The buns have piping-hot soup inside so caution
is advised This dish is best washed down with Ba Bao Xi Fan a bowl of sweet rice porridge
filled with peanuts sultanas hawthorn and medlar berries
Fanji is the famous vendor of Shaanxis most widely consumed snack Rou Jia Mo finely
chopped pork stuffed in toasted wheat flour flat bread A piece of good-quality (youzhi) bread
and a bowl of mung bean flour soup will cost you no more than 10 Yuan The state-run
atmosphere is quaint and friendly and the numerous awards that decorate the walls are well
deserved The restaurant is in a lane opposite the Drum Tower south of West Main Street
Besides guan tang baozi in Jia BrothersRestaurant there is barbeque in the Pingwa Kaorou
Shop sour cabbage and beef fried rice in Honghong Suancai Chaomi Restraunt and beef
noodles in Yifenli Restaurant If you would like to taste all the local food at one time in a budget
meal Xirsquoan Restaurant (Xirsquoan Fan Zhuang) offers more than 100 varieties in its first-floor self-
service restaurant It charges only CNY18 per person and is very popular with visitors
Drinking The Chinese are big drinkers especially in Northern and Western China It does not
matter if it is lunch or dinner as long as a meal is being hosted there will be alcohol Chinese
wine is the favorite followed by red wine and beer Chinese wine is more like fuel than liquor
having an alcohol concentration as high as 60 No matter how good a drinker you may think of
yourself never ever challenge a Chinese into a drinking contest They will win hands down 18
18
REFERENCES
1 Wikitravel 2009 Wikitravelorg httpwikitravelorgenXian
2 Xingzhong W 1990 Tourist geography of Xirsquoan GeoJournal 21 147-153
3 Official website of Xirsquoan Municipal Government 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureaboutaboutb
4 Xirsquoan Municipal Commerce and Trade Bureau 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureGovernmentdepartmentsbinfid=142232ampcategoryid=
5 Investment environment of Xirsquoan 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian200811911_1ht
ml (originally reported November 20)
6 Xirsquoan Favorable policies for foreign-invested enterprises 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian2008073868_1
html (originally reported July 21)
7 13th Investment amp Trade Forum for Cooperation between East amp West China 2009
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleNewsnewsgovernmentnews20090410020_1html
(originally reported April 15)
8 Xirsquoan ndash Business Information 2009 httpwwwbiztradeshowscomchinaxianbusinesshtml
9 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiXirsquoan
10 Lewis Bill 2007 Xirsquoan Chinas Western BPO Capital New West China Location can
compete with worlds best to become Major Global BPO and Outsourcing Destination
httpwwwchnsourcingcomarticleArticleotc135320070606093234html (originally reported
June 6)
11 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiGovernment_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China
12 Red Tide Mux 2008 httpredtidewikidotcomxian-laws (originally reported March 23)
13 Facts about Xirsquoan 2009 httpwwwxian-travelcomfactshtm
14 Tourism Administration of Xirsquoan 2006-2008 httpen1xian-tourismcomleadasp
15 Travel China Guide 2009
httpwwwtravelchinaguidecomattractionshaanxixianbigwildgoosehtm
16 Tour ndashBeijingcom 2008
httpwwwtour-beijingcomxian_attractionsbell_tower_drum_towerphp
17 Virtouristcom 2008 httpwwwvirtouristcomasiachinaxian21htm
19
18 Understanding Chinese Business Culture and Etiquette April 19 2009 httpwwwchinese-
culturenethtmlchinese_business_culturehtml
20
APPENDIX A
GDP per Capita yen 27000
Major Exports Machinery electrical products data processing
equipment apparel textile steel mobile phones
Major Foreign Exchange Counters ANZ Grindlays ICICI Standard Chartered amp Thomas
Cook
Key Industries
Iron steel aluminum and other metals coal
chemicals fertilizers consumer products including
footwear toys and electronics
APPENDIX B
Approximate journey times to other major cities Beijing 11-13 hours Chengdu 13-18 hours
Chongqing 14 hours Guangzhou 24 hours Kunming 36-53 hours Lanzhou 8-10 hours Lhasa
36 hours Shanghai 16-20 hours Urumqi 31-56 hours Wuhan 14-18 hours and Zhengzhou 7
hours
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
6
(iii) Increase of stocks of key industrial products
Xirsquoanrsquos government6 is using some tax incentives to attract companies and professionals to
relocate there for example (i) Newly established high-tech industry companies of production
type where the production period exceeds 10 years can be exempted from income tax for its
first two profit-making years and enjoy reduction on the basis of income tax rate of 75 where
the technology still remains qualified as high-tech after the specified period for tax reduction
companies can apply for extension for 3 years of reduction by 10 and by 5 for the rest of the
years (ii) Foreign invested enterprises of the type encouraged by state in Xirsquoan Hi-tech Industry
Development Zone can enjoy reduction by 15 prior to 2010 where the current reduction period
is up (iii) Persons or bodies (including foreign invested enterprises foreign invested research
and development center foreign enterprises and foreign personals) whose scope of business is
technology transfer technology development or related consultation or services can be
exempted from business tax
There are some recent announcements of capital investment7 such as the cooperation of Shaanxi
Yanchang Petroleum Group with Shell and Shaanxi Tianli Investment Co Ltd to set up the
headquarters of Shaanxi Yanchang Shell Petroleum Co Ltd at the Xirsquoan high-tech zone The
project with a total investment of 147 million USD will introduce globally advanced
technologies and management experiences for Xirsquoan Currently more than 90 companies of the
Fortune 500s have established their presence in the city The retail sales industry is also being
attractive for foreign investors and currently retail giants like Metro Carrefour and Wal-Mart
have entered Xirsquoan
BUSINESS
The city of Xirsquoan has a large skilled workforce and a highly educated population Xirsquoan is the
largest industrial center in Chinas mid-west and northwest with a large amount of import-export
business done in the industrial sector 8
Industrial Sector The industrial sector makes up more than 60 of the citys total trading
volume along with the technology industry The major industries in Xirsquoan are iron steel
aluminum coal and chemicals fertilizers 89
7
Software Industry The growing economy of Xirsquoan supports the development of a software
industry that has become a pioneer in Chinarsquos software industry The major products that are
produced in Xirsquoan are computer software IT microelectronics and video and audio components
The Hi-tech industries Development Zone houses 7500 enterprises of which approximately ten
percent are foreign funded and it includes manufacturers research and development
laboratories
OutsourcingBPO Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry has experienced tremendous
growth in Xirsquoan with China extending huge tax incentives to companies to relocate there along
with a large amount of college educated human capital to choose from within the 100
universities in Xirsquoan 10
Xirsquoan is destined to become one of the worldrsquos BPO capitals according
to a team of successful Chinese business leaders (from overseas and from China) Senior
Officials of Xirsquoan and the Shanxi Provincial Administration Xirsquoanrsquos bid for BPO fame is driven
from Xirsquoanrsquos Software Park (a National Software Industry Base and a Software Export Base)
located in one of Chinarsquos premier centers for science and technology As Chinese are rapidly
adapting to western requirements investing in BPO related training quality certification and
gathering appropriate advice from the international marketplace they will be highly successful
and become a world leading BPO player
Telecommunications Industry Another key industry in Xirsquoan is telecommunications Xirsquoan is
Chinas leading center of training for engineers The universities and local companies of Xirsquoan
have provided hundreds of thousands of engineers for the Chinese telecommunications industry
With having available human talent has allowed major domestic and multinational
telecommunications vendors to set up Research amp Development centers andor factories in
Xirsquoan including Fujitsu and Siemens 89
Aerospace Industry Xirsquoan also plays a role in Aerospace with the State Development and
Reform Commission approved the planning of Xirsquoan National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base
on December 26 2007 The National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base of Xirsquoan set to cover 23
square km will focus on developing satellites new materials energies IT and other technologies
for civil applications From its establishment Xirsquoanrsquos Aerospace Science and Technology
Industrial Base have focused on the development of the civil space industry including equipment
manufacturing software and service outsourcing Apart from the core area the base will cover
8
Xirsquoan and the Guanzhong area (the central China) and the expansion zone will reach Northwest
China and Southwest China It is expected that by 2012 the total Aerospace industry output can
reach 28 billion US Dollars along with global competitiveness 89
Computer Gaming Industry The computer gaming industry is key sector in Xirsquoan with the
assistance of 100 universities in the area which has lead to the largest net bar in the world with
more than 3000 computers is located in Xirsquoan Xirsquoan is one of the biggest educational centers
throughout the Chinese nation that has already hosted worldwide game competitions such as
ACON5 CEG2006 and WCG2006
Xirsquoan has shown success by attracting foreign and domestic investment with organizations such
as Intel Fujitsu Philips Sybase and Nortel setting up shop within the city By consistently
receiving large foreign direct investment in western China has lead to new industries such as
pharmaceuticals medical equipment biotechnology and new materials which have steadily
grown in Xirsquoan 8 9
GOVERNMENT
Xirsquoan has forty-three functional government departments with one mayor eight executive vice
mayors that operate in the Peoples Republic of Chinarsquos government that is divided among three
bodies the Communist Party of China the state and the Peoples Liberation Army The
Communist Party of China was founded in 1921 and the Partys position has supreme political
authority and power in Xirsquoan The majority of mayors in Xirsquoan belong to the Communist Party
and were born and raised within Shaanxi Province 11
Xirsquoan Law Xirsquoanrsquos law is derived from the old legal code of the Ninefold Celestial Empire and
enforced by the Mandarin Magistrates12
If an offender is caught committing a crime they can
expect to be left in a cell until the next magistrate is available to hear the case When called to
court an offender is allowed to hire a pleader to speak for them if they wish to have the facts of
the accusation presented by an official accuser the pleader or accused gives their defense and the
magistrate then makes his decision and sentence Xirsquoanrsquos laws toward crimes tend to be fairly
straightforward where theft or fraud is punished by seven fold restitution however should the
thief be unable to pay they may be enthralled(made into a slave or servant who is held in
bondage) or suffer mutilation depending on the magistrates inclination Murder is punished with
9
thralldom should the victim be a commoner execution if the victim is a scholar and execution
after torture if the victim is of the princely class Insulting behavior towards a daifu (doctor) is
fined and insults towards the zhuhou are punished with fines and whipping Impersonation of a
city official or a class above ones own is met with thralldom or death Disturbing the peace or
creating a public hazard is met with fines with thralldom for those who cannot pay Sufficiently
obnoxious behavior of any other kind may be treated as a crime in Xirsquoan law
EDUCATION
Xirsquoan is one of Chinarsquos most advanced cities in higher education Xirsquoan ranks third in the
number of students in China after Beijing and Shanghai On an average one in six people have a
higher education of a bachelor degree or more Xian Jiaotong University is one of the major
university in Xirsquoan and has an enrollment of around 32000 students and offerrsquos 199 Masters and
114 PhD1 programs in Science Engineering Medicine Economics Management Arts
Language and Law In 2006 in partnership with the University of Liverpool Xirsquoan Jiaotong
University opened a joint University in Suzhou the Xirsquoan Jiaotong-Liverpool University This is
an independent University in its own right and as such is the first Sino-British University to be
approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education Xidian University founded in 1931 is a key
national university dedicated primarily to electronic technology and information which is
integrated with a wide range of academic subjects including engineering physical science social
science foreign languages and business management Currently Xidian University has become a
base of education and high-tech research in the field of electronic information In addition there
are several other public private and military colleges in Xirsquoan1
CULTURE
One of the great mysteries of Xirsquoan is how an ancient culture can mix the new one giving a
wonderful and memorable experience to foreigners who enjoy a city both as it was long time ago
and as it is at 21st century Due to Xirsquoanrsquos long history as a capital of China it is enriched with
many cultural treasures that make the city outstanding compared to other cultural cities The
accumulation of incredible cultural heritages during past centuries won Xirsquoan its fame as the
natural history museum There are many high quality cultural relics that are not only precious
and rare in China but also around the globe That ancient look distinctive social practice and art
10
represent the spirit of contemporary Xian as well as its unique culture resources which are
essential to Xirsquoanrsquos urban and social development
The culture of Xirsquoan is inherited from the traditions of one of the worlds earliest civilizations
The Guanzhong Ren were the cultural antecedent of Xirsquoanese their cultural features are drawn
from the Ten Specialities of Guanzhong Ren Another major part of this culture is Eight Great
Sights of Changan storied scenic areas in the region The drama of the original Xirsquoanese culture
Qinqiang is the oldest and most extensive Chinese Opera of the four major types of Chinese
opera13
Xian is roughly 98 Buddhist and Taoist 1 Christian 1 Muslim and other
denominations However as the Eastern terminus of the Silk Road Xian shows signs of
imported religions Modern Xian has a more prominent religious side than most Chinese cities
TOURISM
Setting foot on the ancient wall stroll on the city there is another vision thickly dotted road
network international airport modern communication equipment which connect Xian to the
world as well as a great deal of tourism service facility such as hotels bowling hall and large-
scale stores The ancient historical famous city which has some ongoing archaeological projects
has developed into a multi-function modern tourism city and it is no doubt that dig of historical
culture connation make this ancient city more attractive14
Bell in the morning and drum in the evening enable people in Xirsquoan enjoy very much
Transportation and infrastructure Locals often speak about Within city walls and Outside city
walls when talking about locations Outside the walls the southern part is the most interesting it
offers shopping streets bars and some nightlife Dont get confused by different names in tourist
guides addresses and bus stops Nandajie Nanda-Street South-Street South-Avenue are all the
same 9
By Foot Xian has many areas that are easily accessible on foot In many commercial
residential educations zones in the city especially in the shopping and entertainment districts
around the Bell Tower underpasses and overpasses have been built for the safety and
convenience of pedestrians
11
By Bike Fortunately Xirsquoans main sites (with the notable exception of the Terracotta Warriors)
are bunched fairly close together so renting a bike is a good option Be wary of the narrow
streets and cars that squeeze you out of the way Electric bikes are very popular among students
and offer easy transportation in and around the city for many residents
By Car There has been a significant increase in the number of privately-owned vehicles among
middle and upper class households in Xian Traffic is heavy and the rule of thumb is keep
going no matter what (although drivers do note red lights) However many intersections still
lack sufficiently visible traffic lights and the right-of-way is virtually non-existent except at large
intersections with traffic police and signals
By Taxi Taxi services are numerous Watch the taxi drivers in Xirsquoan as the industry is not
regulated as it is in other larger cities like Beijing You may find yourself being taken on a long
ride around town to get where you are going It can also be difficult to convince them to take you
anywhere (even to the railway station) if in doubt get your hotel or hostel to write down the
place you want to go in Chinese Trips within the city walls are generally in the yen10 range
longer trips to the attractions south of the city are in the yen12-20 range Especially when you take
a longer ride like to or from the airport it is always good advice to insist on using the taxi meter
The rate for the normal (green) taxis is yen6 for the first two kilometers and then yen15 for every
additional kilometer Waiting times longer than 2 minutes will be charged yen15 per minute After
11PM the starting price is yen7 At the airport and around some of the big hotels you might also
find black taxis They charge yen24 per kilometer but are more spacious and comfortable
By Bus Many citizens of Xian still commute to work on one of more than 200 bus routes
Although the price is much more economical foreigners are not encouraged to take the long
distance buses due to general hardship and fatigue
By Train There are plenty of trains transporting passengers to and from most of the major cities
inside China Located at the center of China it often takes one day to travel from Xirsquoan to other
cities by train Keep in mind train tickets usually cannot be booked unless you are doing so very
far in advance Traveling hard means you will share a small room with up to three other locals
They may smoke snore or watch portable tvs while you try to sleep Do not travel hard if you
are uncomfortable with these things Xirsquoan Station is located at the north end of Jiefang Lu
12
(解放路) In Xirsquoan it is very easy for one to get to the railway station by city bus from anywhere
in the city But please be aware that there are several stops around the station Fortunately all of
them are no more than 200 meters from the station
What To See amp Do
(i) Walk along the City walls and see the South Gate (南门 Naacutenmeacuten) (illuminated at night)
(ii) Bicycling around the city walls will take about 2 hours
(iii) Walk through the Hui Muslim Quarter (回民街 Huiacutemiacuten Jiē) sampling food1
A deposit is required to rent a bike of at least yen200 or your passport however we do not
recommend releasing your passport to any non government official Make sure that you keep the
deposit ticket the bike vendor will not give you the deposit back without it
FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2
City Wall of Xian Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses
Xirsquoan is one of only two cities with intact surrounding walls in China (Figure 1) This wall has
been restored and is wide enough to easily ride 5 bikes across You can hire one at the top of the
South or East gate you must return it where you got it If you want to foot it though a complete
loop of the walls takes approximately 3 hours The landscaped park around the base of the
exterior walls and moat also makes for a pleasant stroll and gives a different perspective on the
battlements and towers There is a small museum inside the city walls at Hanguang Gate about
halfway between the southwest corner and the South Gate accessible from the top of the city
13
wall itself Look for a staircase down inside a covered structure Inside are the unrestored
remains of a gatehouse and a calligraphy collection [yen40 entry fee or yen20 if you have student
card (as of Nov 08)]
The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses (Figure 2) was discovered in eastern outer
suburbs of Xian Shaanxi province by local farmers drilling a water well 15 miles east of Lishan
(a mountain) This discovery prompted archaeologists to proceed to Shaanxi Province China to
investigate The Terracotta Army is a form of funerary art buried with the First Emperor of Qin
(Qin Shi Huang Shi Huang means the first emperor) in 210-209 BCE (he declared himself the
first emperor of China in 221 BCE to the end of his life in 210 BCE) Their purpose was to help
rule another empire with Shi Huang Di in the afterlife Consequently they are also sometimes
referred to as Qins Armies Mount Lishan is also where the material to make the terracotta
warriors originated In addition to the warriors an entire man-made necropolis for the emperor
has been excavated 15
FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4
Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda
As the symbol of the old-line Xirsquoan Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 3) is a well-preserved
ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists It is located in the southern suburb of Xirsquoan
City about 4 kilometers (249 miles) from the downtown of the city It is rated as a National Key
Cultural Relic Preserve This attraction can be divided into three parts the Big Wild Goose
Pagoda the Da Cien Temple and the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda 13
North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 4) is composed of waterscape fountains a
cultural square gardens and tourist paths There you can taste real Chinese culture and traditions
and fully enjoy the truly attractive views With reliefs on the theme of the prosperous Tang
14
Dynasty 200-meter-long (656-foot-long) sculpture groups 8 groups of sculpted figures 40
relievos on the land and 22 styles of musical fountains
FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6 FIGURE 7
Bell Tower and Drum Tower Jingyun bell Muslim Quarter
Each Ming Dynasty city had a bell tower and a drum tower Xirsquoan was not an exception The
Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xian (Figure 5) date back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
The two are located in the center of the Xirsquoan city connecting the four roads from east south
west and north The bell (Figure 6) was sounded at dawn and the drum at dusk each day in
ancient time Today the Tower can only be accessed from the entrance on Bei Dajie where
visitors have to purchase their tickets To the west of the Bell Tower is the Drum Tower This is
a smaller building located in a busy street which is full of street traders and hawkers 17
Xirsquoan used to be the starting point of the Silk Road This road linked Constantinople with China
The journey used to take more than two years Horses camels and carriages brought precious
goods from one part of the world to the other But it was not only material things that were
transported culture religion and languages were also brought to China from what is Turkey
today Two of the worlds leading religions arrived in China along the Silk Route Buddhism and
Islam Islam became particularly popular in the city of Xirsquoan Still today part of the population of
Xirsquoan is Muslim In the center there is the Muslim Quarter (Figure 7) with its handicraft shops
Muslim restaurants and the famous Muslim Mosque It is recommended visiting the Muslim
Quarter on your own The best time to visit is in the afternoon Do not rush Take your time to
enjoy its small streets and numerous shops where you can buy traditional handicrafts It is good
to come here in the afternoon not only to see the vivid and hectic streets at their busiest but also
to have dinner in one of the Muslim Restaurant 15
15
Shopping
Souvenirs If you are visiting the Terracotta Warriors be prepared to meet some of the most
hardcore hawkers you are likely to meet anywhere If you keep quiet they will usually bargain
themselves down in front of you in desperate pleas for your money Buy a 15 cm Terracotta
warrior for yen5-10 even if they offer it to you for yen45 Wood-carved Buddhas and Dragons can
bought for about the same value They are fortunately kept at a distance from the actual site
Actually many travelers report to enjoy this experience Its definitely not a reason to avoid
seeing the Terracotta Warriors The exit from the pit areas to the parking lot leads through long
avenues lined with souvenir stalls and shops The barkers will try to get your business but are
not as aggressive as the touts at the entrance or immediate exits Inside the museum the ldquoreportly
authenticrdquo warriors may cost yen100 The best place to buy souvenirs in the city center is the
bazaar area behind the Drum Tower in the Muslim Quarter around the Great Mosque The seller
usually offers you a very high price and even if you bring them down by 50 they will still
make a big profit This is also a good place to buy folk art specifically folk style block prints in a
single shop which go for about yen50 if you can stand bargaining when the older gentleman artist
himself is standing right there This area is also full of fake name-brand products like watches
bags clothes Bargain hard 1
Another souvenir shopping area is Calligraphy Street It is located near South Gate inside the
city wall towards the east Walking down south street on the left side continue to where the road
splits in front of South Gate and turn left to find the entrance gate next to a small pagoda
Midway do a slight dog leg to the right At the far end is the Forest of Steles Less hectic that the
Muslim Quarter Tang Tricolored Pottery is a style that was lost and has now been recreated
from pieces of pottery found in tombs It is graphic in image and eye-pleasing in color The
factory recreating the style offers over 100 varieties of items like statues animals and utensils
Paper cut is regards the most important arts form in Xian The artisan cut the different pattern of
the picture by hand
Clothes Xian is amazingly cheap for clothes East Street (Dongda Jie) the eastern of the four
big streets descending from the central Bell Tower has regular fashion shops South Street
(Nanda Jie) has finer clothes and shoes (eg Louis Vuitton) Local youngsters buy in Baihui
16
Market 百汇市场） in Xiaozhai (小寨) yen10 by Taxi from city center Its one of those fake-
brand markets Sport shoes should be less than yen150 pullovers and nice jeans sometimes less
than yen100 lots of cheap fashion accessories This is also a great place for DVDs and CDs but
understand these are mostly pirated copies Kangfu Lu is outside the East city wall (straight
through the North East Gate) and a great place for a bargain Nothing is (bargained for) over yen50
and most clothes can be bargained down to about yen20 if you are really aggressive
Department Stores Located between the ancient Bell tower and Drum tower Century Ginwa
