Xi’AN Back to the heyday of the Tang Dynasty Location of Xi’an Xi’an is known as Chang’an in ancient times. Having served as the capital of thirteen dynasties, this city is one of the most important places to study and review the history of China. The Tang Dynasty was the pinnacle of China’s history, a period marked by great urbanism and cultural magnificence. As the capital of the Tang Dynasty, Xi’an was the centre of Eastern civilisation. Its importance was comparable to that of Rome in the West. Xi’an’s Tang Dynasty monuments are the most famous of all, and beyond that, the city is committed to recreating the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty. Nowadays, in Xi’an, it is no longer an unattainable dream to travel back in time to the Tang Dynasty. What’s hot Shaanxi History Museum The Shaanxi History Museum is one of the four major museums in China. Its extensive collection of artefacts showcase 1.5 million years of Shaanxi’s history. The third gallery features the culture of the Tang Dynasty as well as artefacts from both the Sui and Tang Dynasties, while the fourth gallery displays a collection of gold and silver artefacts from the Tang Dynasty unearthed in Hejiacun Village. The “Treasure of the Museum”—Agate Cup with Beast’s Head Carving is a superbly crafted jade carving with chic colour. One can also visit the Treasures Gallery and the Tang Dynasty Mural Treasures Gallery of the museum. 91 Xiaozhai East Road, Xiaozhai Commercial Street, Yanta District, Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province, China Take Xi’an Metro Line 1 or 2 and get off at Xiaozhai Station, the museum will be reach from north-east exit. 9am-5:30pm (Nov 15-Mar 14), 8:30am-6pm (Mar 15-Nov 14), closed on Monday 6,000 free tickets will be issued daily for a limited time Treasures Gallery 30RMB Tang Dynasty Mural Treasures Gallery 270RMB Tang Paradise Located in the northern part of the original site of Tang Dynasty Hibiscus Garden, Tang Paradise is the first large-scale royal garden- style cultural theme park in China to showcase the Tang Dynasty in all its glory. In addition to China’s largest replica of Tang Dynasty royal buildings, there are also cultural performances to portray the inclusive spirit of the Tang Dynasty. One shouldn’t miss the large- scale dance drama “Dream Back to Tang Dynasty” staged at the Fengming Jiutian Theatre ,which combines the Tang Dynasty style with the essence of song and dance. 99 Furong West Road, Qujiang New District, Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province, China Take urban bus no. 21, 22, 44, 212, 224, 526, 609, 715 or Tour 4 and get off at Datang Furongyuan Ximen (Yuyuan Gate) Stop then walk about 10 metres. 9am-10pm, daily Free entrance, “Dreams Back to the Tang Dynasty” from 60RMB tangparadise.cn Tang West Market The Tang West Market is an international commercial and cultural project located on the site of the original West Market of Chang’an in Tang Dynasty that featuring the culture of the Tang Dynasty and the Silk Road, including the Tang West Market Museum, Silk Road Commercial Street and other attractions. From the first to the fifteenth day of the first month of the lunar calendar, a New Year Cultural Fair would be held here. People can enjoy themselves by eating snacks, watching folklore events, or buying new year’s groceries, just like the ancients did in the West Market during Lunar New Year. 118 Laodong South Road, Lianhu District, Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province, China Take bus no. 24, 43, 106, 107, 201, 322, 502, 503 or 916 and get off at the Datang Xishi Stop then walk about 2 minutes. All day For further details, please visit the official website. dtxs.cn Small Wild Goose Pagoda The Small Wild Goose Pagoda, built in the Tang Dynasty, is located in the southern suburbs of Xi’an. It is a landmark of the introduction of Buddhism into the Central Plains and the fusion of Buddhism and traditional Chinese culture. Along with the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda is an iconic symbol of Tang’s Chang’an City that has been preserved to this day. There is a huge iron bell cast in 1192 which is kept inside the pagoda. Its bell button is in the form of Xiezhi, a mythical creature found in legends, and the bell bears an inscription of about a thousand words, mostly sutra incantations. 72 Youyi West Road, Beilin District, Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province, China Take bus No. 21 or 402 from the city and get off at Xiaoyanta Stop, then walk for 3 minutes. 