We started our tour of the city Tuesday morning. We first went to a place called the “Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.” During the Tang Dynasty, a Buddhist monk named Xuanzang traveled to India and brought back a lot of Buddhist manuscripts to Xi’an. The emperor built this seven-story pagoda to house the manuscripts and to also provide a place where Xuanzang could translate them. The city of Xi’an is considered very influential in the spread of Buddhism throughout China. The pagoda is built at the heart of the city, and all the major roads lead back to it. The pagoda was beautiful and everything was written in traditional characters so I could actually understand the meanings of the writings inside. There was just one thing I didn’t understand. What in the world did a wild goose have to do with an ancient Buddhist pagoda?! Well, I guess some things in life are just not meant to be understood. :)
After lunch, we went to a place where the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty had his palace. It was just a movie set built for an old Japanese film. I think we all tried to find it cool and really search for the significance of the place. We tried in vain.
Later in the afternoon, we went to the ancient city wall of Xi’an. It is known as one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls, and it was beautiful and huge! I was also excited to go there because my trainer, Phillip, was studying in Xi’an and we planned on meeting up at the city wall. It was so good to see him! Phillip was one of my best friends on my mission, and we had the unique opportunity to be companions twice. I have never met a missionary who loved the Lord more than Phillip did, and he had such a positive influence on my mission. We rented bikes and rode on top of the city wall for about an hour. It was so fun! I couldn’t believe that I was riding a bicycle on the ancient city wall of Xi’an with my trainer! The weather was beautiful, the scenery was gorgeous, and we just had such a fun time catching up and telling the same stories that we’ve both heard dozens of times. :)
After we finally made it around the whole city wall, Phillip went back to his apartment and the rest of our group went to dinner and a show. The dinner consisted of eating 18 different kinds of dumplings, my favorite being the ginger-flavored chicken dumpling in the form of a rubber ducky. Mmm! The show was well done, and I think it helped all of us better understand the significance of Xi’an in ancient China.
Thursday was a completely open day, so we took the liberty of sleeping in and leisurely getting ready. We spent the day in downtown Xi’an at this huge Muslim street market. I bought Christmas presents for my family (it’s never too early to get into the Christmas spirit, right Ash?) and enjoyed “bargaining” with the street vendors all day. :) That night, I had dinner with Phillip at the Chinese equivalent of McDonalds. I dare say that it was the worst meal I have ever had in my life. DJ and Blue, what do you guys eat in Taiwan?! My chicken had so many bones in it I still don’t know if I got to any of the meat, and Phillip’s hamburger consisted of a bun made of rice and Thousand Island dressing. We still suspect there was probably meat somewhere in there. I chalked it up as yet another cultural experience. :)
We went to go see the Terracotta Army on Friday morning. The figures were built to protect the tomb of the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, and they were just discovered in 1974 by a local farmer. The farmer was actually there that day, but he refused to take pictures because he was too tired. What a prima donna! I can’t resist. In what movie is the main actor regarded as a “prima donna” weatherman? I’ll give you a hint. “Hey, hey! Now, don't you tell me you don't remember me because I sure as heckfire remember you!” I love it. :) The army was pretty impressive and I thought it was amazing that they are still uncovering more!
After seeing the Terracotta Army, we went to the actual burial site of the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty, ate lunch, and then went to the train station.
20 hours later (this trip has solidified my position that trains are very much not my preferred method of transportation!) we arrived back in Nanjing. Our tour of the Silk Road was so fun! We experienced things I would never have been able to experience in other ways. I am grateful for the opportunity I have to study here in China. A year ago, I never would have imagined that I would be here. It was never one of my dreams to come to the Mainland. My first couple of weeks here, I was wondering to myself, “What in the world are you doing here?!” However, I am beginning to see that I am learning things and growing in ways that although I didn’t know I needed to learn these things or grow in these ways, the Lord knew. I have felt His guidance, strength, and peace since I’ve been here. I feel so blessed.
It was a wonderful trip, but I think all of us were happy to get back to Nanjing and get back to our daily schedule. But, goodness, they are working us hard! After traveling around China for the last week, we went to class Monday-Wednesday, and then we started another week-long break because of a Chinese national holiday on Thursday! I enjoyed sleeping in, playing basketball with friends, going out to eat with some people we met, and then riding bikes downtown yesterday. Wait…I’m studying here, right?. :)
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