Shopping Mall is a landscaped square with profound cultural connotations as well as a high
quality exclusive shopping center The mall opened in 1998 and now houses over sixty world-
famous brands for discriminating customers including Bally Burberry Dior Givenchy
Lancome Estee Lauder and other all of which make Ginwa a fashion center in Xirsquoan Opposite
Ginwa is Kai Yuan Shopping Mall one of the biggest department stores in Xirsquoan Both the price
and the quality of the commodities and the sales service are often praised by shoppers who have
made it one of the most popular shopping places in Xirsquoan Supermarkets are numerous in Xirsquoan
and are primarily distributed around universities and communities However there are some in
the city center and the suburbs that are also easily accessible The most famous include
Vanguard Ai Jia (IGA) Hao You Duo (Trust-Mart) Yi Chu Lian Hua (Lotus Supercenter) Ren
Ren Le etc
Dining
Snacks Visitors to Xirsquoan are recommended to do two things one is to see the clay figures of
terra cotta warriors and horses The other is to taste Yang Rou Pao Mo (a soup dish that involves
breaking wheat flour flat bread into a bowl and adding a delicious mutton stock) Before dinner
you will be served one or two pieces of wheat flour flat bread which you break into tiny chunks
the smaller the better The waiter or the waitress will then hand your bowl to the cook who mixes
the bread and mutton soup with an appropriate relish When the steaming hot meal is brought in
the waiter will also offer you sweet crisp pickled garlic coriander and hot pepper sauce The
most famous the Tong Sheng Xirsquoang (Prosperity and Fortune) Beef and Lamb Paomo
Restaurant done in Tang Dynasty style is a time-honored establishment in the Xirsquoan Bell and
Drum Tower Square 18
17
Next to Tong Sheng Xirsquoang is a great restaurant De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant with its
own version of the Dumpling Banquet Ingredients for the dumpling fillings include various
meats vegetables and seasonings Cooking methods include steaming boiling pan-frying deep
frying and roasting Many flavors including salty sweet hot and sour are offered Other house
specialties include Peking dumplings steamed sweet bean paste buns steamed shrimp paste
buns and various uniquely spiced dishes While guests sample various delicacies traditionally
waiters will explain the cuisine culture of each dumpling One of Xirsquoans most famous specialties
is the Guan Tang Baozi (steamed buns served with sauces inside) served at Jia Brothers
Restaurant in Muslim Snack Street Youll know youre there when you see the monstrous blue
arch over the entrance and a wall festooned with photographs of Xirsquoan notables - TV hosts
writers and musicians The specialty dish is Guan Tang Bao Zi with a choice of beef lamb or
three flavors - lamb mushroom and prawns The buns have piping-hot soup inside so caution
is advised This dish is best washed down with Ba Bao Xi Fan a bowl of sweet rice porridge
filled with peanuts sultanas hawthorn and medlar berries
Fanji is the famous vendor of Shaanxis most widely consumed snack Rou Jia Mo finely
chopped pork stuffed in toasted wheat flour flat bread A piece of good-quality (youzhi) bread
and a bowl of mung bean flour soup will cost you no more than 10 Yuan The state-run
atmosphere is quaint and friendly and the numerous awards that decorate the walls are well
deserved The restaurant is in a lane opposite the Drum Tower south of West Main Street
Besides guan tang baozi in Jia BrothersRestaurant there is barbeque in the Pingwa Kaorou
Shop sour cabbage and beef fried rice in Honghong Suancai Chaomi Restraunt and beef
noodles in Yifenli Restaurant If you would like to taste all the local food at one time in a budget
meal Xirsquoan Restaurant (Xirsquoan Fan Zhuang) offers more than 100 varieties in its first-floor self-
service restaurant It charges only CNY18 per person and is very popular with visitors
Drinking The Chinese are big drinkers especially in Northern and Western China It does not
matter if it is lunch or dinner as long as a meal is being hosted there will be alcohol Chinese
wine is the favorite followed by red wine and beer Chinese wine is more like fuel than liquor
having an alcohol concentration as high as 60 No matter how good a drinker you may think of
yourself never ever challenge a Chinese into a drinking contest They will win hands down 18
18
REFERENCES
1 Wikitravel 2009 Wikitravelorg httpwikitravelorgenXian
2 Xingzhong W 1990 Tourist geography of Xirsquoan GeoJournal 21 147-153
3 Official website of Xirsquoan Municipal Government 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureaboutaboutb
4 Xirsquoan Municipal Commerce and Trade Bureau 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureGovernmentdepartmentsbinfid=142232ampcategoryid=
5 Investment environment of Xirsquoan 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian200811911_1ht
ml (originally reported November 20)
6 Xirsquoan Favorable policies for foreign-invested enterprises 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian2008073868_1
html (originally reported July 21)
7 13th Investment amp Trade Forum for Cooperation between East amp West China 2009
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleNewsnewsgovernmentnews20090410020_1html
(originally reported April 15)
8 Xirsquoan ndash Business Information 2009 httpwwwbiztradeshowscomchinaxianbusinesshtml
9 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiXirsquoan
10 Lewis Bill 2007 Xirsquoan Chinas Western BPO Capital New West China Location can
compete with worlds best to become Major Global BPO and Outsourcing Destination
httpwwwchnsourcingcomarticleArticleotc135320070606093234html (originally reported
June 6)
11 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiGovernment_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China
12 Red Tide Mux 2008 httpredtidewikidotcomxian-laws (originally reported March 23)
13 Facts about Xirsquoan 2009 httpwwwxian-travelcomfactshtm
14 Tourism Administration of Xirsquoan 2006-2008 httpen1xian-tourismcomleadasp
15 Travel China Guide 2009
httpwwwtravelchinaguidecomattractionshaanxixianbigwildgoosehtm
16 Tour ndashBeijingcom 2008
httpwwwtour-beijingcomxian_attractionsbell_tower_drum_towerphp
17 Virtouristcom 2008 httpwwwvirtouristcomasiachinaxian21htm
19
18 Understanding Chinese Business Culture and Etiquette April 19 2009 httpwwwchinese-
culturenethtmlchinese_business_culturehtml
20
APPENDIX A
GDP per Capita yen 27000
Major Exports Machinery electrical products data processing
equipment apparel textile steel mobile phones
Major Foreign Exchange Counters ANZ Grindlays ICICI Standard Chartered amp Thomas
Cook
Key Industries
Iron steel aluminum and other metals coal
chemicals fertilizers consumer products including
footwear toys and electronics
APPENDIX B
Approximate journey times to other major cities Beijing 11-13 hours Chengdu 13-18 hours
Chongqing 14 hours Guangzhou 24 hours Kunming 36-53 hours Lanzhou 8-10 hours Lhasa
36 hours Shanghai 16-20 hours Urumqi 31-56 hours Wuhan 14-18 hours and Zhengzhou 7
hours
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
7
Software Industry The growing economy of Xirsquoan supports the development of a software
industry that has become a pioneer in Chinarsquos software industry The major products that are
produced in Xirsquoan are computer software IT microelectronics and video and audio components
The Hi-tech industries Development Zone houses 7500 enterprises of which approximately ten
percent are foreign funded and it includes manufacturers research and development
laboratories
OutsourcingBPO Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry has experienced tremendous
growth in Xirsquoan with China extending huge tax incentives to companies to relocate there along
with a large amount of college educated human capital to choose from within the 100
universities in Xirsquoan 10
Xirsquoan is destined to become one of the worldrsquos BPO capitals according
to a team of successful Chinese business leaders (from overseas and from China) Senior
Officials of Xirsquoan and the Shanxi Provincial Administration Xirsquoanrsquos bid for BPO fame is driven
from Xirsquoanrsquos Software Park (a National Software Industry Base and a Software Export Base)
located in one of Chinarsquos premier centers for science and technology As Chinese are rapidly
adapting to western requirements investing in BPO related training quality certification and
gathering appropriate advice from the international marketplace they will be highly successful
and become a world leading BPO player
Telecommunications Industry Another key industry in Xirsquoan is telecommunications Xirsquoan is
Chinas leading center of training for engineers The universities and local companies of Xirsquoan
have provided hundreds of thousands of engineers for the Chinese telecommunications industry
With having available human talent has allowed major domestic and multinational
telecommunications vendors to set up Research amp Development centers andor factories in
Xirsquoan including Fujitsu and Siemens 89
Aerospace Industry Xirsquoan also plays a role in Aerospace with the State Development and
Reform Commission approved the planning of Xirsquoan National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base
on December 26 2007 The National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base of Xirsquoan set to cover 23
square km will focus on developing satellites new materials energies IT and other technologies
for civil applications From its establishment Xirsquoanrsquos Aerospace Science and Technology
Industrial Base have focused on the development of the civil space industry including equipment
manufacturing software and service outsourcing Apart from the core area the base will cover
8
Xirsquoan and the Guanzhong area (the central China) and the expansion zone will reach Northwest
China and Southwest China It is expected that by 2012 the total Aerospace industry output can
reach 28 billion US Dollars along with global competitiveness 89
Computer Gaming Industry The computer gaming industry is key sector in Xirsquoan with the
assistance of 100 universities in the area which has lead to the largest net bar in the world with
more than 3000 computers is located in Xirsquoan Xirsquoan is one of the biggest educational centers
throughout the Chinese nation that has already hosted worldwide game competitions such as
ACON5 CEG2006 and WCG2006
Xirsquoan has shown success by attracting foreign and domestic investment with organizations such
as Intel Fujitsu Philips Sybase and Nortel setting up shop within the city By consistently
receiving large foreign direct investment in western China has lead to new industries such as
pharmaceuticals medical equipment biotechnology and new materials which have steadily
grown in Xirsquoan 8 9
GOVERNMENT
Xirsquoan has forty-three functional government departments with one mayor eight executive vice
mayors that operate in the Peoples Republic of Chinarsquos government that is divided among three
bodies the Communist Party of China the state and the Peoples Liberation Army The
Communist Party of China was founded in 1921 and the Partys position has supreme political
authority and power in Xirsquoan The majority of mayors in Xirsquoan belong to the Communist Party
and were born and raised within Shaanxi Province 11
Xirsquoan Law Xirsquoanrsquos law is derived from the old legal code of the Ninefold Celestial Empire and
enforced by the Mandarin Magistrates12
If an offender is caught committing a crime they can
expect to be left in a cell until the next magistrate is available to hear the case When called to
court an offender is allowed to hire a pleader to speak for them if they wish to have the facts of
the accusation presented by an official accuser the pleader or accused gives their defense and the
magistrate then makes his decision and sentence Xirsquoanrsquos laws toward crimes tend to be fairly
straightforward where theft or fraud is punished by seven fold restitution however should the
thief be unable to pay they may be enthralled(made into a slave or servant who is held in
bondage) or suffer mutilation depending on the magistrates inclination Murder is punished with
9
thralldom should the victim be a commoner execution if the victim is a scholar and execution
after torture if the victim is of the princely class Insulting behavior towards a daifu (doctor) is
fined and insults towards the zhuhou are punished with fines and whipping Impersonation of a
city official or a class above ones own is met with thralldom or death Disturbing the peace or
creating a public hazard is met with fines with thralldom for those who cannot pay Sufficiently
obnoxious behavior of any other kind may be treated as a crime in Xirsquoan law
EDUCATION
Xirsquoan is one of Chinarsquos most advanced cities in higher education Xirsquoan ranks third in the
number of students in China after Beijing and Shanghai On an average one in six people have a
higher education of a bachelor degree or more Xian Jiaotong University is one of the major
university in Xirsquoan and has an enrollment of around 32000 students and offerrsquos 199 Masters and
114 PhD1 programs in Science Engineering Medicine Economics Management Arts
Language and Law In 2006 in partnership with the University of Liverpool Xirsquoan Jiaotong
University opened a joint University in Suzhou the Xirsquoan Jiaotong-Liverpool University This is
an independent University in its own right and as such is the first Sino-British University to be
approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education Xidian University founded in 1931 is a key
national university dedicated primarily to electronic technology and information which is
integrated with a wide range of academic subjects including engineering physical science social
science foreign languages and business management Currently Xidian University has become a
base of education and high-tech research in the field of electronic information In addition there
are several other public private and military colleges in Xirsquoan1
CULTURE
One of the great mysteries of Xirsquoan is how an ancient culture can mix the new one giving a
wonderful and memorable experience to foreigners who enjoy a city both as it was long time ago
and as it is at 21st century Due to Xirsquoanrsquos long history as a capital of China it is enriched with
many cultural treasures that make the city outstanding compared to other cultural cities The
accumulation of incredible cultural heritages during past centuries won Xirsquoan its fame as the
natural history museum There are many high quality cultural relics that are not only precious
and rare in China but also around the globe That ancient look distinctive social practice and art
10
represent the spirit of contemporary Xian as well as its unique culture resources which are
essential to Xirsquoanrsquos urban and social development
The culture of Xirsquoan is inherited from the traditions of one of the worlds earliest civilizations
The Guanzhong Ren were the cultural antecedent of Xirsquoanese their cultural features are drawn
from the Ten Specialities of Guanzhong Ren Another major part of this culture is Eight Great
Sights of Changan storied scenic areas in the region The drama of the original Xirsquoanese culture
Qinqiang is the oldest and most extensive Chinese Opera of the four major types of Chinese
opera13
Xian is roughly 98 Buddhist and Taoist 1 Christian 1 Muslim and other
denominations However as the Eastern terminus of the Silk Road Xian shows signs of
imported religions Modern Xian has a more prominent religious side than most Chinese cities
TOURISM
Setting foot on the ancient wall stroll on the city there is another vision thickly dotted road
network international airport modern communication equipment which connect Xian to the
world as well as a great deal of tourism service facility such as hotels bowling hall and large-
scale stores The ancient historical famous city which has some ongoing archaeological projects
has developed into a multi-function modern tourism city and it is no doubt that dig of historical
culture connation make this ancient city more attractive14
Bell in the morning and drum in the evening enable people in Xirsquoan enjoy very much
Transportation and infrastructure Locals often speak about Within city walls and Outside city
walls when talking about locations Outside the walls the southern part is the most interesting it
offers shopping streets bars and some nightlife Dont get confused by different names in tourist
guides addresses and bus stops Nandajie Nanda-Street South-Street South-Avenue are all the
same 9
By Foot Xian has many areas that are easily accessible on foot In many commercial
residential educations zones in the city especially in the shopping and entertainment districts
around the Bell Tower underpasses and overpasses have been built for the safety and
convenience of pedestrians
11
By Bike Fortunately Xirsquoans main sites (with the notable exception of the Terracotta Warriors)
are bunched fairly close together so renting a bike is a good option Be wary of the narrow
streets and cars that squeeze you out of the way Electric bikes are very popular among students
and offer easy transportation in and around the city for many residents
By Car There has been a significant increase in the number of privately-owned vehicles among
middle and upper class households in Xian Traffic is heavy and the rule of thumb is keep
going no matter what (although drivers do note red lights) However many intersections still
lack sufficiently visible traffic lights and the right-of-way is virtually non-existent except at large
intersections with traffic police and signals
By Taxi Taxi services are numerous Watch the taxi drivers in Xirsquoan as the industry is not
regulated as it is in other larger cities like Beijing You may find yourself being taken on a long
ride around town to get where you are going It can also be difficult to convince them to take you
anywhere (even to the railway station) if in doubt get your hotel or hostel to write down the
place you want to go in Chinese Trips within the city walls are generally in the yen10 range
longer trips to the attractions south of the city are in the yen12-20 range Especially when you take
a longer ride like to or from the airport it is always good advice to insist on using the taxi meter
The rate for the normal (green) taxis is yen6 for the first two kilometers and then yen15 for every
additional kilometer Waiting times longer than 2 minutes will be charged yen15 per minute After
11PM the starting price is yen7 At the airport and around some of the big hotels you might also
find black taxis They charge yen24 per kilometer but are more spacious and comfortable
By Bus Many citizens of Xian still commute to work on one of more than 200 bus routes
Although the price is much more economical foreigners are not encouraged to take the long
distance buses due to general hardship and fatigue
By Train There are plenty of trains transporting passengers to and from most of the major cities
inside China Located at the center of China it often takes one day to travel from Xirsquoan to other
cities by train Keep in mind train tickets usually cannot be booked unless you are doing so very
far in advance Traveling hard means you will share a small room with up to three other locals
They may smoke snore or watch portable tvs while you try to sleep Do not travel hard if you
are uncomfortable with these things Xirsquoan Station is located at the north end of Jiefang Lu
12
(解放路) In Xirsquoan it is very easy for one to get to the railway station by city bus from anywhere
in the city But please be aware that there are several stops around the station Fortunately all of
them are no more than 200 meters from the station
What To See amp Do
(i) Walk along the City walls and see the South Gate (南门 Naacutenmeacuten) (illuminated at night)
(ii) Bicycling around the city walls will take about 2 hours
(iii) Walk through the Hui Muslim Quarter (回民街 Huiacutemiacuten Jiē) sampling food1
A deposit is required to rent a bike of at least yen200 or your passport however we do not
recommend releasing your passport to any non government official Make sure that you keep the
deposit ticket the bike vendor will not give you the deposit back without it
FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2
City Wall of Xian Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses
Xirsquoan is one of only two cities with intact surrounding walls in China (Figure 1) This wall has
been restored and is wide enough to easily ride 5 bikes across You can hire one at the top of the
South or East gate you must return it where you got it If you want to foot it though a complete
loop of the walls takes approximately 3 hours The landscaped park around the base of the
exterior walls and moat also makes for a pleasant stroll and gives a different perspective on the
battlements and towers There is a small museum inside the city walls at Hanguang Gate about
halfway between the southwest corner and the South Gate accessible from the top of the city
13
wall itself Look for a staircase down inside a covered structure Inside are the unrestored
remains of a gatehouse and a calligraphy collection [yen40 entry fee or yen20 if you have student
card (as of Nov 08)]
The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses (Figure 2) was discovered in eastern outer
suburbs of Xian Shaanxi province by local farmers drilling a water well 15 miles east of Lishan
(a mountain) This discovery prompted archaeologists to proceed to Shaanxi Province China to
investigate The Terracotta Army is a form of funerary art buried with the First Emperor of Qin
(Qin Shi Huang Shi Huang means the first emperor) in 210-209 BCE (he declared himself the
first emperor of China in 221 BCE to the end of his life in 210 BCE) Their purpose was to help
rule another empire with Shi Huang Di in the afterlife Consequently they are also sometimes
referred to as Qins Armies Mount Lishan is also where the material to make the terracotta
warriors originated In addition to the warriors an entire man-made necropolis for the emperor
has been excavated 15
FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4
Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda
As the symbol of the old-line Xirsquoan Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 3) is a well-preserved
ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists It is located in the southern suburb of Xirsquoan
City about 4 kilometers (249 miles) from the downtown of the city It is rated as a National Key
Cultural Relic Preserve This attraction can be divided into three parts the Big Wild Goose
Pagoda the Da Cien Temple and the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda 13
North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 4) is composed of waterscape fountains a
cultural square gardens and tourist paths There you can taste real Chinese culture and traditions
and fully enjoy the truly attractive views With reliefs on the theme of the prosperous Tang
14
Dynasty 200-meter-long (656-foot-long) sculpture groups 8 groups of sculpted figures 40
relievos on the land and 22 styles of musical fountains
FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6 FIGURE 7
Bell Tower and Drum Tower Jingyun bell Muslim Quarter
Each Ming Dynasty city had a bell tower and a drum tower Xirsquoan was not an exception The
Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xian (Figure 5) date back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
The two are located in the center of the Xirsquoan city connecting the four roads from east south
west and north The bell (Figure 6) was sounded at dawn and the drum at dusk each day in
ancient time Today the Tower can only be accessed from the entrance on Bei Dajie where
visitors have to purchase their tickets To the west of the Bell Tower is the Drum Tower This is
a smaller building located in a busy street which is full of street traders and hawkers 17
Xirsquoan used to be the starting point of the Silk Road This road linked Constantinople with China
The journey used to take more than two years Horses camels and carriages brought precious
goods from one part of the world to the other But it was not only material things that were
transported culture religion and languages were also brought to China from what is Turkey
today Two of the worlds leading religions arrived in China along the Silk Route Buddhism and
Islam Islam became particularly popular in the city of Xirsquoan Still today part of the population of
Xirsquoan is Muslim In the center there is the Muslim Quarter (Figure 7) with its handicraft shops
Muslim restaurants and the famous Muslim Mosque It is recommended visiting the Muslim
Quarter on your own The best time to visit is in the afternoon Do not rush Take your time to
enjoy its small streets and numerous shops where you can buy traditional handicrafts It is good
to come here in the afternoon not only to see the vivid and hectic streets at their busiest but also
to have dinner in one of the Muslim Restaurant 15
15
Shopping
Souvenirs If you are visiting the Terracotta Warriors be prepared to meet some of the most
hardcore hawkers you are likely to meet anywhere If you keep quiet they will usually bargain
themselves down in front of you in desperate pleas for your money Buy a 15 cm Terracotta
warrior for yen5-10 even if they offer it to you for yen45 Wood-carved Buddhas and Dragons can
bought for about the same value They are fortunately kept at a distance from the actual site
Actually many travelers report to enjoy this experience Its definitely not a reason to avoid
seeing the Terracotta Warriors The exit from the pit areas to the parking lot leads through long
avenues lined with souvenir stalls and shops The barkers will try to get your business but are
not as aggressive as the touts at the entrance or immediate exits Inside the museum the ldquoreportly
authenticrdquo warriors may cost yen100 The best place to buy souvenirs in the city center is the
bazaar area behind the Drum Tower in the Muslim Quarter around the Great Mosque The seller
usually offers you a very high price and even if you bring them down by 50 they will still
make a big profit This is also a good place to buy folk art specifically folk style block prints in a
single shop which go for about yen50 if you can stand bargaining when the older gentleman artist
himself is standing right there This area is also full of fake name-brand products like watches
bags clothes Bargain hard 1
Another souvenir shopping area is Calligraphy Street It is located near South Gate inside the
city wall towards the east Walking down south street on the left side continue to where the road
splits in front of South Gate and turn left to find the entrance gate next to a small pagoda
Midway do a slight dog leg to the right At the far end is the Forest of Steles Less hectic that the
Muslim Quarter Tang Tricolored Pottery is a style that was lost and has now been recreated
from pieces of pottery found in tombs It is graphic in image and eye-pleasing in color The
factory recreating the style offers over 100 varieties of items like statues animals and utensils
Paper cut is regards the most important arts form in Xian The artisan cut the different pattern of
the picture by hand
Clothes Xian is amazingly cheap for clothes East Street (Dongda Jie) the eastern of the four
big streets descending from the central Bell Tower has regular fashion shops South Street
(Nanda Jie) has finer clothes and shoes (eg Louis Vuitton) Local youngsters buy in Baihui
16