9am-6pm Climbing the pagoda 30RMB Datang Everbright City Although it is named a city, Datang Everbright City is a pedestrian street in Qujiang District. It is based on the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and runs from Xuanzang Square in the north to the Tang Dynasty Wall Relic Site Park in the south, through several squares and six imitations of the Tang neighbourhood. This 1km-long street is decorated with statues of famous Tang politicians such as Li Shimin and Wu Zetian, as well as poets such as Li Bai, Du Fu and Bai Juyi, telling the history of the Tang Dynasty. At night, the city is lit up with lights and dance and song performances, recreating the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty. South Square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda, 6, East section of Huanta South Road, Yanta District, Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province, China Take bus no. 500 or 609 and get off at the Datang Buyecheng Stop. All day For further details, please visit the official website. alldaymall.com.cn/index Daming Palace National Heritage Park The Daming Palace was built during Emperor Taizong’s reign (634 AD) and served as the political centre and national symbol of the Tang Dynasty. From Emperor Gaozong onwards, 17 emperors of Tang Dynasty dealt with imperial affairs here for over 200 years. The palace is also known as the most splendid and magnificent of the “Three Great Inner Palaces” (Taiji Palace, Daming Palace and Xingqing Palace) of Chang’an City in the Tang Dynasty. In addition to visiting the monuments, one can also enjoy a miniature view of the restored Daming Palace and watch the IMAX 3D film “The Legend of Daming Palace”. 585 Ziqiang East Road, Xincheng District, Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province, China Take Xi’an Metro line 4 and get off at the Daminggong Guojia Yizhi Gongyuan Station. 8:30am-7pm (Apr 15-Oct 15) 8:30am-6pm (Oct 16-Apr 14) 60RMB dmgpark.com What to eat Roujiamo “Roujiamo” has been around for over 2,000 years and is one of the traditional specialties of Xi’an. It is a delicious blend of two foods—minced meat and Baiji bun (a type of flatbread) that gives it a distinct flavour. Halal Roujiamo stuffed with beef can be found in Huimin Street, with the same unique flavour. On hot summer days, Bingfeng orange juice is the best match with Roujiamo! Qianceng Yousubing Founded in Tang Dynasty, “Qianceng Yousubing” (Thousand Layer Pancake), which is characterised by its distinctive layers and crispness, is a representative of the traditional Han Chinese snacks in Shaanxi. According to legend, it is a token of the emperor’s appreciation for Venerable Xuanzang after he returned to Chang’an with the sacred books of Buddhism. It was later improved by successive generations of chefs. Hubing The Tang Dynasty was a time of great prosperity, with merchants from all over the world and a variety of foreign cuisines converging in Chang’an, one of which was “Hubing” (Naan). Hubing comes from the cuisine of the foreign tribes and has been popular in China since the Han Dynasty, peaking during the Tang Dynasty. Unlike the chewier naan we got in Malaysia, the freshly baked Hubing has a crispy texture. Zenggao “Zeng” is an ancient cooking utensil with a small hole in the bottom that can be placed on a pot to steam food, and “Zenggao” is named after it. Zenggao are nutritious, soft, sticky and sweet when freshly prepared. It evolved from “Qiu’er Fenci”, a steamed cake made from glutinous rice with bean paste filling that was consumed by nobles during the Western Zhou Dynasty. During the Tang Dynasty, this pastry was refined into a combination of steamed dates and sticky rice. Where to go By train/ subway By taxi By bus On foot Day 1 Emperor Qinshihuang’s TIP Mausoleum Site Museum 01 TIP Lunch: Yangrou Paomo 02 Daming Palace National Heritage Park Dinner: Roujiamo Tang West Market TIP Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site 01 Museum that located far from the city centre is a must-see on the first visit to Xi’an. It is known as one of the eight wonders of the world and is famous for its terracotta warriors. TIP The first step of eating Yangrou Paomo is to break 02 the bread by hand, but many shops also offer machine-cut bread pieces. However, the bread pieces cut by the machine are not as layered as hand-broken bread pieces. Day 2 Breakfast: Hubing Small Wild Goose Pagoda TIP Lunch: Liangpi 03 Shaanxi History Museum TIP Datang Everbright City 04 TIP Liangpi is one of the must-try local delicacies 03 in Xi’an. No matter how it is paired with other delicacies, Liangpi complements them all, but only the red bean porridge is the best match for Liangpi in the hearts of the locals.