Xian - The Terracota Worriers

The Terracotta Warriors are on everyone's bucket list - they are incredible. However, I would like to prepare you if you are planning a visit, the Chinese Government now allow 80,000 visitors a day in the site! It is madly busy in the viewing of the pits of the warriors, so be prepared for queues, jostling and the heat.

Standing in battle-ready formation and numbering into the thousands, the Terracotta Army is Xi'an's most popular sight and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. Discover this imposing army by visiting the archaeological site and visit the clay workshops specializing in replica figurines of the Terracotta Warriors.

Xi'an also has an ancient city wall which surrounds the old city and separating the historic centre from the newer suburbs that have developed around it. The city walls are one of the first landmarks you encounter. We explored these ancient walls on a bike ride, stopping at the corner watchtowers to admiring the defensive ramparts along the way, and have a selfie with the Chinese!

Xi'an has a fantastic food market, vibrant and full of all types of food which the locals love - worth visiting day and night. The Tang Dynasty Show is a traditional music, song and dance show which is well worth seeing.

We travelled from Xi'an to Beijing on the bullet train in 5 hours - at a speed of 300 km per hour - so smooth and comfortable.