Market 百汇市场） in Xiaozhai (小寨) yen10 by Taxi from city center Its one of those fake-
brand markets Sport shoes should be less than yen150 pullovers and nice jeans sometimes less
than yen100 lots of cheap fashion accessories This is also a great place for DVDs and CDs but
understand these are mostly pirated copies Kangfu Lu is outside the East city wall (straight
through the North East Gate) and a great place for a bargain Nothing is (bargained for) over yen50
and most clothes can be bargained down to about yen20 if you are really aggressive
Department Stores Located between the ancient Bell tower and Drum tower Century Ginwa
Shopping Mall is a landscaped square with profound cultural connotations as well as a high
quality exclusive shopping center The mall opened in 1998 and now houses over sixty world-
famous brands for discriminating customers including Bally Burberry Dior Givenchy
Lancome Estee Lauder and other all of which make Ginwa a fashion center in Xirsquoan Opposite
Ginwa is Kai Yuan Shopping Mall one of the biggest department stores in Xirsquoan Both the price
and the quality of the commodities and the sales service are often praised by shoppers who have
made it one of the most popular shopping places in Xirsquoan Supermarkets are numerous in Xirsquoan
and are primarily distributed around universities and communities However there are some in
the city center and the suburbs that are also easily accessible The most famous include
Vanguard Ai Jia (IGA) Hao You Duo (Trust-Mart) Yi Chu Lian Hua (Lotus Supercenter) Ren
Ren Le etc
Dining
Snacks Visitors to Xirsquoan are recommended to do two things one is to see the clay figures of
terra cotta warriors and horses The other is to taste Yang Rou Pao Mo (a soup dish that involves
breaking wheat flour flat bread into a bowl and adding a delicious mutton stock) Before dinner
you will be served one or two pieces of wheat flour flat bread which you break into tiny chunks
the smaller the better The waiter or the waitress will then hand your bowl to the cook who mixes
the bread and mutton soup with an appropriate relish When the steaming hot meal is brought in
the waiter will also offer you sweet crisp pickled garlic coriander and hot pepper sauce The
most famous the Tong Sheng Xirsquoang (Prosperity and Fortune) Beef and Lamb Paomo
Restaurant done in Tang Dynasty style is a time-honored establishment in the Xirsquoan Bell and
Drum Tower Square 18
17
Next to Tong Sheng Xirsquoang is a great restaurant De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant with its
own version of the Dumpling Banquet Ingredients for the dumpling fillings include various
meats vegetables and seasonings Cooking methods include steaming boiling pan-frying deep
frying and roasting Many flavors including salty sweet hot and sour are offered Other house
specialties include Peking dumplings steamed sweet bean paste buns steamed shrimp paste
buns and various uniquely spiced dishes While guests sample various delicacies traditionally
waiters will explain the cuisine culture of each dumpling One of Xirsquoans most famous specialties
is the Guan Tang Baozi (steamed buns served with sauces inside) served at Jia Brothers
Restaurant in Muslim Snack Street Youll know youre there when you see the monstrous blue
arch over the entrance and a wall festooned with photographs of Xirsquoan notables - TV hosts
writers and musicians The specialty dish is Guan Tang Bao Zi with a choice of beef lamb or
three flavors - lamb mushroom and prawns The buns have piping-hot soup inside so caution
is advised This dish is best washed down with Ba Bao Xi Fan a bowl of sweet rice porridge
filled with peanuts sultanas hawthorn and medlar berries
Fanji is the famous vendor of Shaanxis most widely consumed snack Rou Jia Mo finely
chopped pork stuffed in toasted wheat flour flat bread A piece of good-quality (youzhi) bread
and a bowl of mung bean flour soup will cost you no more than 10 Yuan The state-run
atmosphere is quaint and friendly and the numerous awards that decorate the walls are well
deserved The restaurant is in a lane opposite the Drum Tower south of West Main Street
Besides guan tang baozi in Jia BrothersRestaurant there is barbeque in the Pingwa Kaorou
Shop sour cabbage and beef fried rice in Honghong Suancai Chaomi Restraunt and beef
noodles in Yifenli Restaurant If you would like to taste all the local food at one time in a budget
meal Xirsquoan Restaurant (Xirsquoan Fan Zhuang) offers more than 100 varieties in its first-floor self-
service restaurant It charges only CNY18 per person and is very popular with visitors
Drinking The Chinese are big drinkers especially in Northern and Western China It does not
matter if it is lunch or dinner as long as a meal is being hosted there will be alcohol Chinese
wine is the favorite followed by red wine and beer Chinese wine is more like fuel than liquor
having an alcohol concentration as high as 60 No matter how good a drinker you may think of
yourself never ever challenge a Chinese into a drinking contest They will win hands down 18
18
REFERENCES
1 Wikitravel 2009 Wikitravelorg httpwikitravelorgenXian
2 Xingzhong W 1990 Tourist geography of Xirsquoan GeoJournal 21 147-153
3 Official website of Xirsquoan Municipal Government 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureaboutaboutb
4 Xirsquoan Municipal Commerce and Trade Bureau 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureGovernmentdepartmentsbinfid=142232ampcategoryid=
5 Investment environment of Xirsquoan 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian200811911_1ht
ml (originally reported November 20)
6 Xirsquoan Favorable policies for foreign-invested enterprises 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian2008073868_1
html (originally reported July 21)
7 13th Investment amp Trade Forum for Cooperation between East amp West China 2009
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleNewsnewsgovernmentnews20090410020_1html
(originally reported April 15)
8 Xirsquoan ndash Business Information 2009 httpwwwbiztradeshowscomchinaxianbusinesshtml
9 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiXirsquoan
10 Lewis Bill 2007 Xirsquoan Chinas Western BPO Capital New West China Location can
compete with worlds best to become Major Global BPO and Outsourcing Destination
httpwwwchnsourcingcomarticleArticleotc135320070606093234html (originally reported
June 6)
11 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiGovernment_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China
12 Red Tide Mux 2008 httpredtidewikidotcomxian-laws (originally reported March 23)
13 Facts about Xirsquoan 2009 httpwwwxian-travelcomfactshtm
14 Tourism Administration of Xirsquoan 2006-2008 httpen1xian-tourismcomleadasp
15 Travel China Guide 2009
httpwwwtravelchinaguidecomattractionshaanxixianbigwildgoosehtm
16 Tour ndashBeijingcom 2008
httpwwwtour-beijingcomxian_attractionsbell_tower_drum_towerphp
17 Virtouristcom 2008 httpwwwvirtouristcomasiachinaxian21htm
19
18 Understanding Chinese Business Culture and Etiquette April 19 2009 httpwwwchinese-
culturenethtmlchinese_business_culturehtml
20
APPENDIX A
GDP per Capita yen 27000
Major Exports Machinery electrical products data processing
equipment apparel textile steel mobile phones
Major Foreign Exchange Counters ANZ Grindlays ICICI Standard Chartered amp Thomas
Cook
Key Industries
Iron steel aluminum and other metals coal
chemicals fertilizers consumer products including
footwear toys and electronics
APPENDIX B
Approximate journey times to other major cities Beijing 11-13 hours Chengdu 13-18 hours
Chongqing 14 hours Guangzhou 24 hours Kunming 36-53 hours Lanzhou 8-10 hours Lhasa
36 hours Shanghai 16-20 hours Urumqi 31-56 hours Wuhan 14-18 hours and Zhengzhou 7
hours
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
8
Xirsquoan and the Guanzhong area (the central China) and the expansion zone will reach Northwest
China and Southwest China It is expected that by 2012 the total Aerospace industry output can
reach 28 billion US Dollars along with global competitiveness 89
Computer Gaming Industry The computer gaming industry is key sector in Xirsquoan with the
assistance of 100 universities in the area which has lead to the largest net bar in the world with
more than 3000 computers is located in Xirsquoan Xirsquoan is one of the biggest educational centers
throughout the Chinese nation that has already hosted worldwide game competitions such as
ACON5 CEG2006 and WCG2006
Xirsquoan has shown success by attracting foreign and domestic investment with organizations such
as Intel Fujitsu Philips Sybase and Nortel setting up shop within the city By consistently
receiving large foreign direct investment in western China has lead to new industries such as
pharmaceuticals medical equipment biotechnology and new materials which have steadily
grown in Xirsquoan 8 9
GOVERNMENT
Xirsquoan has forty-three functional government departments with one mayor eight executive vice
mayors that operate in the Peoples Republic of Chinarsquos government that is divided among three
bodies the Communist Party of China the state and the Peoples Liberation Army The
Communist Party of China was founded in 1921 and the Partys position has supreme political
authority and power in Xirsquoan The majority of mayors in Xirsquoan belong to the Communist Party
and were born and raised within Shaanxi Province 11
Xirsquoan Law Xirsquoanrsquos law is derived from the old legal code of the Ninefold Celestial Empire and
enforced by the Mandarin Magistrates12
If an offender is caught committing a crime they can
expect to be left in a cell until the next magistrate is available to hear the case When called to
court an offender is allowed to hire a pleader to speak for them if they wish to have the facts of
the accusation presented by an official accuser the pleader or accused gives their defense and the
magistrate then makes his decision and sentence Xirsquoanrsquos laws toward crimes tend to be fairly
straightforward where theft or fraud is punished by seven fold restitution however should the
thief be unable to pay they may be enthralled(made into a slave or servant who is held in
bondage) or suffer mutilation depending on the magistrates inclination Murder is punished with
9
thralldom should the victim be a commoner execution if the victim is a scholar and execution
after torture if the victim is of the princely class Insulting behavior towards a daifu (doctor) is
fined and insults towards the zhuhou are punished with fines and whipping Impersonation of a
city official or a class above ones own is met with thralldom or death Disturbing the peace or
creating a public hazard is met with fines with thralldom for those who cannot pay Sufficiently
obnoxious behavior of any other kind may be treated as a crime in Xirsquoan law
EDUCATION
Xirsquoan is one of Chinarsquos most advanced cities in higher education Xirsquoan ranks third in the
number of students in China after Beijing and Shanghai On an average one in six people have a
higher education of a bachelor degree or more Xian Jiaotong University is one of the major
university in Xirsquoan and has an enrollment of around 32000 students and offerrsquos 199 Masters and
114 PhD1 programs in Science Engineering Medicine Economics Management Arts
Language and Law In 2006 in partnership with the University of Liverpool Xirsquoan Jiaotong
University opened a joint University in Suzhou the Xirsquoan Jiaotong-Liverpool University This is
an independent University in its own right and as such is the first Sino-British University to be
approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education Xidian University founded in 1931 is a key
national university dedicated primarily to electronic technology and information which is
integrated with a wide range of academic subjects including engineering physical science social
science foreign languages and business management Currently Xidian University has become a
base of education and high-tech research in the field of electronic information In addition there
are several other public private and military colleges in Xirsquoan1
CULTURE
One of the great mysteries of Xirsquoan is how an ancient culture can mix the new one giving a
wonderful and memorable experience to foreigners who enjoy a city both as it was long time ago
and as it is at 21st century Due to Xirsquoanrsquos long history as a capital of China it is enriched with
many cultural treasures that make the city outstanding compared to other cultural cities The
accumulation of incredible cultural heritages during past centuries won Xirsquoan its fame as the
natural history museum There are many high quality cultural relics that are not only precious
and rare in China but also around the globe That ancient look distinctive social practice and art
10
represent the spirit of contemporary Xian as well as its unique culture resources which are
essential to Xirsquoanrsquos urban and social development
The culture of Xirsquoan is inherited from the traditions of one of the worlds earliest civilizations
The Guanzhong Ren were the cultural antecedent of Xirsquoanese their cultural features are drawn
from the Ten Specialities of Guanzhong Ren Another major part of this culture is Eight Great
Sights of Changan storied scenic areas in the region The drama of the original Xirsquoanese culture
Qinqiang is the oldest and most extensive Chinese Opera of the four major types of Chinese
opera13
Xian is roughly 98 Buddhist and Taoist 1 Christian 1 Muslim and other
denominations However as the Eastern terminus of the Silk Road Xian shows signs of
imported religions Modern Xian has a more prominent religious side than most Chinese cities
TOURISM
Setting foot on the ancient wall stroll on the city there is another vision thickly dotted road
network international airport modern communication equipment which connect Xian to the
world as well as a great deal of tourism service facility such as hotels bowling hall and large-
scale stores The ancient historical famous city which has some ongoing archaeological projects
has developed into a multi-function modern tourism city and it is no doubt that dig of historical
culture connation make this ancient city more attractive14
Bell in the morning and drum in the evening enable people in Xirsquoan enjoy very much
Transportation and infrastructure Locals often speak about Within city walls and Outside city
walls when talking about locations Outside the walls the southern part is the most interesting it
offers shopping streets bars and some nightlife Dont get confused by different names in tourist
guides addresses and bus stops Nandajie Nanda-Street South-Street South-Avenue are all the
same 9
By Foot Xian has many areas that are easily accessible on foot In many commercial
residential educations zones in the city especially in the shopping and entertainment districts
around the Bell Tower underpasses and overpasses have been built for the safety and
convenience of pedestrians
11
By Bike Fortunately Xirsquoans main sites (with the notable exception of the Terracotta Warriors)
are bunched fairly close together so renting a bike is a good option Be wary of the narrow
streets and cars that squeeze you out of the way Electric bikes are very popular among students
and offer easy transportation in and around the city for many residents
By Car There has been a significant increase in the number of privately-owned vehicles among
middle and upper class households in Xian Traffic is heavy and the rule of thumb is keep
going no matter what (although drivers do note red lights) However many intersections still
lack sufficiently visible traffic lights and the right-of-way is virtually non-existent except at large
intersections with traffic police and signals
By Taxi Taxi services are numerous Watch the taxi drivers in Xirsquoan as the industry is not
regulated as it is in other larger cities like Beijing You may find yourself being taken on a long
ride around town to get where you are going It can also be difficult to convince them to take you
anywhere (even to the railway station) if in doubt get your hotel or hostel to write down the
place you want to go in Chinese Trips within the city walls are generally in the yen10 range
longer trips to the attractions south of the city are in the yen12-20 range Especially when you take
a longer ride like to or from the airport it is always good advice to insist on using the taxi meter
The rate for the normal (green) taxis is yen6 for the first two kilometers and then yen15 for every
additional kilometer Waiting times longer than 2 minutes will be charged yen15 per minute After
11PM the starting price is yen7 At the airport and around some of the big hotels you might also
find black taxis They charge yen24 per kilometer but are more spacious and comfortable
By Bus Many citizens of Xian still commute to work on one of more than 200 bus routes
Although the price is much more economical foreigners are not encouraged to take the long
distance buses due to general hardship and fatigue
By Train There are plenty of trains transporting passengers to and from most of the major cities
inside China Located at the center of China it often takes one day to travel from Xirsquoan to other
cities by train Keep in mind train tickets usually cannot be booked unless you are doing so very
far in advance Traveling hard means you will share a small room with up to three other locals
They may smoke snore or watch portable tvs while you try to sleep Do not travel hard if you
are uncomfortable with these things Xirsquoan Station is located at the north end of Jiefang Lu
12
(解放路) In Xirsquoan it is very easy for one to get to the railway station by city bus from anywhere
in the city But please be aware that there are several stops around the station Fortunately all of
them are no more than 200 meters from the station
What To See amp Do
(i) Walk along the City walls and see the South Gate (南门 Naacutenmeacuten) (illuminated at night)
(ii) Bicycling around the city walls will take about 2 hours
(iii) Walk through the Hui Muslim Quarter (回民街 Huiacutemiacuten Jiē) sampling food1
A deposit is required to rent a bike of at least yen200 or your passport however we do not
recommend releasing your passport to any non government official Make sure that you keep the
deposit ticket the bike vendor will not give you the deposit back without it
FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2
City Wall of Xian Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses
Xirsquoan is one of only two cities with intact surrounding walls in China (Figure 1) This wall has
been restored and is wide enough to easily ride 5 bikes across You can hire one at the top of the
South or East gate you must return it where you got it If you want to foot it though a complete
loop of the walls takes approximately 3 hours The landscaped park around the base of the
exterior walls and moat also makes for a pleasant stroll and gives a different perspective on the
battlements and towers There is a small museum inside the city walls at Hanguang Gate about
halfway between the southwest corner and the South Gate accessible from the top of the city
13
wall itself Look for a staircase down inside a covered structure Inside are the unrestored
remains of a gatehouse and a calligraphy collection [yen40 entry fee or yen20 if you have student
card (as of Nov 08)]
The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses (Figure 2) was discovered in eastern outer
suburbs of Xian Shaanxi province by local farmers drilling a water well 15 miles east of Lishan
(a mountain) This discovery prompted archaeologists to proceed to Shaanxi Province China to
investigate The Terracotta Army is a form of funerary art buried with the First Emperor of Qin
(Qin Shi Huang Shi Huang means the first emperor) in 210-209 BCE (he declared himself the
first emperor of China in 221 BCE to the end of his life in 210 BCE) Their purpose was to help
rule another empire with Shi Huang Di in the afterlife Consequently they are also sometimes
referred to as Qins Armies Mount Lishan is also where the material to make the terracotta
warriors originated In addition to the warriors an entire man-made necropolis for the emperor
has been excavated 15
FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4
Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda
As the symbol of the old-line Xirsquoan Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 3) is a well-preserved
ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists It is located in the southern suburb of Xirsquoan
City about 4 kilometers (249 miles) from the downtown of the city It is rated as a National Key
Cultural Relic Preserve This attraction can be divided into three parts the Big Wild Goose
Pagoda the Da Cien Temple and the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda 13
North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 4) is composed of waterscape fountains a
cultural square gardens and tourist paths There you can taste real Chinese culture and traditions
and fully enjoy the truly attractive views With reliefs on the theme of the prosperous Tang
14
Dynasty 200-meter-long (656-foot-long) sculpture groups 8 groups of sculpted figures 40
relievos on the land and 22 styles of musical fountains
FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6 FIGURE 7
Bell Tower and Drum Tower Jingyun bell Muslim Quarter
Each Ming Dynasty city had a bell tower and a drum tower Xirsquoan was not an exception The
Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xian (Figure 5) date back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
The two are located in the center of the Xirsquoan city connecting the four roads from east south
west and north The bell (Figure 6) was sounded at dawn and the drum at dusk each day in
ancient time Today the Tower can only be accessed from the entrance on Bei Dajie where
visitors have to purchase their tickets To the west of the Bell Tower is the Drum Tower This is
a smaller building located in a busy street which is full of street traders and hawkers 17
Xirsquoan used to be the starting point of the Silk Road This road linked Constantinople with China
The journey used to take more than two years Horses camels and carriages brought precious
goods from one part of the world to the other But it was not only material things that were
transported culture religion and languages were also brought to China from what is Turkey
today Two of the worlds leading religions arrived in China along the Silk Route Buddhism and
Islam Islam became particularly popular in the city of Xirsquoan Still today part of the population of
Xirsquoan is Muslim In the center there is the Muslim Quarter (Figure 7) with its handicraft shops
Muslim restaurants and the famous Muslim Mosque It is recommended visiting the Muslim
Quarter on your own The best time to visit is in the afternoon Do not rush Take your time to
enjoy its small streets and numerous shops where you can buy traditional handicrafts It is good
to come here in the afternoon not only to see the vivid and hectic streets at their busiest but also
to have dinner in one of the Muslim Restaurant 15
15
Shopping
Souvenirs If you are visiting the Terracotta Warriors be prepared to meet some of the most
hardcore hawkers you are likely to meet anywhere If you keep quiet they will usually bargain
themselves down in front of you in desperate pleas for your money Buy a 15 cm Terracotta
warrior for yen5-10 even if they offer it to you for yen45 Wood-carved Buddhas and Dragons can
bought for about the same value They are fortunately kept at a distance from the actual site
Actually many travelers report to enjoy this experience Its definitely not a reason to avoid
seeing the Terracotta Warriors The exit from the pit areas to the parking lot leads through long
avenues lined with souvenir stalls and shops The barkers will try to get your business but are
not as aggressive as the touts at the entrance or immediate exits Inside the museum the ldquoreportly
authenticrdquo warriors may cost yen100 The best place to buy souvenirs in the city center is the
bazaar area behind the Drum Tower in the Muslim Quarter around the Great Mosque The seller
usually offers you a very high price and even if you bring them down by 50 they will still
make a big profit This is also a good place to buy folk art specifically folk style block prints in a
single shop which go for about yen50 if you can stand bargaining when the older gentleman artist
himself is standing right there This area is also full of fake name-brand products like watches
bags clothes Bargain hard 1
Another souvenir shopping area is Calligraphy Street It is located near South Gate inside the
city wall towards the east Walking down south street on the left side continue to where the road
splits in front of South Gate and turn left to find the entrance gate next to a small pagoda
Midway do a slight dog leg to the right At the far end is the Forest of Steles Less hectic that the
Muslim Quarter Tang Tricolored Pottery is a style that was lost and has now been recreated
from pieces of pottery found in tombs It is graphic in image and eye-pleasing in color The
factory recreating the style offers over 100 varieties of items like statues animals and utensils
Paper cut is regards the most important arts form in Xian The artisan cut the different pattern of
the picture by hand
Clothes Xian is amazingly cheap for clothes East Street (Dongda Jie) the eastern of the four
big streets descending from the central Bell Tower has regular fashion shops South Street
(Nanda Jie) has finer clothes and shoes (eg Louis Vuitton) Local youngsters buy in Baihui
16
Market 百汇市场） in Xiaozhai (小寨) yen10 by Taxi from city center Its one of those fake-
brand markets Sport shoes should be less than yen150 pullovers and nice jeans sometimes less
than yen100 lots of cheap fashion accessories This is also a great place for DVDs and CDs but
understand these are mostly pirated copies Kangfu Lu is outside the East city wall (straight
through the North East Gate) and a great place for a bargain Nothing is (bargained for) over yen50
and most clothes can be bargained down to about yen20 if you are really aggressive
Department Stores Located between the ancient Bell tower and Drum tower Century Ginwa
Shopping Mall is a landscaped square with profound cultural connotations as well as a high
quality exclusive shopping center The mall opened in 1998 and now houses over sixty world-
famous brands for discriminating customers including Bally Burberry Dior Givenchy
Lancome Estee Lauder and other all of which make Ginwa a fashion center in Xirsquoan Opposite
Ginwa is Kai Yuan Shopping Mall one of the biggest department stores in Xirsquoan Both the price
and the quality of the commodities and the sales service are often praised by shoppers who have
made it one of the most popular shopping places in Xirsquoan Supermarkets are numerous in Xirsquoan
and are primarily distributed around universities and communities However there are some in
the city center and the suburbs that are also easily accessible The most famous include
Vanguard Ai Jia (IGA) Hao You Duo (Trust-Mart) Yi Chu Lian Hua (Lotus Supercenter) Ren
Ren Le etc
Dining
Snacks Visitors to Xirsquoan are recommended to do two things one is to see the clay figures of
terra cotta warriors and horses The other is to taste Yang Rou Pao Mo (a soup dish that involves
breaking wheat flour flat bread into a bowl and adding a delicious mutton stock) Before dinner
you will be served one or two pieces of wheat flour flat bread which you break into tiny chunks
the smaller the better The waiter or the waitress will then hand your bowl to the cook who mixes
the bread and mutton soup with an appropriate relish When the steaming hot meal is brought in
the waiter will also offer you sweet crisp pickled garlic coriander and hot pepper sauce The
most famous the Tong Sheng Xirsquoang (Prosperity and Fortune) Beef and Lamb Paomo
Restaurant done in Tang Dynasty style is a time-honored establishment in the Xirsquoan Bell and
Drum Tower Square 18
17
Next to Tong Sheng Xirsquoang is a great restaurant De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant with its
own version of the Dumpling Banquet Ingredients for the dumpling fillings include various
meats vegetables and seasonings Cooking methods include steaming boiling pan-frying deep
frying and roasting Many flavors including salty sweet hot and sour are offered Other house
specialties include Peking dumplings steamed sweet bean paste buns steamed shrimp paste
buns and various uniquely spiced dishes While guests sample various delicacies traditionally
waiters will explain the cuisine culture of each dumpling One of Xirsquoans most famous specialties
is the Guan Tang Baozi (steamed buns served with sauces inside) served at Jia Brothers
Restaurant in Muslim Snack Street Youll know youre there when you see the monstrous blue
arch over the entrance and a wall festooned with photographs of Xirsquoan notables - TV hosts
writers and musicians The specialty dish is Guan Tang Bao Zi with a choice of beef lamb or
three flavors - lamb mushroom and prawns The buns have piping-hot soup inside so caution
is advised This dish is best washed down with Ba Bao Xi Fan a bowl of sweet rice porridge
filled with peanuts sultanas hawthorn and medlar berries
Fanji is the famous vendor of Shaanxis most widely consumed snack Rou Jia Mo finely
chopped pork stuffed in toasted wheat flour flat bread A piece of good-quality (youzhi) bread
and a bowl of mung bean flour soup will cost you no more than 10 Yuan The state-run
atmosphere is quaint and friendly and the numerous awards that decorate the walls are well
deserved The restaurant is in a lane opposite the Drum Tower south of West Main Street
Besides guan tang baozi in Jia BrothersRestaurant there is barbeque in the Pingwa Kaorou
Shop sour cabbage and beef fried rice in Honghong Suancai Chaomi Restraunt and beef
noodles in Yifenli Restaurant If you would like to taste all the local food at one time in a budget
meal Xirsquoan Restaurant (Xirsquoan Fan Zhuang) offers more than 100 varieties in its first-floor self-
service restaurant It charges only CNY18 per person and is very popular with visitors
Drinking The Chinese are big drinkers especially in Northern and Western China It does not
matter if it is lunch or dinner as long as a meal is being hosted there will be alcohol Chinese
wine is the favorite followed by red wine and beer Chinese wine is more like fuel than liquor
having an alcohol concentration as high as 60 No matter how good a drinker you may think of
yourself never ever challenge a Chinese into a drinking contest They will win hands down 18
18
REFERENCES
1 Wikitravel 2009 Wikitravelorg httpwikitravelorgenXian
2 Xingzhong W 1990 Tourist geography of Xirsquoan GeoJournal 21 147-153
3 Official website of Xirsquoan Municipal Government 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureaboutaboutb
4 Xirsquoan Municipal Commerce and Trade Bureau 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureGovernmentdepartmentsbinfid=142232ampcategoryid=
5 Investment environment of Xirsquoan 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian200811911_1ht
ml (originally reported November 20)
6 Xirsquoan Favorable policies for foreign-invested enterprises 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian2008073868_1
html (originally reported July 21)
7 13th Investment amp Trade Forum for Cooperation between East amp West China 2009
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleNewsnewsgovernmentnews20090410020_1html
(originally reported April 15)
8 Xirsquoan ndash Business Information 2009 httpwwwbiztradeshowscomchinaxianbusinesshtml
9 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiXirsquoan
10 Lewis Bill 2007 Xirsquoan Chinas Western BPO Capital New West China Location can
compete with worlds best to become Major Global BPO and Outsourcing Destination
httpwwwchnsourcingcomarticleArticleotc135320070606093234html (originally reported
June 6)
11 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiGovernment_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China
12 Red Tide Mux 2008 httpredtidewikidotcomxian-laws (originally reported March 23)
13 Facts about Xirsquoan 2009 httpwwwxian-travelcomfactshtm
14 Tourism Administration of Xirsquoan 2006-2008 httpen1xian-tourismcomleadasp
15 Travel China Guide 2009
httpwwwtravelchinaguidecomattractionshaanxixianbigwildgoosehtm
16 Tour ndashBeijingcom 2008
httpwwwtour-beijingcomxian_attractionsbell_tower_drum_towerphp
17 Virtouristcom 2008 httpwwwvirtouristcomasiachinaxian21htm
19
18 Understanding Chinese Business Culture and Etiquette April 19 2009 httpwwwchinese-
culturenethtmlchinese_business_culturehtml
20
APPENDIX A
GDP per Capita yen 27000
Major Exports Machinery electrical products data processing
equipment apparel textile steel mobile phones
Major Foreign Exchange Counters ANZ Grindlays ICICI Standard Chartered amp Thomas
Cook
Key Industries
Iron steel aluminum and other metals coal
chemicals fertilizers consumer products including
footwear toys and electronics
APPENDIX B
Approximate journey times to other major cities Beijing 11-13 hours Chengdu 13-18 hours
Chongqing 14 hours Guangzhou 24 hours Kunming 36-53 hours Lanzhou 8-10 hours Lhasa
36 hours Shanghai 16-20 hours Urumqi 31-56 hours Wuhan 14-18 hours and Zhengzhou 7
hours
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
9
thralldom should the victim be a commoner execution if the victim is a scholar and execution
after torture if the victim is of the princely class Insulting behavior towards a daifu (doctor) is
fined and insults towards the zhuhou are punished with fines and whipping Impersonation of a
city official or a class above ones own is met with thralldom or death Disturbing the peace or
creating a public hazard is met with fines with thralldom for those who cannot pay Sufficiently
obnoxious behavior of any other kind may be treated as a crime in Xirsquoan law
EDUCATION
Xirsquoan is one of Chinarsquos most advanced cities in higher education Xirsquoan ranks third in the
number of students in China after Beijing and Shanghai On an average one in six people have a
higher education of a bachelor degree or more Xian Jiaotong University is one of the major
university in Xirsquoan and has an enrollment of around 32000 students and offerrsquos 199 Masters and
114 PhD1 programs in Science Engineering Medicine Economics Management Arts
Language and Law In 2006 in partnership with the University of Liverpool Xirsquoan Jiaotong
University opened a joint University in Suzhou the Xirsquoan Jiaotong-Liverpool University This is
an independent University in its own right and as such is the first Sino-British University to be
approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education Xidian University founded in 1931 is a key
national university dedicated primarily to electronic technology and information which is
integrated with a wide range of academic subjects including engineering physical science social
science foreign languages and business management Currently Xidian University has become a
base of education and high-tech research in the field of electronic information In addition there
are several other public private and military colleges in Xirsquoan1
CULTURE
One of the great mysteries of Xirsquoan is how an ancient culture can mix the new one giving a
wonderful and memorable experience to foreigners who enjoy a city both as it was long time ago
and as it is at 21st century Due to Xirsquoanrsquos long history as a capital of China it is enriched with
many cultural treasures that make the city outstanding compared to other cultural cities The
accumulation of incredible cultural heritages during past centuries won Xirsquoan its fame as the
natural history museum There are many high quality cultural relics that are not only precious
and rare in China but also around the globe That ancient look distinctive social practice and art
10
represent the spirit of contemporary Xian as well as its unique culture resources which are
essential to Xirsquoanrsquos urban and social development
The culture of Xirsquoan is inherited from the traditions of one of the worlds earliest civilizations
The Guanzhong Ren were the cultural antecedent of Xirsquoanese their cultural features are drawn
from the Ten Specialities of Guanzhong Ren Another major part of this culture is Eight Great
Sights of Changan storied scenic areas in the region The drama of the original Xirsquoanese culture
Qinqiang is the oldest and most extensive Chinese Opera of the four major types of Chinese
opera13
Xian is roughly 98 Buddhist and Taoist 1 Christian 1 Muslim and other
denominations However as the Eastern terminus of the Silk Road Xian shows signs of
imported religions Modern Xian has a more prominent religious side than most Chinese cities
TOURISM
Setting foot on the ancient wall stroll on the city there is another vision thickly dotted road
network international airport modern communication equipment which connect Xian to the
world as well as a great deal of tourism service facility such as hotels bowling hall and large-
scale stores The ancient historical famous city which has some ongoing archaeological projects
has developed into a multi-function modern tourism city and it is no doubt that dig of historical
culture connation make this ancient city more attractive14
Bell in the morning and drum in the evening enable people in Xirsquoan enjoy very much
Transportation and infrastructure Locals often speak about Within city walls and Outside city
walls when talking about locations Outside the walls the southern part is the most interesting it
offers shopping streets bars and some nightlife Dont get confused by different names in tourist
guides addresses and bus stops Nandajie Nanda-Street South-Street South-Avenue are all the
same 9
By Foot Xian has many areas that are easily accessible on foot In many commercial
residential educations zones in the city especially in the shopping and entertainment districts
around the Bell Tower underpasses and overpasses have been built for the safety and
convenience of pedestrians
11
By Bike Fortunately Xirsquoans main sites (with the notable exception of the Terracotta Warriors)
are bunched fairly close together so renting a bike is a good option Be wary of the narrow
streets and cars that squeeze you out of the way Electric bikes are very popular among students
and offer easy transportation in and around the city for many residents
By Car There has been a significant increase in the number of privately-owned vehicles among
middle and upper class households in Xian Traffic is heavy and the rule of thumb is keep
going no matter what (although drivers do note red lights) However many intersections still
lack sufficiently visible traffic lights and the right-of-way is virtually non-existent except at large
intersections with traffic police and signals
By Taxi Taxi services are numerous Watch the taxi drivers in Xirsquoan as the industry is not
regulated as it is in other larger cities like Beijing You may find yourself being taken on a long
ride around town to get where you are going It can also be difficult to convince them to take you
anywhere (even to the railway station) if in doubt get your hotel or hostel to write down the
place you want to go in Chinese Trips within the city walls are generally in the yen10 range
longer trips to the attractions south of the city are in the yen12-20 range Especially when you take
a longer ride like to or from the airport it is always good advice to insist on using the taxi meter
The rate for the normal (green) taxis is yen6 for the first two kilometers and then yen15 for every
additional kilometer Waiting times longer than 2 minutes will be charged yen15 per minute After
11PM the starting price is yen7 At the airport and around some of the big hotels you might also
find black taxis They charge yen24 per kilometer but are more spacious and comfortable
By Bus Many citizens of Xian still commute to work on one of more than 200 bus routes
Although the price is much more economical foreigners are not encouraged to take the long
distance buses due to general hardship and fatigue
By Train There are plenty of trains transporting passengers to and from most of the major cities
inside China Located at the center of China it often takes one day to travel from Xirsquoan to other
cities by train Keep in mind train tickets usually cannot be booked unless you are doing so very
far in advance Traveling hard means you will share a small room with up to three other locals
They may smoke snore or watch portable tvs while you try to sleep Do not travel hard if you
are uncomfortable with these things Xirsquoan Station is located at the north end of Jiefang Lu
12
(解放路) In Xirsquoan it is very easy for one to get to the railway station by city bus from anywhere
in the city But please be aware that there are several stops around the station Fortunately all of
them are no more than 200 meters from the station
What To See amp Do
(i) Walk along the City walls and see the South Gate (南门 Naacutenmeacuten) (illuminated at night)
(ii) Bicycling around the city walls will take about 2 hours
(iii) Walk through the Hui Muslim Quarter (回民街 Huiacutemiacuten Jiē) sampling food1
A deposit is required to rent a bike of at least yen200 or your passport however we do not
recommend releasing your passport to any non government official Make sure that you keep the
deposit ticket the bike vendor will not give you the deposit back without it
FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2
City Wall of Xian Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses
Xirsquoan is one of only two cities with intact surrounding walls in China (Figure 1) This wall has
been restored and is wide enough to easily ride 5 bikes across You can hire one at the top of the
South or East gate you must return it where you got it If you want to foot it though a complete
loop of the walls takes approximately 3 hours The landscaped park around the base of the
exterior walls and moat also makes for a pleasant stroll and gives a different perspective on the
battlements and towers There is a small museum inside the city walls at Hanguang Gate about
halfway between the southwest corner and the South Gate accessible from the top of the city
13
wall itself Look for a staircase down inside a covered structure Inside are the unrestored
remains of a gatehouse and a calligraphy collection [yen40 entry fee or yen20 if you have student
card (as of Nov 08)]
The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses (Figure 2) was discovered in eastern outer
suburbs of Xian Shaanxi province by local farmers drilling a water well 15 miles east of Lishan
(a mountain) This discovery prompted archaeologists to proceed to Shaanxi Province China to
investigate The Terracotta Army is a form of funerary art buried with the First Emperor of Qin
(Qin Shi Huang Shi Huang means the first emperor) in 210-209 BCE (he declared himself the
first emperor of China in 221 BCE to the end of his life in 210 BCE) Their purpose was to help
rule another empire with Shi Huang Di in the afterlife Consequently they are also sometimes
referred to as Qins Armies Mount Lishan is also where the material to make the terracotta
warriors originated In addition to the warriors an entire man-made necropolis for the emperor
has been excavated 15
FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4
Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda
As the symbol of the old-line Xirsquoan Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 3) is a well-preserved
ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists It is located in the southern suburb of Xirsquoan
City about 4 kilometers (249 miles) from the downtown of the city It is rated as a National Key
Cultural Relic Preserve This attraction can be divided into three parts the Big Wild Goose
Pagoda the Da Cien Temple and the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda 13
North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 4) is composed of waterscape fountains a
cultural square gardens and tourist paths There you can taste real Chinese culture and traditions
and fully enjoy the truly attractive views With reliefs on the theme of the prosperous Tang
14
Dynasty 200-meter-long (656-foot-long) sculpture groups 8 groups of sculpted figures 40
relievos on the land and 22 styles of musical fountains
FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6 FIGURE 7
Bell Tower and Drum Tower Jingyun bell Muslim Quarter
Each Ming Dynasty city had a bell tower and a drum tower Xirsquoan was not an exception The
Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xian (Figure 5) date back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
The two are located in the center of the Xirsquoan city connecting the four roads from east south
west and north The bell (Figure 6) was sounded at dawn and the drum at dusk each day in
ancient time Today the Tower can only be accessed from the entrance on Bei Dajie where
visitors have to purchase their tickets To the west of the Bell Tower is the Drum Tower This is
a smaller building located in a busy street which is full of street traders and hawkers 17
Xirsquoan used to be the starting point of the Silk Road This road linked Constantinople with China
The journey used to take more than two years Horses camels and carriages brought precious
goods from one part of the world to the other But it was not only material things that were
transported culture religion and languages were also brought to China from what is Turkey
today Two of the worlds leading religions arrived in China along the Silk Route Buddhism and
Islam Islam became particularly popular in the city of Xirsquoan Still today part of the population of
Xirsquoan is Muslim In the center there is the Muslim Quarter (Figure 7) with its handicraft shops
Muslim restaurants and the famous Muslim Mosque It is recommended visiting the Muslim
Quarter on your own The best time to visit is in the afternoon Do not rush Take your time to
enjoy its small streets and numerous shops where you can buy traditional handicrafts It is good
to come here in the afternoon not only to see the vivid and hectic streets at their busiest but also
to have dinner in one of the Muslim Restaurant 15
15
Shopping
Souvenirs If you are visiting the Terracotta Warriors be prepared to meet some of the most
hardcore hawkers you are likely to meet anywhere If you keep quiet they will usually bargain
themselves down in front of you in desperate pleas for your money Buy a 15 cm Terracotta
warrior for yen5-10 even if they offer it to you for yen45 Wood-carved Buddhas and Dragons can
bought for about the same value They are fortunately kept at a distance from the actual site
Actually many travelers report to enjoy this experience Its definitely not a reason to avoid
seeing the Terracotta Warriors The exit from the pit areas to the parking lot leads through long
avenues lined with souvenir stalls and shops The barkers will try to get your business but are
not as aggressive as the touts at the entrance or immediate exits Inside the museum the ldquoreportly
authenticrdquo warriors may cost yen100 The best place to buy souvenirs in the city center is the
bazaar area behind the Drum Tower in the Muslim Quarter around the Great Mosque The seller
usually offers you a very high price and even if you bring them down by 50 they will still
make a big profit This is also a good place to buy folk art specifically folk style block prints in a
single shop which go for about yen50 if you can stand bargaining when the older gentleman artist
himself is standing right there This area is also full of fake name-brand products like watches
bags clothes Bargain hard 1
Another souvenir shopping area is Calligraphy Street It is located near South Gate inside the
city wall towards the east Walking down south street on the left side continue to where the road
splits in front of South Gate and turn left to find the entrance gate next to a small pagoda
Midway do a slight dog leg to the right At the far end is the Forest of Steles Less hectic that the
Muslim Quarter Tang Tricolored Pottery is a style that was lost and has now been recreated
from pieces of pottery found in tombs It is graphic in image and eye-pleasing in color The
factory recreating the style offers over 100 varieties of items like statues animals and utensils
Paper cut is regards the most important arts form in Xian The artisan cut the different pattern of
the picture by hand
Clothes Xian is amazingly cheap for clothes East Street (Dongda Jie) the eastern of the four
big streets descending from the central Bell Tower has regular fashion shops South Street
(Nanda Jie) has finer clothes and shoes (eg Louis Vuitton) Local youngsters buy in Baihui
16
Market 百汇市场） in Xiaozhai (小寨) yen10 by Taxi from city center Its one of those fake-
brand markets Sport shoes should be less than yen150 pullovers and nice jeans sometimes less
than yen100 lots of cheap fashion accessories This is also a great place for DVDs and CDs but
understand these are mostly pirated copies Kangfu Lu is outside the East city wall (straight
through the North East Gate) and a great place for a bargain Nothing is (bargained for) over yen50
and most clothes can be bargained down to about yen20 if you are really aggressive
Department Stores Located between the ancient Bell tower and Drum tower Century Ginwa
Shopping Mall is a landscaped square with profound cultural connotations as well as a high
quality exclusive shopping center The mall opened in 1998 and now houses over sixty world-
famous brands for discriminating customers including Bally Burberry Dior Givenchy
Lancome Estee Lauder and other all of which make Ginwa a fashion center in Xirsquoan Opposite
Ginwa is Kai Yuan Shopping Mall one of the biggest department stores in Xirsquoan Both the price
and the quality of the commodities and the sales service are often praised by shoppers who have
made it one of the most popular shopping places in Xirsquoan Supermarkets are numerous in Xirsquoan
and are primarily distributed around universities and communities However there are some in
the city center and the suburbs that are also easily accessible The most famous include
Vanguard Ai Jia (IGA) Hao You Duo (Trust-Mart) Yi Chu Lian Hua (Lotus Supercenter) Ren
Ren Le etc
Dining
Snacks Visitors to Xirsquoan are recommended to do two things one is to see the clay figures of
terra cotta warriors and horses The other is to taste Yang Rou Pao Mo (a soup dish that involves
breaking wheat flour flat bread into a bowl and adding a delicious mutton stock) Before dinner
you will be served one or two pieces of wheat flour flat bread which you break into tiny chunks
the smaller the better The waiter or the waitress will then hand your bowl to the cook who mixes
the bread and mutton soup with an appropriate relish When the steaming hot meal is brought in
the waiter will also offer you sweet crisp pickled garlic coriander and hot pepper sauce The
most famous the Tong Sheng Xirsquoang (Prosperity and Fortune) Beef and Lamb Paomo
Restaurant done in Tang Dynasty style is a time-honored establishment in the Xirsquoan Bell and
Drum Tower Square 18
17
Next to Tong Sheng Xirsquoang is a great restaurant De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant with its
own version of the Dumpling Banquet Ingredients for the dumpling fillings include various
meats vegetables and seasonings Cooking methods include steaming boiling pan-frying deep
frying and roasting Many flavors including salty sweet hot and sour are offered Other house
specialties include Peking dumplings steamed sweet bean paste buns steamed shrimp paste
buns and various uniquely spiced dishes While guests sample various delicacies traditionally
waiters will explain the cuisine culture of each dumpling One of Xirsquoans most famous specialties
is the Guan Tang Baozi (steamed buns served with sauces inside) served at Jia Brothers
Restaurant in Muslim Snack Street Youll know youre there when you see the monstrous blue
arch over the entrance and a wall festooned with photographs of Xirsquoan notables - TV hosts
writers and musicians The specialty dish is Guan Tang Bao Zi with a choice of beef lamb or
three flavors - lamb mushroom and prawns The buns have piping-hot soup inside so caution
is advised This dish is best washed down with Ba Bao Xi Fan a bowl of sweet rice porridge
filled with peanuts sultanas hawthorn and medlar berries
Fanji is the famous vendor of Shaanxis most widely consumed snack Rou Jia Mo finely
chopped pork stuffed in toasted wheat flour flat bread A piece of good-quality (youzhi) bread
and a bowl of mung bean flour soup will cost you no more than 10 Yuan The state-run
atmosphere is quaint and friendly and the numerous awards that decorate the walls are well
deserved The restaurant is in a lane opposite the Drum Tower south of West Main Street
Besides guan tang baozi in Jia BrothersRestaurant there is barbeque in the Pingwa Kaorou
Shop sour cabbage and beef fried rice in Honghong Suancai Chaomi Restraunt and beef
noodles in Yifenli Restaurant If you would like to taste all the local food at one time in a budget
meal Xirsquoan Restaurant (Xirsquoan Fan Zhuang) offers more than 100 varieties in its first-floor self-
service restaurant It charges only CNY18 per person and is very popular with visitors
Drinking The Chinese are big drinkers especially in Northern and Western China It does not
matter if it is lunch or dinner as long as a meal is being hosted there will be alcohol Chinese
wine is the favorite followed by red wine and beer Chinese wine is more like fuel than liquor
having an alcohol concentration as high as 60 No matter how good a drinker you may think of
yourself never ever challenge a Chinese into a drinking contest They will win hands down 18
18
REFERENCES
1 Wikitravel 2009 Wikitravelorg httpwikitravelorgenXian
2 Xingzhong W 1990 Tourist geography of Xirsquoan GeoJournal 21 147-153
3 Official website of Xirsquoan Municipal Government 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureaboutaboutb
4 Xirsquoan Municipal Commerce and Trade Bureau 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureGovernmentdepartmentsbinfid=142232ampcategoryid=
5 Investment environment of Xirsquoan 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian200811911_1ht
ml (originally reported November 20)
6 Xirsquoan Favorable policies for foreign-invested enterprises 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian2008073868_1
html (originally reported July 21)
7 13th Investment amp Trade Forum for Cooperation between East amp West China 2009
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleNewsnewsgovernmentnews20090410020_1html
(originally reported April 15)
8 Xirsquoan ndash Business Information 2009 httpwwwbiztradeshowscomchinaxianbusinesshtml
9 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiXirsquoan
10 Lewis Bill 2007 Xirsquoan Chinas Western BPO Capital New West China Location can
compete with worlds best to become Major Global BPO and Outsourcing Destination
httpwwwchnsourcingcomarticleArticleotc135320070606093234html (originally reported
June 6)
11 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiGovernment_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China
12 Red Tide Mux 2008 httpredtidewikidotcomxian-laws (originally reported March 23)
13 Facts about Xirsquoan 2009 httpwwwxian-travelcomfactshtm
14 Tourism Administration of Xirsquoan 2006-2008 httpen1xian-tourismcomleadasp
15 Travel China Guide 2009
httpwwwtravelchinaguidecomattractionshaanxixianbigwildgoosehtm
16 Tour ndashBeijingcom 2008
httpwwwtour-beijingcomxian_attractionsbell_tower_drum_towerphp
17 Virtouristcom 2008 httpwwwvirtouristcomasiachinaxian21htm
19
18 Understanding Chinese Business Culture and Etiquette April 19 2009 httpwwwchinese-
culturenethtmlchinese_business_culturehtml
20
APPENDIX A
GDP per Capita yen 27000
Major Exports Machinery electrical products data processing
equipment apparel textile steel mobile phones
Major Foreign Exchange Counters ANZ Grindlays ICICI Standard Chartered amp Thomas
Cook
Key Industries
Iron steel aluminum and other metals coal
chemicals fertilizers consumer products including
footwear toys and electronics
APPENDIX B
Approximate journey times to other major cities Beijing 11-13 hours Chengdu 13-18 hours
Chongqing 14 hours Guangzhou 24 hours Kunming 36-53 hours Lanzhou 8-10 hours Lhasa
36 hours Shanghai 16-20 hours Urumqi 31-56 hours Wuhan 14-18 hours and Zhengzhou 7
hours
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
10
represent the spirit of contemporary Xian as well as its unique culture resources which are
essential to Xirsquoanrsquos urban and social development
The culture of Xirsquoan is inherited from the traditions of one of the worlds earliest civilizations
The Guanzhong Ren were the cultural antecedent of Xirsquoanese their cultural features are drawn
from the Ten Specialities of Guanzhong Ren Another major part of this culture is Eight Great
Sights of Changan storied scenic areas in the region The drama of the original Xirsquoanese culture
Qinqiang is the oldest and most extensive Chinese Opera of the four major types of Chinese
opera13
Xian is roughly 98 Buddhist and Taoist 1 Christian 1 Muslim and other
denominations However as the Eastern terminus of the Silk Road Xian shows signs of
imported religions Modern Xian has a more prominent religious side than most Chinese cities
TOURISM
Setting foot on the ancient wall stroll on the city there is another vision thickly dotted road
network international airport modern communication equipment which connect Xian to the
world as well as a great deal of tourism service facility such as hotels bowling hall and large-
scale stores The ancient historical famous city which has some ongoing archaeological projects
has developed into a multi-function modern tourism city and it is no doubt that dig of historical
culture connation make this ancient city more attractive14
Bell in the morning and drum in the evening enable people in Xirsquoan enjoy very much
Transportation and infrastructure Locals often speak about Within city walls and Outside city
walls when talking about locations Outside the walls the southern part is the most interesting it
offers shopping streets bars and some nightlife Dont get confused by different names in tourist
guides addresses and bus stops Nandajie Nanda-Street South-Street South-Avenue are all the
same 9
By Foot Xian has many areas that are easily accessible on foot In many commercial
residential educations zones in the city especially in the shopping and entertainment districts
around the Bell Tower underpasses and overpasses have been built for the safety and
convenience of pedestrians
11
By Bike Fortunately Xirsquoans main sites (with the notable exception of the Terracotta Warriors)
are bunched fairly close together so renting a bike is a good option Be wary of the narrow
streets and cars that squeeze you out of the way Electric bikes are very popular among students
and offer easy transportation in and around the city for many residents
By Car There has been a significant increase in the number of privately-owned vehicles among
middle and upper class households in Xian Traffic is heavy and the rule of thumb is keep
going no matter what (although drivers do note red lights) However many intersections still
lack sufficiently visible traffic lights and the right-of-way is virtually non-existent except at large
intersections with traffic police and signals
By Taxi Taxi services are numerous Watch the taxi drivers in Xirsquoan as the industry is not
regulated as it is in other larger cities like Beijing You may find yourself being taken on a long
ride around town to get where you are going It can also be difficult to convince them to take you
anywhere (even to the railway station) if in doubt get your hotel or hostel to write down the
place you want to go in Chinese Trips within the city walls are generally in the yen10 range
longer trips to the attractions south of the city are in the yen12-20 range Especially when you take
a longer ride like to or from the airport it is always good advice to insist on using the taxi meter
The rate for the normal (green) taxis is yen6 for the first two kilometers and then yen15 for every
additional kilometer Waiting times longer than 2 minutes will be charged yen15 per minute After
11PM the starting price is yen7 At the airport and around some of the big hotels you might also
find black taxis They charge yen24 per kilometer but are more spacious and comfortable
By Bus Many citizens of Xian still commute to work on one of more than 200 bus routes
Although the price is much more economical foreigners are not encouraged to take the long
distance buses due to general hardship and fatigue
By Train There are plenty of trains transporting passengers to and from most of the major cities
inside China Located at the center of China it often takes one day to travel from Xirsquoan to other
cities by train Keep in mind train tickets usually cannot be booked unless you are doing so very
far in advance Traveling hard means you will share a small room with up to three other locals
They may smoke snore or watch portable tvs while you try to sleep Do not travel hard if you
are uncomfortable with these things Xirsquoan Station is located at the north end of Jiefang Lu
12
(解放路) In Xirsquoan it is very easy for one to get to the railway station by city bus from anywhere
in the city But please be aware that there are several stops around the station Fortunately all of
them are no more than 200 meters from the station
What To See amp Do
(i) Walk along the City walls and see the South Gate (南门 Naacutenmeacuten) (illuminated at night)
(ii) Bicycling around the city walls will take about 2 hours
(iii) Walk through the Hui Muslim Quarter (回民街 Huiacutemiacuten Jiē) sampling food1
A deposit is required to rent a bike of at least yen200 or your passport however we do not
recommend releasing your passport to any non government official Make sure that you keep the
deposit ticket the bike vendor will not give you the deposit back without it
FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2
City Wall of Xian Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses
Xirsquoan is one of only two cities with intact surrounding walls in China (Figure 1) This wall has
been restored and is wide enough to easily ride 5 bikes across You can hire one at the top of the
South or East gate you must return it where you got it If you want to foot it though a complete
loop of the walls takes approximately 3 hours The landscaped park around the base of the
exterior walls and moat also makes for a pleasant stroll and gives a different perspective on the
battlements and towers There is a small museum inside the city walls at Hanguang Gate about
halfway between the southwest corner and the South Gate accessible from the top of the city
13
wall itself Look for a staircase down inside a covered structure Inside are the unrestored
remains of a gatehouse and a calligraphy collection [yen40 entry fee or yen20 if you have student
card (as of Nov 08)]
The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses (Figure 2) was discovered in eastern outer
suburbs of Xian Shaanxi province by local farmers drilling a water well 15 miles east of Lishan
(a mountain) This discovery prompted archaeologists to proceed to Shaanxi Province China to
investigate The Terracotta Army is a form of funerary art buried with the First Emperor of Qin
(Qin Shi Huang Shi Huang means the first emperor) in 210-209 BCE (he declared himself the
first emperor of China in 221 BCE to the end of his life in 210 BCE) Their purpose was to help
rule another empire with Shi Huang Di in the afterlife Consequently they are also sometimes
referred to as Qins Armies Mount Lishan is also where the material to make the terracotta
warriors originated In addition to the warriors an entire man-made necropolis for the emperor
has been excavated 15
FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4
Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda
As the symbol of the old-line Xirsquoan Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 3) is a well-preserved
ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists It is located in the southern suburb of Xirsquoan
City about 4 kilometers (249 miles) from the downtown of the city It is rated as a National Key
Cultural Relic Preserve This attraction can be divided into three parts the Big Wild Goose
Pagoda the Da Cien Temple and the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda 13
North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 4) is composed of waterscape fountains a
cultural square gardens and tourist paths There you can taste real Chinese culture and traditions
and fully enjoy the truly attractive views With reliefs on the theme of the prosperous Tang
14
Dynasty 200-meter-long (656-foot-long) sculpture groups 8 groups of sculpted figures 40
relievos on the land and 22 styles of musical fountains
FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6 FIGURE 7
Bell Tower and Drum Tower Jingyun bell Muslim Quarter
Each Ming Dynasty city had a bell tower and a drum tower Xirsquoan was not an exception The
Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xian (Figure 5) date back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
The two are located in the center of the Xirsquoan city connecting the four roads from east south
west and north The bell (Figure 6) was sounded at dawn and the drum at dusk each day in
ancient time Today the Tower can only be accessed from the entrance on Bei Dajie where
visitors have to purchase their tickets To the west of the Bell Tower is the Drum Tower This is
a smaller building located in a busy street which is full of street traders and hawkers 17
Xirsquoan used to be the starting point of the Silk Road This road linked Constantinople with China
The journey used to take more than two years Horses camels and carriages brought precious
goods from one part of the world to the other But it was not only material things that were
transported culture religion and languages were also brought to China from what is Turkey
today Two of the worlds leading religions arrived in China along the Silk Route Buddhism and
Islam Islam became particularly popular in the city of Xirsquoan Still today part of the population of
Xirsquoan is Muslim In the center there is the Muslim Quarter (Figure 7) with its handicraft shops
Muslim restaurants and the famous Muslim Mosque It is recommended visiting the Muslim
Quarter on your own The best time to visit is in the afternoon Do not rush Take your time to
enjoy its small streets and numerous shops where you can buy traditional handicrafts It is good
to come here in the afternoon not only to see the vivid and hectic streets at their busiest but also
to have dinner in one of the Muslim Restaurant 15
15
Shopping
Souvenirs If you are visiting the Terracotta Warriors be prepared to meet some of the most
hardcore hawkers you are likely to meet anywhere If you keep quiet they will usually bargain
themselves down in front of you in desperate pleas for your money Buy a 15 cm Terracotta
warrior for yen5-10 even if they offer it to you for yen45 Wood-carved Buddhas and Dragons can
bought for about the same value They are fortunately kept at a distance from the actual site
Actually many travelers report to enjoy this experience Its definitely not a reason to avoid
seeing the Terracotta Warriors The exit from the pit areas to the parking lot leads through long
avenues lined with souvenir stalls and shops The barkers will try to get your business but are
not as aggressive as the touts at the entrance or immediate exits Inside the museum the ldquoreportly
authenticrdquo warriors may cost yen100 The best place to buy souvenirs in the city center is the
bazaar area behind the Drum Tower in the Muslim Quarter around the Great Mosque The seller
usually offers you a very high price and even if you bring them down by 50 they will still
make a big profit This is also a good place to buy folk art specifically folk style block prints in a
single shop which go for about yen50 if you can stand bargaining when the older gentleman artist
himself is standing right there This area is also full of fake name-brand products like watches
bags clothes Bargain hard 1
Another souvenir shopping area is Calligraphy Street It is located near South Gate inside the
city wall towards the east Walking down south street on the left side continue to where the road
splits in front of South Gate and turn left to find the entrance gate next to a small pagoda
Midway do a slight dog leg to the right At the far end is the Forest of Steles Less hectic that the
Muslim Quarter Tang Tricolored Pottery is a style that was lost and has now been recreated
from pieces of pottery found in tombs It is graphic in image and eye-pleasing in color The
factory recreating the style offers over 100 varieties of items like statues animals and utensils
Paper cut is regards the most important arts form in Xian The artisan cut the different pattern of
the picture by hand
Clothes Xian is amazingly cheap for clothes East Street (Dongda Jie) the eastern of the four
big streets descending from the central Bell Tower has regular fashion shops South Street
(Nanda Jie) has finer clothes and shoes (eg Louis Vuitton) Local youngsters buy in Baihui
16
Market 百汇市场） in Xiaozhai (小寨) yen10 by Taxi from city center Its one of those fake-
brand markets Sport shoes should be less than yen150 pullovers and nice jeans sometimes less
than yen100 lots of cheap fashion accessories This is also a great place for DVDs and CDs but
understand these are mostly pirated copies Kangfu Lu is outside the East city wall (straight
through the North East Gate) and a great place for a bargain Nothing is (bargained for) over yen50
and most clothes can be bargained down to about yen20 if you are really aggressive
Department Stores Located between the ancient Bell tower and Drum tower Century Ginwa
Shopping Mall is a landscaped square with profound cultural connotations as well as a high
quality exclusive shopping center The mall opened in 1998 and now houses over sixty world-
famous brands for discriminating customers including Bally Burberry Dior Givenchy
Lancome Estee Lauder and other all of which make Ginwa a fashion center in Xirsquoan Opposite
Ginwa is Kai Yuan Shopping Mall one of the biggest department stores in Xirsquoan Both the price
and the quality of the commodities and the sales service are often praised by shoppers who have
made it one of the most popular shopping places in Xirsquoan Supermarkets are numerous in Xirsquoan
and are primarily distributed around universities and communities However there are some in
the city center and the suburbs that are also easily accessible The most famous include
Vanguard Ai Jia (IGA) Hao You Duo (Trust-Mart) Yi Chu Lian Hua (Lotus Supercenter) Ren
Ren Le etc
Dining
Snacks Visitors to Xirsquoan are recommended to do two things one is to see the clay figures of
terra cotta warriors and horses The other is to taste Yang Rou Pao Mo (a soup dish that involves
breaking wheat flour flat bread into a bowl and adding a delicious mutton stock) Before dinner
you will be served one or two pieces of wheat flour flat bread which you break into tiny chunks
the smaller the better The waiter or the waitress will then hand your bowl to the cook who mixes
the bread and mutton soup with an appropriate relish When the steaming hot meal is brought in
the waiter will also offer you sweet crisp pickled garlic coriander and hot pepper sauce The
most famous the Tong Sheng Xirsquoang (Prosperity and Fortune) Beef and Lamb Paomo
Restaurant done in Tang Dynasty style is a time-honored establishment in the Xirsquoan Bell and
Drum Tower Square 18
17
Next to Tong Sheng Xirsquoang is a great restaurant De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant with its
own version of the Dumpling Banquet Ingredients for the dumpling fillings include various
meats vegetables and seasonings Cooking methods include steaming boiling pan-frying deep
frying and roasting Many flavors including salty sweet hot and sour are offered Other house
specialties include Peking dumplings steamed sweet bean paste buns steamed shrimp paste
buns and various uniquely spiced dishes While guests sample various delicacies traditionally
waiters will explain the cuisine culture of each dumpling One of Xirsquoans most famous specialties
is the Guan Tang Baozi (steamed buns served with sauces inside) served at Jia Brothers
Restaurant in Muslim Snack Street Youll know youre there when you see the monstrous blue
arch over the entrance and a wall festooned with photographs of Xirsquoan notables - TV hosts
writers and musicians The specialty dish is Guan Tang Bao Zi with a choice of beef lamb or
three flavors - lamb mushroom and prawns The buns have piping-hot soup inside so caution
is advised This dish is best washed down with Ba Bao Xi Fan a bowl of sweet rice porridge
filled with peanuts sultanas hawthorn and medlar berries
Fanji is the famous vendor of Shaanxis most widely consumed snack Rou Jia Mo finely
chopped pork stuffed in toasted wheat flour flat bread A piece of good-quality (youzhi) bread
and a bowl of mung bean flour soup will cost you no more than 10 Yuan The state-run
atmosphere is quaint and friendly and the numerous awards that decorate the walls are well
deserved The restaurant is in a lane opposite the Drum Tower south of West Main Street
Besides guan tang baozi in Jia BrothersRestaurant there is barbeque in the Pingwa Kaorou
Shop sour cabbage and beef fried rice in Honghong Suancai Chaomi Restraunt and beef
noodles in Yifenli Restaurant If you would like to taste all the local food at one time in a budget
meal Xirsquoan Restaurant (Xirsquoan Fan Zhuang) offers more than 100 varieties in its first-floor self-
service restaurant It charges only CNY18 per person and is very popular with visitors
Drinking The Chinese are big drinkers especially in Northern and Western China It does not
matter if it is lunch or dinner as long as a meal is being hosted there will be alcohol Chinese
wine is the favorite followed by red wine and beer Chinese wine is more like fuel than liquor
having an alcohol concentration as high as 60 No matter how good a drinker you may think of
yourself never ever challenge a Chinese into a drinking contest They will win hands down 18
18
REFERENCES
1 Wikitravel 2009 Wikitravelorg httpwikitravelorgenXian
2 Xingzhong W 1990 Tourist geography of Xirsquoan GeoJournal 21 147-153
3 Official website of Xirsquoan Municipal Government 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureaboutaboutb
4 Xirsquoan Municipal Commerce and Trade Bureau 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureGovernmentdepartmentsbinfid=142232ampcategoryid=
5 Investment environment of Xirsquoan 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian200811911_1ht
ml (originally reported November 20)
6 Xirsquoan Favorable policies for foreign-invested enterprises 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian2008073868_1
html (originally reported July 21)
7 13th Investment amp Trade Forum for Cooperation between East amp West China 2009
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleNewsnewsgovernmentnews20090410020_1html
(originally reported April 15)
8 Xirsquoan ndash Business Information 2009 httpwwwbiztradeshowscomchinaxianbusinesshtml
9 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiXirsquoan
10 Lewis Bill 2007 Xirsquoan Chinas Western BPO Capital New West China Location can
compete with worlds best to become Major Global BPO and Outsourcing Destination
httpwwwchnsourcingcomarticleArticleotc135320070606093234html (originally reported
June 6)
11 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiGovernment_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China
12 Red Tide Mux 2008 httpredtidewikidotcomxian-laws (originally reported March 23)
13 Facts about Xirsquoan 2009 httpwwwxian-travelcomfactshtm
14 Tourism Administration of Xirsquoan 2006-2008 httpen1xian-tourismcomleadasp
15 Travel China Guide 2009
httpwwwtravelchinaguidecomattractionshaanxixianbigwildgoosehtm
16 Tour ndashBeijingcom 2008
httpwwwtour-beijingcomxian_attractionsbell_tower_drum_towerphp
17 Virtouristcom 2008 httpwwwvirtouristcomasiachinaxian21htm
19
18 Understanding Chinese Business Culture and Etiquette April 19 2009 httpwwwchinese-
culturenethtmlchinese_business_culturehtml
20
APPENDIX A
GDP per Capita yen 27000
Major Exports Machinery electrical products data processing
equipment apparel textile steel mobile phones
Major Foreign Exchange Counters ANZ Grindlays ICICI Standard Chartered amp Thomas
Cook
Key Industries
Iron steel aluminum and other metals coal
chemicals fertilizers consumer products including
footwear toys and electronics
APPENDIX B
Approximate journey times to other major cities Beijing 11-13 hours Chengdu 13-18 hours
Chongqing 14 hours Guangzhou 24 hours Kunming 36-53 hours Lanzhou 8-10 hours Lhasa
36 hours Shanghai 16-20 hours Urumqi 31-56 hours Wuhan 14-18 hours and Zhengzhou 7
hours
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
11
By Bike Fortunately Xirsquoans main sites (with the notable exception of the Terracotta Warriors)
are bunched fairly close together so renting a bike is a good option Be wary of the narrow
streets and cars that squeeze you out of the way Electric bikes are very popular among students
and offer easy transportation in and around the city for many residents
By Car There has been a significant increase in the number of privately-owned vehicles among
middle and upper class households in Xian Traffic is heavy and the rule of thumb is keep
going no matter what (although drivers do note red lights) However many intersections still
lack sufficiently visible traffic lights and the right-of-way is virtually non-existent except at large
intersections with traffic police and signals
By Taxi Taxi services are numerous Watch the taxi drivers in Xirsquoan as the industry is not
regulated as it is in other larger cities like Beijing You may find yourself being taken on a long
ride around town to get where you are going It can also be difficult to convince them to take you
anywhere (even to the railway station) if in doubt get your hotel or hostel to write down the
place you want to go in Chinese Trips within the city walls are generally in the yen10 range
longer trips to the attractions south of the city are in the yen12-20 range Especially when you take
a longer ride like to or from the airport it is always good advice to insist on using the taxi meter
The rate for the normal (green) taxis is yen6 for the first two kilometers and then yen15 for every
additional kilometer Waiting times longer than 2 minutes will be charged yen15 per minute After
11PM the starting price is yen7 At the airport and around some of the big hotels you might also
find black taxis They charge yen24 per kilometer but are more spacious and comfortable
By Bus Many citizens of Xian still commute to work on one of more than 200 bus routes
Although the price is much more economical foreigners are not encouraged to take the long
distance buses due to general hardship and fatigue
By Train There are plenty of trains transporting passengers to and from most of the major cities
inside China Located at the center of China it often takes one day to travel from Xirsquoan to other
cities by train Keep in mind train tickets usually cannot be booked unless you are doing so very
far in advance Traveling hard means you will share a small room with up to three other locals
They may smoke snore or watch portable tvs while you try to sleep Do not travel hard if you
are uncomfortable with these things Xirsquoan Station is located at the north end of Jiefang Lu
12
(解放路) In Xirsquoan it is very easy for one to get to the railway station by city bus from anywhere
in the city But please be aware that there are several stops around the station Fortunately all of
them are no more than 200 meters from the station
What To See amp Do
(i) Walk along the City walls and see the South Gate (南门 Naacutenmeacuten) (illuminated at night)
(ii) Bicycling around the city walls will take about 2 hours
(iii) Walk through the Hui Muslim Quarter (回民街 Huiacutemiacuten Jiē) sampling food1
A deposit is required to rent a bike of at least yen200 or your passport however we do not
recommend releasing your passport to any non government official Make sure that you keep the
deposit ticket the bike vendor will not give you the deposit back without it
FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2
City Wall of Xian Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses
Xirsquoan is one of only two cities with intact surrounding walls in China (Figure 1) This wall has
been restored and is wide enough to easily ride 5 bikes across You can hire one at the top of the
South or East gate you must return it where you got it If you want to foot it though a complete
loop of the walls takes approximately 3 hours The landscaped park around the base of the
exterior walls and moat also makes for a pleasant stroll and gives a different perspective on the
battlements and towers There is a small museum inside the city walls at Hanguang Gate about
halfway between the southwest corner and the South Gate accessible from the top of the city
13
wall itself Look for a staircase down inside a covered structure Inside are the unrestored
remains of a gatehouse and a calligraphy collection [yen40 entry fee or yen20 if you have student
card (as of Nov 08)]
The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses (Figure 2) was discovered in eastern outer
suburbs of Xian Shaanxi province by local farmers drilling a water well 15 miles east of Lishan
(a mountain) This discovery prompted archaeologists to proceed to Shaanxi Province China to
investigate The Terracotta Army is a form of funerary art buried with the First Emperor of Qin
(Qin Shi Huang Shi Huang means the first emperor) in 210-209 BCE (he declared himself the
first emperor of China in 221 BCE to the end of his life in 210 BCE) Their purpose was to help
rule another empire with Shi Huang Di in the afterlife Consequently they are also sometimes
referred to as Qins Armies Mount Lishan is also where the material to make the terracotta
warriors originated In addition to the warriors an entire man-made necropolis for the emperor
has been excavated 15
FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4
Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda
As the symbol of the old-line Xirsquoan Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 3) is a well-preserved
ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists It is located in the southern suburb of Xirsquoan
City about 4 kilometers (249 miles) from the downtown of the city It is rated as a National Key
Cultural Relic Preserve This attraction can be divided into three parts the Big Wild Goose
Pagoda the Da Cien Temple and the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda 13
North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 4) is composed of waterscape fountains a
cultural square gardens and tourist paths There you can taste real Chinese culture and traditions
and fully enjoy the truly attractive views With reliefs on the theme of the prosperous Tang
14
Dynasty 200-meter-long (656-foot-long) sculpture groups 8 groups of sculpted figures 40
relievos on the land and 22 styles of musical fountains
FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6 FIGURE 7
Bell Tower and Drum Tower Jingyun bell Muslim Quarter
Each Ming Dynasty city had a bell tower and a drum tower Xirsquoan was not an exception The
Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xian (Figure 5) date back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
The two are located in the center of the Xirsquoan city connecting the four roads from east south
west and north The bell (Figure 6) was sounded at dawn and the drum at dusk each day in
ancient time Today the Tower can only be accessed from the entrance on Bei Dajie where
visitors have to purchase their tickets To the west of the Bell Tower is the Drum Tower This is
a smaller building located in a busy street which is full of street traders and hawkers 17
Xirsquoan used to be the starting point of the Silk Road This road linked Constantinople with China
The journey used to take more than two years Horses camels and carriages brought precious
goods from one part of the world to the other But it was not only material things that were
transported culture religion and languages were also brought to China from what is Turkey
today Two of the worlds leading religions arrived in China along the Silk Route Buddhism and
Islam Islam became particularly popular in the city of Xirsquoan Still today part of the population of
Xirsquoan is Muslim In the center there is the Muslim Quarter (Figure 7) with its handicraft shops
Muslim restaurants and the famous Muslim Mosque It is recommended visiting the Muslim
Quarter on your own The best time to visit is in the afternoon Do not rush Take your time to
enjoy its small streets and numerous shops where you can buy traditional handicrafts It is good
to come here in the afternoon not only to see the vivid and hectic streets at their busiest but also
to have dinner in one of the Muslim Restaurant 15
15
Shopping
Souvenirs If you are visiting the Terracotta Warriors be prepared to meet some of the most
hardcore hawkers you are likely to meet anywhere If you keep quiet they will usually bargain
themselves down in front of you in desperate pleas for your money Buy a 15 cm Terracotta
warrior for yen5-10 even if they offer it to you for yen45 Wood-carved Buddhas and Dragons can
bought for about the same value They are fortunately kept at a distance from the actual site
Actually many travelers report to enjoy this experience Its definitely not a reason to avoid
seeing the Terracotta Warriors The exit from the pit areas to the parking lot leads through long
avenues lined with souvenir stalls and shops The barkers will try to get your business but are
not as aggressive as the touts at the entrance or immediate exits Inside the museum the ldquoreportly
authenticrdquo warriors may cost yen100 The best place to buy souvenirs in the city center is the
bazaar area behind the Drum Tower in the Muslim Quarter around the Great Mosque The seller
usually offers you a very high price and even if you bring them down by 50 they will still
make a big profit This is also a good place to buy folk art specifically folk style block prints in a
single shop which go for about yen50 if you can stand bargaining when the older gentleman artist
himself is standing right there This area is also full of fake name-brand products like watches
bags clothes Bargain hard 1
Another souvenir shopping area is Calligraphy Street It is located near South Gate inside the
city wall towards the east Walking down south street on the left side continue to where the road
splits in front of South Gate and turn left to find the entrance gate next to a small pagoda
Midway do a slight dog leg to the right At the far end is the Forest of Steles Less hectic that the
Muslim Quarter Tang Tricolored Pottery is a style that was lost and has now been recreated
from pieces of pottery found in tombs It is graphic in image and eye-pleasing in color The
factory recreating the style offers over 100 varieties of items like statues animals and utensils
Paper cut is regards the most important arts form in Xian The artisan cut the different pattern of
the picture by hand
Clothes Xian is amazingly cheap for clothes East Street (Dongda Jie) the eastern of the four
big streets descending from the central Bell Tower has regular fashion shops South Street
(Nanda Jie) has finer clothes and shoes (eg Louis Vuitton) Local youngsters buy in Baihui
16
Market 百汇市场） in Xiaozhai (小寨) yen10 by Taxi from city center Its one of those fake-
brand markets Sport shoes should be less than yen150 pullovers and nice jeans sometimes less
than yen100 lots of cheap fashion accessories This is also a great place for DVDs and CDs but
understand these are mostly pirated copies Kangfu Lu is outside the East city wall (straight
through the North East Gate) and a great place for a bargain Nothing is (bargained for) over yen50
and most clothes can be bargained down to about yen20 if you are really aggressive
Department Stores Located between the ancient Bell tower and Drum tower Century Ginwa
Shopping Mall is a landscaped square with profound cultural connotations as well as a high
quality exclusive shopping center The mall opened in 1998 and now houses over sixty world-
famous brands for discriminating customers including Bally Burberry Dior Givenchy
Lancome Estee Lauder and other all of which make Ginwa a fashion center in Xirsquoan Opposite
Ginwa is Kai Yuan Shopping Mall one of the biggest department stores in Xirsquoan Both the price
and the quality of the commodities and the sales service are often praised by shoppers who have
made it one of the most popular shopping places in Xirsquoan Supermarkets are numerous in Xirsquoan
and are primarily distributed around universities and communities However there are some in
the city center and the suburbs that are also easily accessible The most famous include
Vanguard Ai Jia (IGA) Hao You Duo (Trust-Mart) Yi Chu Lian Hua (Lotus Supercenter) Ren
Ren Le etc
Dining
Snacks Visitors to Xirsquoan are recommended to do two things one is to see the clay figures of
terra cotta warriors and horses The other is to taste Yang Rou Pao Mo (a soup dish that involves
breaking wheat flour flat bread into a bowl and adding a delicious mutton stock) Before dinner
you will be served one or two pieces of wheat flour flat bread which you break into tiny chunks
the smaller the better The waiter or the waitress will then hand your bowl to the cook who mixes
the bread and mutton soup with an appropriate relish When the steaming hot meal is brought in
the waiter will also offer you sweet crisp pickled garlic coriander and hot pepper sauce The
most famous the Tong Sheng Xirsquoang (Prosperity and Fortune) Beef and Lamb Paomo
Restaurant done in Tang Dynasty style is a time-honored establishment in the Xirsquoan Bell and
Drum Tower Square 18
17
Next to Tong Sheng Xirsquoang is a great restaurant De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant with its
own version of the Dumpling Banquet Ingredients for the dumpling fillings include various
meats vegetables and seasonings Cooking methods include steaming boiling pan-frying deep
frying and roasting Many flavors including salty sweet hot and sour are offered Other house
specialties include Peking dumplings steamed sweet bean paste buns steamed shrimp paste
buns and various uniquely spiced dishes While guests sample various delicacies traditionally
waiters will explain the cuisine culture of each dumpling One of Xirsquoans most famous specialties
is the Guan Tang Baozi (steamed buns served with sauces inside) served at Jia Brothers
Restaurant in Muslim Snack Street Youll know youre there when you see the monstrous blue
arch over the entrance and a wall festooned with photographs of Xirsquoan notables - TV hosts
writers and musicians The specialty dish is Guan Tang Bao Zi with a choice of beef lamb or
three flavors - lamb mushroom and prawns The buns have piping-hot soup inside so caution
is advised This dish is best washed down with Ba Bao Xi Fan a bowl of sweet rice porridge
filled with peanuts sultanas hawthorn and medlar berries
Fanji is the famous vendor of Shaanxis most widely consumed snack Rou Jia Mo finely
chopped pork stuffed in toasted wheat flour flat bread A piece of good-quality (youzhi) bread
and a bowl of mung bean flour soup will cost you no more than 10 Yuan The state-run
atmosphere is quaint and friendly and the numerous awards that decorate the walls are well
deserved The restaurant is in a lane opposite the Drum Tower south of West Main Street
Besides guan tang baozi in Jia BrothersRestaurant there is barbeque in the Pingwa Kaorou
Shop sour cabbage and beef fried rice in Honghong Suancai Chaomi Restraunt and beef
noodles in Yifenli Restaurant If you would like to taste all the local food at one time in a budget
meal Xirsquoan Restaurant (Xirsquoan Fan Zhuang) offers more than 100 varieties in its first-floor self-
service restaurant It charges only CNY18 per person and is very popular with visitors
Drinking The Chinese are big drinkers especially in Northern and Western China It does not
matter if it is lunch or dinner as long as a meal is being hosted there will be alcohol Chinese
wine is the favorite followed by red wine and beer Chinese wine is more like fuel than liquor
having an alcohol concentration as high as 60 No matter how good a drinker you may think of
yourself never ever challenge a Chinese into a drinking contest They will win hands down 18
18
REFERENCES
1 Wikitravel 2009 Wikitravelorg httpwikitravelorgenXian
2 Xingzhong W 1990 Tourist geography of Xirsquoan GeoJournal 21 147-153
3 Official website of Xirsquoan Municipal Government 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureaboutaboutb
4 Xirsquoan Municipal Commerce and Trade Bureau 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureGovernmentdepartmentsbinfid=142232ampcategoryid=
5 Investment environment of Xirsquoan 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian200811911_1ht
ml (originally reported November 20)
6 Xirsquoan Favorable policies for foreign-invested enterprises 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian2008073868_1
html (originally reported July 21)
7 13th Investment amp Trade Forum for Cooperation between East amp West China 2009
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleNewsnewsgovernmentnews20090410020_1html
(originally reported April 15)
8 Xirsquoan ndash Business Information 2009 httpwwwbiztradeshowscomchinaxianbusinesshtml
9 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiXirsquoan
10 Lewis Bill 2007 Xirsquoan Chinas Western BPO Capital New West China Location can
compete with worlds best to become Major Global BPO and Outsourcing Destination
httpwwwchnsourcingcomarticleArticleotc135320070606093234html (originally reported
June 6)
11 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiGovernment_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China
12 Red Tide Mux 2008 httpredtidewikidotcomxian-laws (originally reported March 23)
13 Facts about Xirsquoan 2009 httpwwwxian-travelcomfactshtm
14 Tourism Administration of Xirsquoan 2006-2008 httpen1xian-tourismcomleadasp
15 Travel China Guide 2009
httpwwwtravelchinaguidecomattractionshaanxixianbigwildgoosehtm
16 Tour ndashBeijingcom 2008
httpwwwtour-beijingcomxian_attractionsbell_tower_drum_towerphp
17 Virtouristcom 2008 httpwwwvirtouristcomasiachinaxian21htm
19
18 Understanding Chinese Business Culture and Etiquette April 19 2009 httpwwwchinese-
culturenethtmlchinese_business_culturehtml
20
APPENDIX A
GDP per Capita yen 27000
Major Exports Machinery electrical products data processing
equipment apparel textile steel mobile phones
Major Foreign Exchange Counters ANZ Grindlays ICICI Standard Chartered amp Thomas
Cook
Key Industries
Iron steel aluminum and other metals coal
chemicals fertilizers consumer products including
footwear toys and electronics
APPENDIX B
Approximate journey times to other major cities Beijing 11-13 hours Chengdu 13-18 hours
Chongqing 14 hours Guangzhou 24 hours Kunming 36-53 hours Lanzhou 8-10 hours Lhasa
36 hours Shanghai 16-20 hours Urumqi 31-56 hours Wuhan 14-18 hours and Zhengzhou 7
hours
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
12
(解放路) In Xirsquoan it is very easy for one to get to the railway station by city bus from anywhere
in the city But please be aware that there are several stops around the station Fortunately all of
them are no more than 200 meters from the station
What To See amp Do
(i) Walk along the City walls and see the South Gate (南门 Naacutenmeacuten) (illuminated at night)
(ii) Bicycling around the city walls will take about 2 hours
(iii) Walk through the Hui Muslim Quarter (回民街 Huiacutemiacuten Jiē) sampling food1
A deposit is required to rent a bike of at least yen200 or your passport however we do not
recommend releasing your passport to any non government official Make sure that you keep the
deposit ticket the bike vendor will not give you the deposit back without it
FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2
City Wall of Xian Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses
Xirsquoan is one of only two cities with intact surrounding walls in China (Figure 1) This wall has
been restored and is wide enough to easily ride 5 bikes across You can hire one at the top of the
South or East gate you must return it where you got it If you want to foot it though a complete
loop of the walls takes approximately 3 hours The landscaped park around the base of the
exterior walls and moat also makes for a pleasant stroll and gives a different perspective on the
battlements and towers There is a small museum inside the city walls at Hanguang Gate about
halfway between the southwest corner and the South Gate accessible from the top of the city
13
wall itself Look for a staircase down inside a covered structure Inside are the unrestored
remains of a gatehouse and a calligraphy collection [yen40 entry fee or yen20 if you have student
card (as of Nov 08)]
The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses (Figure 2) was discovered in eastern outer
suburbs of Xian Shaanxi province by local farmers drilling a water well 15 miles east of Lishan
(a mountain) This discovery prompted archaeologists to proceed to Shaanxi Province China to
investigate The Terracotta Army is a form of funerary art buried with the First Emperor of Qin
(Qin Shi Huang Shi Huang means the first emperor) in 210-209 BCE (he declared himself the
first emperor of China in 221 BCE to the end of his life in 210 BCE) Their purpose was to help
rule another empire with Shi Huang Di in the afterlife Consequently they are also sometimes
referred to as Qins Armies Mount Lishan is also where the material to make the terracotta
warriors originated In addition to the warriors an entire man-made necropolis for the emperor
has been excavated 15
FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4
Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda
As the symbol of the old-line Xirsquoan Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 3) is a well-preserved
ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists It is located in the southern suburb of Xirsquoan
City about 4 kilometers (249 miles) from the downtown of the city It is rated as a National Key
Cultural Relic Preserve This attraction can be divided into three parts the Big Wild Goose
Pagoda the Da Cien Temple and the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda 13
North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 4) is composed of waterscape fountains a
cultural square gardens and tourist paths There you can taste real Chinese culture and traditions
and fully enjoy the truly attractive views With reliefs on the theme of the prosperous Tang
14
Dynasty 200-meter-long (656-foot-long) sculpture groups 8 groups of sculpted figures 40
relievos on the land and 22 styles of musical fountains
FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6 FIGURE 7
Bell Tower and Drum Tower Jingyun bell Muslim Quarter
Each Ming Dynasty city had a bell tower and a drum tower Xirsquoan was not an exception The
Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xian (Figure 5) date back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
The two are located in the center of the Xirsquoan city connecting the four roads from east south
west and north The bell (Figure 6) was sounded at dawn and the drum at dusk each day in
ancient time Today the Tower can only be accessed from the entrance on Bei Dajie where
visitors have to purchase their tickets To the west of the Bell Tower is the Drum Tower This is
a smaller building located in a busy street which is full of street traders and hawkers 17
Xirsquoan used to be the starting point of the Silk Road This road linked Constantinople with China
The journey used to take more than two years Horses camels and carriages brought precious
goods from one part of the world to the other But it was not only material things that were
transported culture religion and languages were also brought to China from what is Turkey
today Two of the worlds leading religions arrived in China along the Silk Route Buddhism and
Islam Islam became particularly popular in the city of Xirsquoan Still today part of the population of
Xirsquoan is Muslim In the center there is the Muslim Quarter (Figure 7) with its handicraft shops
Muslim restaurants and the famous Muslim Mosque It is recommended visiting the Muslim
Quarter on your own The best time to visit is in the afternoon Do not rush Take your time to
enjoy its small streets and numerous shops where you can buy traditional handicrafts It is good
to come here in the afternoon not only to see the vivid and hectic streets at their busiest but also
to have dinner in one of the Muslim Restaurant 15
15
Shopping
Souvenirs If you are visiting the Terracotta Warriors be prepared to meet some of the most
hardcore hawkers you are likely to meet anywhere If you keep quiet they will usually bargain
themselves down in front of you in desperate pleas for your money Buy a 15 cm Terracotta
warrior for yen5-10 even if they offer it to you for yen45 Wood-carved Buddhas and Dragons can
bought for about the same value They are fortunately kept at a distance from the actual site
Actually many travelers report to enjoy this experience Its definitely not a reason to avoid
seeing the Terracotta Warriors The exit from the pit areas to the parking lot leads through long
avenues lined with souvenir stalls and shops The barkers will try to get your business but are
not as aggressive as the touts at the entrance or immediate exits Inside the museum the ldquoreportly
authenticrdquo warriors may cost yen100 The best place to buy souvenirs in the city center is the
bazaar area behind the Drum Tower in the Muslim Quarter around the Great Mosque The seller
usually offers you a very high price and even if you bring them down by 50 they will still
make a big profit This is also a good place to buy folk art specifically folk style block prints in a
single shop which go for about yen50 if you can stand bargaining when the older gentleman artist
himself is standing right there This area is also full of fake name-brand products like watches
bags clothes Bargain hard 1
Another souvenir shopping area is Calligraphy Street It is located near South Gate inside the
city wall towards the east Walking down south street on the left side continue to where the road
splits in front of South Gate and turn left to find the entrance gate next to a small pagoda
Midway do a slight dog leg to the right At the far end is the Forest of Steles Less hectic that the
Muslim Quarter Tang Tricolored Pottery is a style that was lost and has now been recreated
from pieces of pottery found in tombs It is graphic in image and eye-pleasing in color The
factory recreating the style offers over 100 varieties of items like statues animals and utensils
Paper cut is regards the most important arts form in Xian The artisan cut the different pattern of
the picture by hand
Clothes Xian is amazingly cheap for clothes East Street (Dongda Jie) the eastern of the four
big streets descending from the central Bell Tower has regular fashion shops South Street
(Nanda Jie) has finer clothes and shoes (eg Louis Vuitton) Local youngsters buy in Baihui
16
Market 百汇市场） in Xiaozhai (小寨) yen10 by Taxi from city center Its one of those fake-
brand markets Sport shoes should be less than yen150 pullovers and nice jeans sometimes less
than yen100 lots of cheap fashion accessories This is also a great place for DVDs and CDs but
understand these are mostly pirated copies Kangfu Lu is outside the East city wall (straight
through the North East Gate) and a great place for a bargain Nothing is (bargained for) over yen50
and most clothes can be bargained down to about yen20 if you are really aggressive
Department Stores Located between the ancient Bell tower and Drum tower Century Ginwa
Shopping Mall is a landscaped square with profound cultural connotations as well as a high
quality exclusive shopping center The mall opened in 1998 and now houses over sixty world-
famous brands for discriminating customers including Bally Burberry Dior Givenchy
Lancome Estee Lauder and other all of which make Ginwa a fashion center in Xirsquoan Opposite
Ginwa is Kai Yuan Shopping Mall one of the biggest department stores in Xirsquoan Both the price
and the quality of the commodities and the sales service are often praised by shoppers who have
made it one of the most popular shopping places in Xirsquoan Supermarkets are numerous in Xirsquoan
and are primarily distributed around universities and communities However there are some in
the city center and the suburbs that are also easily accessible The most famous include
Vanguard Ai Jia (IGA) Hao You Duo (Trust-Mart) Yi Chu Lian Hua (Lotus Supercenter) Ren
Ren Le etc
Dining
Snacks Visitors to Xirsquoan are recommended to do two things one is to see the clay figures of
terra cotta warriors and horses The other is to taste Yang Rou Pao Mo (a soup dish that involves
breaking wheat flour flat bread into a bowl and adding a delicious mutton stock) Before dinner
you will be served one or two pieces of wheat flour flat bread which you break into tiny chunks
the smaller the better The waiter or the waitress will then hand your bowl to the cook who mixes
the bread and mutton soup with an appropriate relish When the steaming hot meal is brought in
the waiter will also offer you sweet crisp pickled garlic coriander and hot pepper sauce The
most famous the Tong Sheng Xirsquoang (Prosperity and Fortune) Beef and Lamb Paomo
Restaurant done in Tang Dynasty style is a time-honored establishment in the Xirsquoan Bell and
Drum Tower Square 18
17
Next to Tong Sheng Xirsquoang is a great restaurant De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant with its
own version of the Dumpling Banquet Ingredients for the dumpling fillings include various
meats vegetables and seasonings Cooking methods include steaming boiling pan-frying deep
frying and roasting Many flavors including salty sweet hot and sour are offered Other house
specialties include Peking dumplings steamed sweet bean paste buns steamed shrimp paste
buns and various uniquely spiced dishes While guests sample various delicacies traditionally
waiters will explain the cuisine culture of each dumpling One of Xirsquoans most famous specialties
is the Guan Tang Baozi (steamed buns served with sauces inside) served at Jia Brothers
Restaurant in Muslim Snack Street Youll know youre there when you see the monstrous blue
arch over the entrance and a wall festooned with photographs of Xirsquoan notables - TV hosts
writers and musicians The specialty dish is Guan Tang Bao Zi with a choice of beef lamb or
three flavors - lamb mushroom and prawns The buns have piping-hot soup inside so caution
is advised This dish is best washed down with Ba Bao Xi Fan a bowl of sweet rice porridge
filled with peanuts sultanas hawthorn and medlar berries
Fanji is the famous vendor of Shaanxis most widely consumed snack Rou Jia Mo finely
chopped pork stuffed in toasted wheat flour flat bread A piece of good-quality (youzhi) bread
and a bowl of mung bean flour soup will cost you no more than 10 Yuan The state-run
atmosphere is quaint and friendly and the numerous awards that decorate the walls are well
deserved The restaurant is in a lane opposite the Drum Tower south of West Main Street
Besides guan tang baozi in Jia BrothersRestaurant there is barbeque in the Pingwa Kaorou
Shop sour cabbage and beef fried rice in Honghong Suancai Chaomi Restraunt and beef
noodles in Yifenli Restaurant If you would like to taste all the local food at one time in a budget
meal Xirsquoan Restaurant (Xirsquoan Fan Zhuang) offers more than 100 varieties in its first-floor self-
service restaurant It charges only CNY18 per person and is very popular with visitors
Drinking The Chinese are big drinkers especially in Northern and Western China It does not
matter if it is lunch or dinner as long as a meal is being hosted there will be alcohol Chinese
wine is the favorite followed by red wine and beer Chinese wine is more like fuel than liquor
having an alcohol concentration as high as 60 No matter how good a drinker you may think of
yourself never ever challenge a Chinese into a drinking contest They will win hands down 18
18
REFERENCES
1 Wikitravel 2009 Wikitravelorg httpwikitravelorgenXian
2 Xingzhong W 1990 Tourist geography of Xirsquoan GeoJournal 21 147-153
3 Official website of Xirsquoan Municipal Government 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureaboutaboutb
4 Xirsquoan Municipal Commerce and Trade Bureau 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureGovernmentdepartmentsbinfid=142232ampcategoryid=
5 Investment environment of Xirsquoan 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian200811911_1ht
ml (originally reported November 20)
6 Xirsquoan Favorable policies for foreign-invested enterprises 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian2008073868_1
html (originally reported July 21)
7 13th Investment amp Trade Forum for Cooperation between East amp West China 2009
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleNewsnewsgovernmentnews20090410020_1html
(originally reported April 15)
8 Xirsquoan ndash Business Information 2009 httpwwwbiztradeshowscomchinaxianbusinesshtml
9 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiXirsquoan
10 Lewis Bill 2007 Xirsquoan Chinas Western BPO Capital New West China Location can
compete with worlds best to become Major Global BPO and Outsourcing Destination
httpwwwchnsourcingcomarticleArticleotc135320070606093234html (originally reported
June 6)
11 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiGovernment_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China
12 Red Tide Mux 2008 httpredtidewikidotcomxian-laws (originally reported March 23)
13 Facts about Xirsquoan 2009 httpwwwxian-travelcomfactshtm
14 Tourism Administration of Xirsquoan 2006-2008 httpen1xian-tourismcomleadasp
15 Travel China Guide 2009
httpwwwtravelchinaguidecomattractionshaanxixianbigwildgoosehtm
16 Tour ndashBeijingcom 2008
httpwwwtour-beijingcomxian_attractionsbell_tower_drum_towerphp
17 Virtouristcom 2008 httpwwwvirtouristcomasiachinaxian21htm
19
18 Understanding Chinese Business Culture and Etiquette April 19 2009 httpwwwchinese-
culturenethtmlchinese_business_culturehtml
20
APPENDIX A
GDP per Capita yen 27000
Major Exports Machinery electrical products data processing
equipment apparel textile steel mobile phones
Major Foreign Exchange Counters ANZ Grindlays ICICI Standard Chartered amp Thomas
Cook
Key Industries
Iron steel aluminum and other metals coal
chemicals fertilizers consumer products including
footwear toys and electronics
APPENDIX B
Approximate journey times to other major cities Beijing 11-13 hours Chengdu 13-18 hours
Chongqing 14 hours Guangzhou 24 hours Kunming 36-53 hours Lanzhou 8-10 hours Lhasa
36 hours Shanghai 16-20 hours Urumqi 31-56 hours Wuhan 14-18 hours and Zhengzhou 7
hours
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
13
wall itself Look for a staircase down inside a covered structure Inside are the unrestored
remains of a gatehouse and a calligraphy collection [yen40 entry fee or yen20 if you have student
card (as of Nov 08)]
The Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors amp Horses (Figure 2) was discovered in eastern outer
suburbs of Xian Shaanxi province by local farmers drilling a water well 15 miles east of Lishan
(a mountain) This discovery prompted archaeologists to proceed to Shaanxi Province China to
investigate The Terracotta Army is a form of funerary art buried with the First Emperor of Qin
(Qin Shi Huang Shi Huang means the first emperor) in 210-209 BCE (he declared himself the
first emperor of China in 221 BCE to the end of his life in 210 BCE) Their purpose was to help
rule another empire with Shi Huang Di in the afterlife Consequently they are also sometimes
referred to as Qins Armies Mount Lishan is also where the material to make the terracotta
warriors originated In addition to the warriors an entire man-made necropolis for the emperor
has been excavated 15
FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4
Big Wild Goose Pagoda North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda
As the symbol of the old-line Xirsquoan Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 3) is a well-preserved
ancient building and a holy place for Buddhists It is located in the southern suburb of Xirsquoan
City about 4 kilometers (249 miles) from the downtown of the city It is rated as a National Key
Cultural Relic Preserve This attraction can be divided into three parts the Big Wild Goose
Pagoda the Da Cien Temple and the North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda 13
North Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Figure 4) is composed of waterscape fountains a
cultural square gardens and tourist paths There you can taste real Chinese culture and traditions
and fully enjoy the truly attractive views With reliefs on the theme of the prosperous Tang
14
Dynasty 200-meter-long (656-foot-long) sculpture groups 8 groups of sculpted figures 40
relievos on the land and 22 styles of musical fountains
FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6 FIGURE 7
Bell Tower and Drum Tower Jingyun bell Muslim Quarter
Each Ming Dynasty city had a bell tower and a drum tower Xirsquoan was not an exception The
Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xian (Figure 5) date back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
The two are located in the center of the Xirsquoan city connecting the four roads from east south
west and north The bell (Figure 6) was sounded at dawn and the drum at dusk each day in
ancient time Today the Tower can only be accessed from the entrance on Bei Dajie where
visitors have to purchase their tickets To the west of the Bell Tower is the Drum Tower This is
a smaller building located in a busy street which is full of street traders and hawkers 17
Xirsquoan used to be the starting point of the Silk Road This road linked Constantinople with China
The journey used to take more than two years Horses camels and carriages brought precious
goods from one part of the world to the other But it was not only material things that were
transported culture religion and languages were also brought to China from what is Turkey
today Two of the worlds leading religions arrived in China along the Silk Route Buddhism and
Islam Islam became particularly popular in the city of Xirsquoan Still today part of the population of
Xirsquoan is Muslim In the center there is the Muslim Quarter (Figure 7) with its handicraft shops
Muslim restaurants and the famous Muslim Mosque It is recommended visiting the Muslim
Quarter on your own The best time to visit is in the afternoon Do not rush Take your time to
enjoy its small streets and numerous shops where you can buy traditional handicrafts It is good
to come here in the afternoon not only to see the vivid and hectic streets at their busiest but also
to have dinner in one of the Muslim Restaurant 15
15
Shopping
Souvenirs If you are visiting the Terracotta Warriors be prepared to meet some of the most
hardcore hawkers you are likely to meet anywhere If you keep quiet they will usually bargain
themselves down in front of you in desperate pleas for your money Buy a 15 cm Terracotta
warrior for yen5-10 even if they offer it to you for yen45 Wood-carved Buddhas and Dragons can
bought for about the same value They are fortunately kept at a distance from the actual site
Actually many travelers report to enjoy this experience Its definitely not a reason to avoid
seeing the Terracotta Warriors The exit from the pit areas to the parking lot leads through long
avenues lined with souvenir stalls and shops The barkers will try to get your business but are
not as aggressive as the touts at the entrance or immediate exits Inside the museum the ldquoreportly
authenticrdquo warriors may cost yen100 The best place to buy souvenirs in the city center is the
bazaar area behind the Drum Tower in the Muslim Quarter around the Great Mosque The seller
usually offers you a very high price and even if you bring them down by 50 they will still
make a big profit This is also a good place to buy folk art specifically folk style block prints in a
single shop which go for about yen50 if you can stand bargaining when the older gentleman artist
himself is standing right there This area is also full of fake name-brand products like watches
bags clothes Bargain hard 1
Another souvenir shopping area is Calligraphy Street It is located near South Gate inside the
city wall towards the east Walking down south street on the left side continue to where the road
splits in front of South Gate and turn left to find the entrance gate next to a small pagoda
Midway do a slight dog leg to the right At the far end is the Forest of Steles Less hectic that the
Muslim Quarter Tang Tricolored Pottery is a style that was lost and has now been recreated
from pieces of pottery found in tombs It is graphic in image and eye-pleasing in color The
factory recreating the style offers over 100 varieties of items like statues animals and utensils
Paper cut is regards the most important arts form in Xian The artisan cut the different pattern of
the picture by hand
Clothes Xian is amazingly cheap for clothes East Street (Dongda Jie) the eastern of the four
big streets descending from the central Bell Tower has regular fashion shops South Street
(Nanda Jie) has finer clothes and shoes (eg Louis Vuitton) Local youngsters buy in Baihui
16
Market 百汇市场） in Xiaozhai (小寨) yen10 by Taxi from city center Its one of those fake-
brand markets Sport shoes should be less than yen150 pullovers and nice jeans sometimes less
than yen100 lots of cheap fashion accessories This is also a great place for DVDs and CDs but
understand these are mostly pirated copies Kangfu Lu is outside the East city wall (straight
through the North East Gate) and a great place for a bargain Nothing is (bargained for) over yen50
and most clothes can be bargained down to about yen20 if you are really aggressive
Department Stores Located between the ancient Bell tower and Drum tower Century Ginwa
Shopping Mall is a landscaped square with profound cultural connotations as well as a high
quality exclusive shopping center The mall opened in 1998 and now houses over sixty world-
famous brands for discriminating customers including Bally Burberry Dior Givenchy
Lancome Estee Lauder and other all of which make Ginwa a fashion center in Xirsquoan Opposite
Ginwa is Kai Yuan Shopping Mall one of the biggest department stores in Xirsquoan Both the price
and the quality of the commodities and the sales service are often praised by shoppers who have
made it one of the most popular shopping places in Xirsquoan Supermarkets are numerous in Xirsquoan
and are primarily distributed around universities and communities However there are some in
the city center and the suburbs that are also easily accessible The most famous include
Vanguard Ai Jia (IGA) Hao You Duo (Trust-Mart) Yi Chu Lian Hua (Lotus Supercenter) Ren
Ren Le etc
Dining
Snacks Visitors to Xirsquoan are recommended to do two things one is to see the clay figures of
terra cotta warriors and horses The other is to taste Yang Rou Pao Mo (a soup dish that involves
breaking wheat flour flat bread into a bowl and adding a delicious mutton stock) Before dinner
you will be served one or two pieces of wheat flour flat bread which you break into tiny chunks
the smaller the better The waiter or the waitress will then hand your bowl to the cook who mixes
the bread and mutton soup with an appropriate relish When the steaming hot meal is brought in
the waiter will also offer you sweet crisp pickled garlic coriander and hot pepper sauce The
most famous the Tong Sheng Xirsquoang (Prosperity and Fortune) Beef and Lamb Paomo
Restaurant done in Tang Dynasty style is a time-honored establishment in the Xirsquoan Bell and
Drum Tower Square 18
17
Next to Tong Sheng Xirsquoang is a great restaurant De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant with its
own version of the Dumpling Banquet Ingredients for the dumpling fillings include various
meats vegetables and seasonings Cooking methods include steaming boiling pan-frying deep
frying and roasting Many flavors including salty sweet hot and sour are offered Other house
specialties include Peking dumplings steamed sweet bean paste buns steamed shrimp paste
buns and various uniquely spiced dishes While guests sample various delicacies traditionally
waiters will explain the cuisine culture of each dumpling One of Xirsquoans most famous specialties
is the Guan Tang Baozi (steamed buns served with sauces inside) served at Jia Brothers
Restaurant in Muslim Snack Street Youll know youre there when you see the monstrous blue
arch over the entrance and a wall festooned with photographs of Xirsquoan notables - TV hosts
writers and musicians The specialty dish is Guan Tang Bao Zi with a choice of beef lamb or
three flavors - lamb mushroom and prawns The buns have piping-hot soup inside so caution
is advised This dish is best washed down with Ba Bao Xi Fan a bowl of sweet rice porridge
filled with peanuts sultanas hawthorn and medlar berries
Fanji is the famous vendor of Shaanxis most widely consumed snack Rou Jia Mo finely
chopped pork stuffed in toasted wheat flour flat bread A piece of good-quality (youzhi) bread
and a bowl of mung bean flour soup will cost you no more than 10 Yuan The state-run
atmosphere is quaint and friendly and the numerous awards that decorate the walls are well
deserved The restaurant is in a lane opposite the Drum Tower south of West Main Street
Besides guan tang baozi in Jia BrothersRestaurant there is barbeque in the Pingwa Kaorou
Shop sour cabbage and beef fried rice in Honghong Suancai Chaomi Restraunt and beef
noodles in Yifenli Restaurant If you would like to taste all the local food at one time in a budget
meal Xirsquoan Restaurant (Xirsquoan Fan Zhuang) offers more than 100 varieties in its first-floor self-
service restaurant It charges only CNY18 per person and is very popular with visitors
Drinking The Chinese are big drinkers especially in Northern and Western China It does not
matter if it is lunch or dinner as long as a meal is being hosted there will be alcohol Chinese
wine is the favorite followed by red wine and beer Chinese wine is more like fuel than liquor
having an alcohol concentration as high as 60 No matter how good a drinker you may think of
yourself never ever challenge a Chinese into a drinking contest They will win hands down 18
18
REFERENCES
1 Wikitravel 2009 Wikitravelorg httpwikitravelorgenXian
2 Xingzhong W 1990 Tourist geography of Xirsquoan GeoJournal 21 147-153
3 Official website of Xirsquoan Municipal Government 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureaboutaboutb
4 Xirsquoan Municipal Commerce and Trade Bureau 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureGovernmentdepartmentsbinfid=142232ampcategoryid=
5 Investment environment of Xirsquoan 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian200811911_1ht
ml (originally reported November 20)
6 Xirsquoan Favorable policies for foreign-invested enterprises 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian2008073868_1
html (originally reported July 21)
7 13th Investment amp Trade Forum for Cooperation between East amp West China 2009
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleNewsnewsgovernmentnews20090410020_1html
(originally reported April 15)
8 Xirsquoan ndash Business Information 2009 httpwwwbiztradeshowscomchinaxianbusinesshtml
9 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiXirsquoan
10 Lewis Bill 2007 Xirsquoan Chinas Western BPO Capital New West China Location can
compete with worlds best to become Major Global BPO and Outsourcing Destination
httpwwwchnsourcingcomarticleArticleotc135320070606093234html (originally reported
June 6)
11 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiGovernment_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China
12 Red Tide Mux 2008 httpredtidewikidotcomxian-laws (originally reported March 23)
13 Facts about Xirsquoan 2009 httpwwwxian-travelcomfactshtm
14 Tourism Administration of Xirsquoan 2006-2008 httpen1xian-tourismcomleadasp
15 Travel China Guide 2009
httpwwwtravelchinaguidecomattractionshaanxixianbigwildgoosehtm
16 Tour ndashBeijingcom 2008
httpwwwtour-beijingcomxian_attractionsbell_tower_drum_towerphp
17 Virtouristcom 2008 httpwwwvirtouristcomasiachinaxian21htm
19
18 Understanding Chinese Business Culture and Etiquette April 19 2009 httpwwwchinese-
culturenethtmlchinese_business_culturehtml
20
APPENDIX A
GDP per Capita yen 27000
Major Exports Machinery electrical products data processing
equipment apparel textile steel mobile phones
Major Foreign Exchange Counters ANZ Grindlays ICICI Standard Chartered amp Thomas
Cook
Key Industries
Iron steel aluminum and other metals coal
chemicals fertilizers consumer products including
footwear toys and electronics
APPENDIX B
Approximate journey times to other major cities Beijing 11-13 hours Chengdu 13-18 hours
Chongqing 14 hours Guangzhou 24 hours Kunming 36-53 hours Lanzhou 8-10 hours Lhasa
36 hours Shanghai 16-20 hours Urumqi 31-56 hours Wuhan 14-18 hours and Zhengzhou 7
hours
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
14
Dynasty 200-meter-long (656-foot-long) sculpture groups 8 groups of sculpted figures 40
relievos on the land and 22 styles of musical fountains
FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6 FIGURE 7
Bell Tower and Drum Tower Jingyun bell Muslim Quarter
Each Ming Dynasty city had a bell tower and a drum tower Xirsquoan was not an exception The
Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xian (Figure 5) date back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644)
The two are located in the center of the Xirsquoan city connecting the four roads from east south
west and north The bell (Figure 6) was sounded at dawn and the drum at dusk each day in
ancient time Today the Tower can only be accessed from the entrance on Bei Dajie where
visitors have to purchase their tickets To the west of the Bell Tower is the Drum Tower This is
a smaller building located in a busy street which is full of street traders and hawkers 17
Xirsquoan used to be the starting point of the Silk Road This road linked Constantinople with China
The journey used to take more than two years Horses camels and carriages brought precious
goods from one part of the world to the other But it was not only material things that were
transported culture religion and languages were also brought to China from what is Turkey
today Two of the worlds leading religions arrived in China along the Silk Route Buddhism and
Islam Islam became particularly popular in the city of Xirsquoan Still today part of the population of
Xirsquoan is Muslim In the center there is the Muslim Quarter (Figure 7) with its handicraft shops
Muslim restaurants and the famous Muslim Mosque It is recommended visiting the Muslim
Quarter on your own The best time to visit is in the afternoon Do not rush Take your time to
enjoy its small streets and numerous shops where you can buy traditional handicrafts It is good
to come here in the afternoon not only to see the vivid and hectic streets at their busiest but also
to have dinner in one of the Muslim Restaurant 15
15
Shopping
Souvenirs If you are visiting the Terracotta Warriors be prepared to meet some of the most
hardcore hawkers you are likely to meet anywhere If you keep quiet they will usually bargain
themselves down in front of you in desperate pleas for your money Buy a 15 cm Terracotta
warrior for yen5-10 even if they offer it to you for yen45 Wood-carved Buddhas and Dragons can
bought for about the same value They are fortunately kept at a distance from the actual site
Actually many travelers report to enjoy this experience Its definitely not a reason to avoid
seeing the Terracotta Warriors The exit from the pit areas to the parking lot leads through long
avenues lined with souvenir stalls and shops The barkers will try to get your business but are
not as aggressive as the touts at the entrance or immediate exits Inside the museum the ldquoreportly
authenticrdquo warriors may cost yen100 The best place to buy souvenirs in the city center is the
bazaar area behind the Drum Tower in the Muslim Quarter around the Great Mosque The seller
usually offers you a very high price and even if you bring them down by 50 they will still
make a big profit This is also a good place to buy folk art specifically folk style block prints in a
single shop which go for about yen50 if you can stand bargaining when the older gentleman artist
himself is standing right there This area is also full of fake name-brand products like watches
bags clothes Bargain hard 1
Another souvenir shopping area is Calligraphy Street It is located near South Gate inside the
city wall towards the east Walking down south street on the left side continue to where the road
splits in front of South Gate and turn left to find the entrance gate next to a small pagoda
Midway do a slight dog leg to the right At the far end is the Forest of Steles Less hectic that the
Muslim Quarter Tang Tricolored Pottery is a style that was lost and has now been recreated
from pieces of pottery found in tombs It is graphic in image and eye-pleasing in color The
factory recreating the style offers over 100 varieties of items like statues animals and utensils
Paper cut is regards the most important arts form in Xian The artisan cut the different pattern of
the picture by hand
Clothes Xian is amazingly cheap for clothes East Street (Dongda Jie) the eastern of the four
big streets descending from the central Bell Tower has regular fashion shops South Street
(Nanda Jie) has finer clothes and shoes (eg Louis Vuitton) Local youngsters buy in Baihui
16
Market 百汇市场） in Xiaozhai (小寨) yen10 by Taxi from city center Its one of those fake-
brand markets Sport shoes should be less than yen150 pullovers and nice jeans sometimes less
than yen100 lots of cheap fashion accessories This is also a great place for DVDs and CDs but
understand these are mostly pirated copies Kangfu Lu is outside the East city wall (straight
through the North East Gate) and a great place for a bargain Nothing is (bargained for) over yen50
and most clothes can be bargained down to about yen20 if you are really aggressive
Department Stores Located between the ancient Bell tower and Drum tower Century Ginwa
Shopping Mall is a landscaped square with profound cultural connotations as well as a high
quality exclusive shopping center The mall opened in 1998 and now houses over sixty world-
famous brands for discriminating customers including Bally Burberry Dior Givenchy
Lancome Estee Lauder and other all of which make Ginwa a fashion center in Xirsquoan Opposite
Ginwa is Kai Yuan Shopping Mall one of the biggest department stores in Xirsquoan Both the price
and the quality of the commodities and the sales service are often praised by shoppers who have
made it one of the most popular shopping places in Xirsquoan Supermarkets are numerous in Xirsquoan
and are primarily distributed around universities and communities However there are some in
the city center and the suburbs that are also easily accessible The most famous include
Vanguard Ai Jia (IGA) Hao You Duo (Trust-Mart) Yi Chu Lian Hua (Lotus Supercenter) Ren
Ren Le etc
Dining
Snacks Visitors to Xirsquoan are recommended to do two things one is to see the clay figures of
terra cotta warriors and horses The other is to taste Yang Rou Pao Mo (a soup dish that involves
breaking wheat flour flat bread into a bowl and adding a delicious mutton stock) Before dinner
you will be served one or two pieces of wheat flour flat bread which you break into tiny chunks
the smaller the better The waiter or the waitress will then hand your bowl to the cook who mixes
the bread and mutton soup with an appropriate relish When the steaming hot meal is brought in
the waiter will also offer you sweet crisp pickled garlic coriander and hot pepper sauce The
most famous the Tong Sheng Xirsquoang (Prosperity and Fortune) Beef and Lamb Paomo
Restaurant done in Tang Dynasty style is a time-honored establishment in the Xirsquoan Bell and
Drum Tower Square 18
17
Next to Tong Sheng Xirsquoang is a great restaurant De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant with its
own version of the Dumpling Banquet Ingredients for the dumpling fillings include various
meats vegetables and seasonings Cooking methods include steaming boiling pan-frying deep
frying and roasting Many flavors including salty sweet hot and sour are offered Other house
specialties include Peking dumplings steamed sweet bean paste buns steamed shrimp paste
buns and various uniquely spiced dishes While guests sample various delicacies traditionally
waiters will explain the cuisine culture of each dumpling One of Xirsquoans most famous specialties
is the Guan Tang Baozi (steamed buns served with sauces inside) served at Jia Brothers
Restaurant in Muslim Snack Street Youll know youre there when you see the monstrous blue
arch over the entrance and a wall festooned with photographs of Xirsquoan notables - TV hosts
writers and musicians The specialty dish is Guan Tang Bao Zi with a choice of beef lamb or
three flavors - lamb mushroom and prawns The buns have piping-hot soup inside so caution
is advised This dish is best washed down with Ba Bao Xi Fan a bowl of sweet rice porridge
filled with peanuts sultanas hawthorn and medlar berries
Fanji is the famous vendor of Shaanxis most widely consumed snack Rou Jia Mo finely
chopped pork stuffed in toasted wheat flour flat bread A piece of good-quality (youzhi) bread
and a bowl of mung bean flour soup will cost you no more than 10 Yuan The state-run
atmosphere is quaint and friendly and the numerous awards that decorate the walls are well
deserved The restaurant is in a lane opposite the Drum Tower south of West Main Street
Besides guan tang baozi in Jia BrothersRestaurant there is barbeque in the Pingwa Kaorou
Shop sour cabbage and beef fried rice in Honghong Suancai Chaomi Restraunt and beef
noodles in Yifenli Restaurant If you would like to taste all the local food at one time in a budget
meal Xirsquoan Restaurant (Xirsquoan Fan Zhuang) offers more than 100 varieties in its first-floor self-
service restaurant It charges only CNY18 per person and is very popular with visitors
Drinking The Chinese are big drinkers especially in Northern and Western China It does not
matter if it is lunch or dinner as long as a meal is being hosted there will be alcohol Chinese
wine is the favorite followed by red wine and beer Chinese wine is more like fuel than liquor
having an alcohol concentration as high as 60 No matter how good a drinker you may think of
yourself never ever challenge a Chinese into a drinking contest They will win hands down 18
18
REFERENCES
1 Wikitravel 2009 Wikitravelorg httpwikitravelorgenXian
2 Xingzhong W 1990 Tourist geography of Xirsquoan GeoJournal 21 147-153
3 Official website of Xirsquoan Municipal Government 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureaboutaboutb
4 Xirsquoan Municipal Commerce and Trade Bureau 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureGovernmentdepartmentsbinfid=142232ampcategoryid=
5 Investment environment of Xirsquoan 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian200811911_1ht
ml (originally reported November 20)
6 Xirsquoan Favorable policies for foreign-invested enterprises 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian2008073868_1
html (originally reported July 21)
7 13th Investment amp Trade Forum for Cooperation between East amp West China 2009
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleNewsnewsgovernmentnews20090410020_1html
(originally reported April 15)
8 Xirsquoan ndash Business Information 2009 httpwwwbiztradeshowscomchinaxianbusinesshtml
9 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiXirsquoan
10 Lewis Bill 2007 Xirsquoan Chinas Western BPO Capital New West China Location can
compete with worlds best to become Major Global BPO and Outsourcing Destination
httpwwwchnsourcingcomarticleArticleotc135320070606093234html (originally reported
June 6)
11 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiGovernment_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China
12 Red Tide Mux 2008 httpredtidewikidotcomxian-laws (originally reported March 23)
13 Facts about Xirsquoan 2009 httpwwwxian-travelcomfactshtm
14 Tourism Administration of Xirsquoan 2006-2008 httpen1xian-tourismcomleadasp
15 Travel China Guide 2009
httpwwwtravelchinaguidecomattractionshaanxixianbigwildgoosehtm
16 Tour ndashBeijingcom 2008
httpwwwtour-beijingcomxian_attractionsbell_tower_drum_towerphp
17 Virtouristcom 2008 httpwwwvirtouristcomasiachinaxian21htm
19
18 Understanding Chinese Business Culture and Etiquette April 19 2009 httpwwwchinese-
culturenethtmlchinese_business_culturehtml
20
APPENDIX A
GDP per Capita yen 27000
Major Exports Machinery electrical products data processing
equipment apparel textile steel mobile phones
Major Foreign Exchange Counters ANZ Grindlays ICICI Standard Chartered amp Thomas
Cook
Key Industries
Iron steel aluminum and other metals coal
chemicals fertilizers consumer products including
footwear toys and electronics
APPENDIX B
Approximate journey times to other major cities Beijing 11-13 hours Chengdu 13-18 hours
Chongqing 14 hours Guangzhou 24 hours Kunming 36-53 hours Lanzhou 8-10 hours Lhasa
36 hours Shanghai 16-20 hours Urumqi 31-56 hours Wuhan 14-18 hours and Zhengzhou 7
hours
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
15
Shopping
Souvenirs If you are visiting the Terracotta Warriors be prepared to meet some of the most
hardcore hawkers you are likely to meet anywhere If you keep quiet they will usually bargain
themselves down in front of you in desperate pleas for your money Buy a 15 cm Terracotta
warrior for yen5-10 even if they offer it to you for yen45 Wood-carved Buddhas and Dragons can
bought for about the same value They are fortunately kept at a distance from the actual site
Actually many travelers report to enjoy this experience Its definitely not a reason to avoid
seeing the Terracotta Warriors The exit from the pit areas to the parking lot leads through long
avenues lined with souvenir stalls and shops The barkers will try to get your business but are
not as aggressive as the touts at the entrance or immediate exits Inside the museum the ldquoreportly
authenticrdquo warriors may cost yen100 The best place to buy souvenirs in the city center is the
bazaar area behind the Drum Tower in the Muslim Quarter around the Great Mosque The seller
usually offers you a very high price and even if you bring them down by 50 they will still
make a big profit This is also a good place to buy folk art specifically folk style block prints in a
single shop which go for about yen50 if you can stand bargaining when the older gentleman artist
himself is standing right there This area is also full of fake name-brand products like watches
bags clothes Bargain hard 1
Another souvenir shopping area is Calligraphy Street It is located near South Gate inside the
city wall towards the east Walking down south street on the left side continue to where the road
splits in front of South Gate and turn left to find the entrance gate next to a small pagoda
Midway do a slight dog leg to the right At the far end is the Forest of Steles Less hectic that the
Muslim Quarter Tang Tricolored Pottery is a style that was lost and has now been recreated
from pieces of pottery found in tombs It is graphic in image and eye-pleasing in color The
factory recreating the style offers over 100 varieties of items like statues animals and utensils
Paper cut is regards the most important arts form in Xian The artisan cut the different pattern of
the picture by hand
Clothes Xian is amazingly cheap for clothes East Street (Dongda Jie) the eastern of the four
big streets descending from the central Bell Tower has regular fashion shops South Street
(Nanda Jie) has finer clothes and shoes (eg Louis Vuitton) Local youngsters buy in Baihui
16
Market 百汇市场） in Xiaozhai (小寨) yen10 by Taxi from city center Its one of those fake-
brand markets Sport shoes should be less than yen150 pullovers and nice jeans sometimes less
than yen100 lots of cheap fashion accessories This is also a great place for DVDs and CDs but
understand these are mostly pirated copies Kangfu Lu is outside the East city wall (straight
through the North East Gate) and a great place for a bargain Nothing is (bargained for) over yen50
and most clothes can be bargained down to about yen20 if you are really aggressive
Department Stores Located between the ancient Bell tower and Drum tower Century Ginwa
Shopping Mall is a landscaped square with profound cultural connotations as well as a high
quality exclusive shopping center The mall opened in 1998 and now houses over sixty world-
famous brands for discriminating customers including Bally Burberry Dior Givenchy
Lancome Estee Lauder and other all of which make Ginwa a fashion center in Xirsquoan Opposite
Ginwa is Kai Yuan Shopping Mall one of the biggest department stores in Xirsquoan Both the price
and the quality of the commodities and the sales service are often praised by shoppers who have
made it one of the most popular shopping places in Xirsquoan Supermarkets are numerous in Xirsquoan
and are primarily distributed around universities and communities However there are some in
the city center and the suburbs that are also easily accessible The most famous include
Vanguard Ai Jia (IGA) Hao You Duo (Trust-Mart) Yi Chu Lian Hua (Lotus Supercenter) Ren
Ren Le etc
Dining
Snacks Visitors to Xirsquoan are recommended to do two things one is to see the clay figures of
terra cotta warriors and horses The other is to taste Yang Rou Pao Mo (a soup dish that involves
breaking wheat flour flat bread into a bowl and adding a delicious mutton stock) Before dinner
you will be served one or two pieces of wheat flour flat bread which you break into tiny chunks
the smaller the better The waiter or the waitress will then hand your bowl to the cook who mixes
the bread and mutton soup with an appropriate relish When the steaming hot meal is brought in
the waiter will also offer you sweet crisp pickled garlic coriander and hot pepper sauce The
most famous the Tong Sheng Xirsquoang (Prosperity and Fortune) Beef and Lamb Paomo
Restaurant done in Tang Dynasty style is a time-honored establishment in the Xirsquoan Bell and
Drum Tower Square 18
17
Next to Tong Sheng Xirsquoang is a great restaurant De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant with its
own version of the Dumpling Banquet Ingredients for the dumpling fillings include various
meats vegetables and seasonings Cooking methods include steaming boiling pan-frying deep
frying and roasting Many flavors including salty sweet hot and sour are offered Other house
specialties include Peking dumplings steamed sweet bean paste buns steamed shrimp paste
buns and various uniquely spiced dishes While guests sample various delicacies traditionally
waiters will explain the cuisine culture of each dumpling One of Xirsquoans most famous specialties
is the Guan Tang Baozi (steamed buns served with sauces inside) served at Jia Brothers
Restaurant in Muslim Snack Street Youll know youre there when you see the monstrous blue
arch over the entrance and a wall festooned with photographs of Xirsquoan notables - TV hosts
writers and musicians The specialty dish is Guan Tang Bao Zi with a choice of beef lamb or
three flavors - lamb mushroom and prawns The buns have piping-hot soup inside so caution
is advised This dish is best washed down with Ba Bao Xi Fan a bowl of sweet rice porridge
filled with peanuts sultanas hawthorn and medlar berries
Fanji is the famous vendor of Shaanxis most widely consumed snack Rou Jia Mo finely
chopped pork stuffed in toasted wheat flour flat bread A piece of good-quality (youzhi) bread
and a bowl of mung bean flour soup will cost you no more than 10 Yuan The state-run
atmosphere is quaint and friendly and the numerous awards that decorate the walls are well
deserved The restaurant is in a lane opposite the Drum Tower south of West Main Street
Besides guan tang baozi in Jia BrothersRestaurant there is barbeque in the Pingwa Kaorou
Shop sour cabbage and beef fried rice in Honghong Suancai Chaomi Restraunt and beef
noodles in Yifenli Restaurant If you would like to taste all the local food at one time in a budget
meal Xirsquoan Restaurant (Xirsquoan Fan Zhuang) offers more than 100 varieties in its first-floor self-
service restaurant It charges only CNY18 per person and is very popular with visitors
Drinking The Chinese are big drinkers especially in Northern and Western China It does not
matter if it is lunch or dinner as long as a meal is being hosted there will be alcohol Chinese
wine is the favorite followed by red wine and beer Chinese wine is more like fuel than liquor
having an alcohol concentration as high as 60 No matter how good a drinker you may think of
yourself never ever challenge a Chinese into a drinking contest They will win hands down 18
18
REFERENCES
1 Wikitravel 2009 Wikitravelorg httpwikitravelorgenXian
2 Xingzhong W 1990 Tourist geography of Xirsquoan GeoJournal 21 147-153
3 Official website of Xirsquoan Municipal Government 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureaboutaboutb
4 Xirsquoan Municipal Commerce and Trade Bureau 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureGovernmentdepartmentsbinfid=142232ampcategoryid=
5 Investment environment of Xirsquoan 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian200811911_1ht
ml (originally reported November 20)
6 Xirsquoan Favorable policies for foreign-invested enterprises 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian2008073868_1
html (originally reported July 21)
7 13th Investment amp Trade Forum for Cooperation between East amp West China 2009
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleNewsnewsgovernmentnews20090410020_1html
(originally reported April 15)
8 Xirsquoan ndash Business Information 2009 httpwwwbiztradeshowscomchinaxianbusinesshtml
9 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiXirsquoan
10 Lewis Bill 2007 Xirsquoan Chinas Western BPO Capital New West China Location can
compete with worlds best to become Major Global BPO and Outsourcing Destination
httpwwwchnsourcingcomarticleArticleotc135320070606093234html (originally reported
June 6)
11 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiGovernment_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China
12 Red Tide Mux 2008 httpredtidewikidotcomxian-laws (originally reported March 23)
13 Facts about Xirsquoan 2009 httpwwwxian-travelcomfactshtm
14 Tourism Administration of Xirsquoan 2006-2008 httpen1xian-tourismcomleadasp
15 Travel China Guide 2009
httpwwwtravelchinaguidecomattractionshaanxixianbigwildgoosehtm
16 Tour ndashBeijingcom 2008
httpwwwtour-beijingcomxian_attractionsbell_tower_drum_towerphp
17 Virtouristcom 2008 httpwwwvirtouristcomasiachinaxian21htm
19
18 Understanding Chinese Business Culture and Etiquette April 19 2009 httpwwwchinese-
culturenethtmlchinese_business_culturehtml
20
APPENDIX A
GDP per Capita yen 27000
Major Exports Machinery electrical products data processing
equipment apparel textile steel mobile phones
Major Foreign Exchange Counters ANZ Grindlays ICICI Standard Chartered amp Thomas
Cook
Key Industries
Iron steel aluminum and other metals coal
chemicals fertilizers consumer products including
footwear toys and electronics
APPENDIX B
Approximate journey times to other major cities Beijing 11-13 hours Chengdu 13-18 hours
Chongqing 14 hours Guangzhou 24 hours Kunming 36-53 hours Lanzhou 8-10 hours Lhasa
36 hours Shanghai 16-20 hours Urumqi 31-56 hours Wuhan 14-18 hours and Zhengzhou 7
hours
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
16
Market 百汇市场） in Xiaozhai (小寨) yen10 by Taxi from city center Its one of those fake-
brand markets Sport shoes should be less than yen150 pullovers and nice jeans sometimes less
than yen100 lots of cheap fashion accessories This is also a great place for DVDs and CDs but
understand these are mostly pirated copies Kangfu Lu is outside the East city wall (straight
through the North East Gate) and a great place for a bargain Nothing is (bargained for) over yen50
and most clothes can be bargained down to about yen20 if you are really aggressive
Department Stores Located between the ancient Bell tower and Drum tower Century Ginwa
Shopping Mall is a landscaped square with profound cultural connotations as well as a high
quality exclusive shopping center The mall opened in 1998 and now houses over sixty world-
famous brands for discriminating customers including Bally Burberry Dior Givenchy
Lancome Estee Lauder and other all of which make Ginwa a fashion center in Xirsquoan Opposite
Ginwa is Kai Yuan Shopping Mall one of the biggest department stores in Xirsquoan Both the price
and the quality of the commodities and the sales service are often praised by shoppers who have
made it one of the most popular shopping places in Xirsquoan Supermarkets are numerous in Xirsquoan
and are primarily distributed around universities and communities However there are some in
the city center and the suburbs that are also easily accessible The most famous include
Vanguard Ai Jia (IGA) Hao You Duo (Trust-Mart) Yi Chu Lian Hua (Lotus Supercenter) Ren
Ren Le etc
Dining
Snacks Visitors to Xirsquoan are recommended to do two things one is to see the clay figures of
terra cotta warriors and horses The other is to taste Yang Rou Pao Mo (a soup dish that involves
breaking wheat flour flat bread into a bowl and adding a delicious mutton stock) Before dinner
you will be served one or two pieces of wheat flour flat bread which you break into tiny chunks
the smaller the better The waiter or the waitress will then hand your bowl to the cook who mixes
the bread and mutton soup with an appropriate relish When the steaming hot meal is brought in
the waiter will also offer you sweet crisp pickled garlic coriander and hot pepper sauce The
most famous the Tong Sheng Xirsquoang (Prosperity and Fortune) Beef and Lamb Paomo
Restaurant done in Tang Dynasty style is a time-honored establishment in the Xirsquoan Bell and
Drum Tower Square 18
17
Next to Tong Sheng Xirsquoang is a great restaurant De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant with its
own version of the Dumpling Banquet Ingredients for the dumpling fillings include various
meats vegetables and seasonings Cooking methods include steaming boiling pan-frying deep
frying and roasting Many flavors including salty sweet hot and sour are offered Other house
specialties include Peking dumplings steamed sweet bean paste buns steamed shrimp paste
buns and various uniquely spiced dishes While guests sample various delicacies traditionally
waiters will explain the cuisine culture of each dumpling One of Xirsquoans most famous specialties
is the Guan Tang Baozi (steamed buns served with sauces inside) served at Jia Brothers
Restaurant in Muslim Snack Street Youll know youre there when you see the monstrous blue
arch over the entrance and a wall festooned with photographs of Xirsquoan notables - TV hosts
writers and musicians The specialty dish is Guan Tang Bao Zi with a choice of beef lamb or
three flavors - lamb mushroom and prawns The buns have piping-hot soup inside so caution
is advised This dish is best washed down with Ba Bao Xi Fan a bowl of sweet rice porridge
filled with peanuts sultanas hawthorn and medlar berries
Fanji is the famous vendor of Shaanxis most widely consumed snack Rou Jia Mo finely
chopped pork stuffed in toasted wheat flour flat bread A piece of good-quality (youzhi) bread
and a bowl of mung bean flour soup will cost you no more than 10 Yuan The state-run
atmosphere is quaint and friendly and the numerous awards that decorate the walls are well
deserved The restaurant is in a lane opposite the Drum Tower south of West Main Street
Besides guan tang baozi in Jia BrothersRestaurant there is barbeque in the Pingwa Kaorou
Shop sour cabbage and beef fried rice in Honghong Suancai Chaomi Restraunt and beef
noodles in Yifenli Restaurant If you would like to taste all the local food at one time in a budget
meal Xirsquoan Restaurant (Xirsquoan Fan Zhuang) offers more than 100 varieties in its first-floor self-
service restaurant It charges only CNY18 per person and is very popular with visitors
Drinking The Chinese are big drinkers especially in Northern and Western China It does not
matter if it is lunch or dinner as long as a meal is being hosted there will be alcohol Chinese
wine is the favorite followed by red wine and beer Chinese wine is more like fuel than liquor
having an alcohol concentration as high as 60 No matter how good a drinker you may think of
yourself never ever challenge a Chinese into a drinking contest They will win hands down 18
18
REFERENCES
1 Wikitravel 2009 Wikitravelorg httpwikitravelorgenXian
2 Xingzhong W 1990 Tourist geography of Xirsquoan GeoJournal 21 147-153
3 Official website of Xirsquoan Municipal Government 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureaboutaboutb
4 Xirsquoan Municipal Commerce and Trade Bureau 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureGovernmentdepartmentsbinfid=142232ampcategoryid=
5 Investment environment of Xirsquoan 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian200811911_1ht
ml (originally reported November 20)
6 Xirsquoan Favorable policies for foreign-invested enterprises 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian2008073868_1
html (originally reported July 21)
7 13th Investment amp Trade Forum for Cooperation between East amp West China 2009
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleNewsnewsgovernmentnews20090410020_1html
(originally reported April 15)
8 Xirsquoan ndash Business Information 2009 httpwwwbiztradeshowscomchinaxianbusinesshtml
9 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiXirsquoan
10 Lewis Bill 2007 Xirsquoan Chinas Western BPO Capital New West China Location can
compete with worlds best to become Major Global BPO and Outsourcing Destination
httpwwwchnsourcingcomarticleArticleotc135320070606093234html (originally reported
June 6)
11 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiGovernment_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China
12 Red Tide Mux 2008 httpredtidewikidotcomxian-laws (originally reported March 23)
13 Facts about Xirsquoan 2009 httpwwwxian-travelcomfactshtm
14 Tourism Administration of Xirsquoan 2006-2008 httpen1xian-tourismcomleadasp
15 Travel China Guide 2009
httpwwwtravelchinaguidecomattractionshaanxixianbigwildgoosehtm
16 Tour ndashBeijingcom 2008
httpwwwtour-beijingcomxian_attractionsbell_tower_drum_towerphp
17 Virtouristcom 2008 httpwwwvirtouristcomasiachinaxian21htm
19
18 Understanding Chinese Business Culture and Etiquette April 19 2009 httpwwwchinese-
culturenethtmlchinese_business_culturehtml
20
APPENDIX A
GDP per Capita yen 27000
Major Exports Machinery electrical products data processing
equipment apparel textile steel mobile phones
Major Foreign Exchange Counters ANZ Grindlays ICICI Standard Chartered amp Thomas
Cook
Key Industries
Iron steel aluminum and other metals coal
chemicals fertilizers consumer products including
footwear toys and electronics
APPENDIX B
Approximate journey times to other major cities Beijing 11-13 hours Chengdu 13-18 hours
Chongqing 14 hours Guangzhou 24 hours Kunming 36-53 hours Lanzhou 8-10 hours Lhasa
36 hours Shanghai 16-20 hours Urumqi 31-56 hours Wuhan 14-18 hours and Zhengzhou 7
hours
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
17
Next to Tong Sheng Xirsquoang is a great restaurant De Fa Chang Dumpling Restaurant with its
own version of the Dumpling Banquet Ingredients for the dumpling fillings include various
meats vegetables and seasonings Cooking methods include steaming boiling pan-frying deep
frying and roasting Many flavors including salty sweet hot and sour are offered Other house
specialties include Peking dumplings steamed sweet bean paste buns steamed shrimp paste
buns and various uniquely spiced dishes While guests sample various delicacies traditionally
waiters will explain the cuisine culture of each dumpling One of Xirsquoans most famous specialties
is the Guan Tang Baozi (steamed buns served with sauces inside) served at Jia Brothers
Restaurant in Muslim Snack Street Youll know youre there when you see the monstrous blue
arch over the entrance and a wall festooned with photographs of Xirsquoan notables - TV hosts
writers and musicians The specialty dish is Guan Tang Bao Zi with a choice of beef lamb or
three flavors - lamb mushroom and prawns The buns have piping-hot soup inside so caution
is advised This dish is best washed down with Ba Bao Xi Fan a bowl of sweet rice porridge
filled with peanuts sultanas hawthorn and medlar berries
Fanji is the famous vendor of Shaanxis most widely consumed snack Rou Jia Mo finely
chopped pork stuffed in toasted wheat flour flat bread A piece of good-quality (youzhi) bread
and a bowl of mung bean flour soup will cost you no more than 10 Yuan The state-run
atmosphere is quaint and friendly and the numerous awards that decorate the walls are well
deserved The restaurant is in a lane opposite the Drum Tower south of West Main Street
Besides guan tang baozi in Jia BrothersRestaurant there is barbeque in the Pingwa Kaorou
Shop sour cabbage and beef fried rice in Honghong Suancai Chaomi Restraunt and beef
noodles in Yifenli Restaurant If you would like to taste all the local food at one time in a budget
meal Xirsquoan Restaurant (Xirsquoan Fan Zhuang) offers more than 100 varieties in its first-floor self-
service restaurant It charges only CNY18 per person and is very popular with visitors
Drinking The Chinese are big drinkers especially in Northern and Western China It does not
matter if it is lunch or dinner as long as a meal is being hosted there will be alcohol Chinese
wine is the favorite followed by red wine and beer Chinese wine is more like fuel than liquor
having an alcohol concentration as high as 60 No matter how good a drinker you may think of
yourself never ever challenge a Chinese into a drinking contest They will win hands down 18
18
REFERENCES
1 Wikitravel 2009 Wikitravelorg httpwikitravelorgenXian
2 Xingzhong W 1990 Tourist geography of Xirsquoan GeoJournal 21 147-153
3 Official website of Xirsquoan Municipal Government 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureaboutaboutb
4 Xirsquoan Municipal Commerce and Trade Bureau 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureGovernmentdepartmentsbinfid=142232ampcategoryid=
5 Investment environment of Xirsquoan 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian200811911_1ht
ml (originally reported November 20)
6 Xirsquoan Favorable policies for foreign-invested enterprises 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian2008073868_1
html (originally reported July 21)
7 13th Investment amp Trade Forum for Cooperation between East amp West China 2009
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleNewsnewsgovernmentnews20090410020_1html
(originally reported April 15)
8 Xirsquoan ndash Business Information 2009 httpwwwbiztradeshowscomchinaxianbusinesshtml
9 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiXirsquoan
10 Lewis Bill 2007 Xirsquoan Chinas Western BPO Capital New West China Location can
compete with worlds best to become Major Global BPO and Outsourcing Destination
httpwwwchnsourcingcomarticleArticleotc135320070606093234html (originally reported
June 6)
11 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiGovernment_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China
12 Red Tide Mux 2008 httpredtidewikidotcomxian-laws (originally reported March 23)
13 Facts about Xirsquoan 2009 httpwwwxian-travelcomfactshtm
14 Tourism Administration of Xirsquoan 2006-2008 httpen1xian-tourismcomleadasp
15 Travel China Guide 2009
httpwwwtravelchinaguidecomattractionshaanxixianbigwildgoosehtm
16 Tour ndashBeijingcom 2008
httpwwwtour-beijingcomxian_attractionsbell_tower_drum_towerphp
17 Virtouristcom 2008 httpwwwvirtouristcomasiachinaxian21htm
19
18 Understanding Chinese Business Culture and Etiquette April 19 2009 httpwwwchinese-
culturenethtmlchinese_business_culturehtml
20
APPENDIX A
GDP per Capita yen 27000
Major Exports Machinery electrical products data processing
equipment apparel textile steel mobile phones
Major Foreign Exchange Counters ANZ Grindlays ICICI Standard Chartered amp Thomas
Cook
Key Industries
Iron steel aluminum and other metals coal
chemicals fertilizers consumer products including
footwear toys and electronics
APPENDIX B
Approximate journey times to other major cities Beijing 11-13 hours Chengdu 13-18 hours
Chongqing 14 hours Guangzhou 24 hours Kunming 36-53 hours Lanzhou 8-10 hours Lhasa
36 hours Shanghai 16-20 hours Urumqi 31-56 hours Wuhan 14-18 hours and Zhengzhou 7
hours
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
18
REFERENCES
1 Wikitravel 2009 Wikitravelorg httpwikitravelorgenXian
2 Xingzhong W 1990 Tourist geography of Xirsquoan GeoJournal 21 147-153
3 Official website of Xirsquoan Municipal Government 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureaboutaboutb
4 Xirsquoan Municipal Commerce and Trade Bureau 2008
httpenxagovcnstructureGovernmentdepartmentsbinfid=142232ampcategoryid=
5 Investment environment of Xirsquoan 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian200811911_1ht
ml (originally reported November 20)
6 Xirsquoan Favorable policies for foreign-invested enterprises 2008
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleInvestmentinvestmentenvironmentonxian2008073868_1
html (originally reported July 21)
7 13th Investment amp Trade Forum for Cooperation between East amp West China 2009
httpenglishshaanxigovcnarticleNewsnewsgovernmentnews20090410020_1html
(originally reported April 15)
8 Xirsquoan ndash Business Information 2009 httpwwwbiztradeshowscomchinaxianbusinesshtml
9 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiXirsquoan
10 Lewis Bill 2007 Xirsquoan Chinas Western BPO Capital New West China Location can
compete with worlds best to become Major Global BPO and Outsourcing Destination
httpwwwchnsourcingcomarticleArticleotc135320070606093234html (originally reported
June 6)
11 Wikipedia 2009 httpenwikipediaorgwikiGovernment_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China
12 Red Tide Mux 2008 httpredtidewikidotcomxian-laws (originally reported March 23)
13 Facts about Xirsquoan 2009 httpwwwxian-travelcomfactshtm
14 Tourism Administration of Xirsquoan 2006-2008 httpen1xian-tourismcomleadasp
15 Travel China Guide 2009
httpwwwtravelchinaguidecomattractionshaanxixianbigwildgoosehtm
16 Tour ndashBeijingcom 2008
httpwwwtour-beijingcomxian_attractionsbell_tower_drum_towerphp
17 Virtouristcom 2008 httpwwwvirtouristcomasiachinaxian21htm
19
18 Understanding Chinese Business Culture and Etiquette April 19 2009 httpwwwchinese-
culturenethtmlchinese_business_culturehtml
20
APPENDIX A
GDP per Capita yen 27000
Major Exports Machinery electrical products data processing
equipment apparel textile steel mobile phones
Major Foreign Exchange Counters ANZ Grindlays ICICI Standard Chartered amp Thomas
Cook
Key Industries
Iron steel aluminum and other metals coal
chemicals fertilizers consumer products including
footwear toys and electronics
APPENDIX B
Approximate journey times to other major cities Beijing 11-13 hours Chengdu 13-18 hours
Chongqing 14 hours Guangzhou 24 hours Kunming 36-53 hours Lanzhou 8-10 hours Lhasa
36 hours Shanghai 16-20 hours Urumqi 31-56 hours Wuhan 14-18 hours and Zhengzhou 7
hours
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
19
18 Understanding Chinese Business Culture and Etiquette April 19 2009 httpwwwchinese-
culturenethtmlchinese_business_culturehtml
20
APPENDIX A
GDP per Capita yen 27000
Major Exports Machinery electrical products data processing
equipment apparel textile steel mobile phones
Major Foreign Exchange Counters ANZ Grindlays ICICI Standard Chartered amp Thomas
Cook
Key Industries
Iron steel aluminum and other metals coal
chemicals fertilizers consumer products including
footwear toys and electronics
APPENDIX B
Approximate journey times to other major cities Beijing 11-13 hours Chengdu 13-18 hours
Chongqing 14 hours Guangzhou 24 hours Kunming 36-53 hours Lanzhou 8-10 hours Lhasa
36 hours Shanghai 16-20 hours Urumqi 31-56 hours Wuhan 14-18 hours and Zhengzhou 7
hours
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
20
APPENDIX A
GDP per Capita yen 27000
Major Exports Machinery electrical products data processing
equipment apparel textile steel mobile phones
Major Foreign Exchange Counters ANZ Grindlays ICICI Standard Chartered amp Thomas
Cook
Key Industries
Iron steel aluminum and other metals coal
chemicals fertilizers consumer products including
footwear toys and electronics
APPENDIX B
Approximate journey times to other major cities Beijing 11-13 hours Chengdu 13-18 hours
Chongqing 14 hours Guangzhou 24 hours Kunming 36-53 hours Lanzhou 8-10 hours Lhasa
36 hours Shanghai 16-20 hours Urumqi 31-56 hours Wuhan 14-18 hours and Zhengzhou 7
hours
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
21
APPENDIX C
Map of Xian can be found at
httpwwwchinaodysseytourscommapsxian_maphtm
httpwwwchinahighlightscomimagexianmapxian-city-map-1jpg
