Tailor Made Holidays To Xian

Ah, Xian. It’s a tricky one we know, but go with the pronunciation “see-an” and you’ll have hit the nail on the head. Well, as far as the name is concerned at least. But there’s more to this intriguing city than its slippery name. Drenched in Silk Road history and known for being one of the country’s most significant ex imperial capitals, a trip to Xian makes for a fascinating walk down China’s memory lane. From the Terracotta Army to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda – amidst Xian’s city smog, a whole host of ancient world wonders await.

The whole city is sat upon an ancient site and it’s even home to China’s oldest and most well-preserved city walls. Built during the Ming Dynasty in 1370, these 12 metre high walls stretch for 8.5 miles and are surrounded by a sizable dry moat. You know, just in case. For the culture vultures this is great evidence of Xian’s glory days, but for those who are more interested in the here and now, the walls make for the perfect elevation from which to admire the city’s melting pot mishmash of old and new.

And it’s not just this traditional versus contemporary jumble that makes Xian a melting point, but its historical status as the start of the Silk Road. A trade that brought many from the middle east, this period’s influence upon the city is one that is still very much alive today. From the sights, sounds and smells of the Muslim Quarter to the islamic influences that pepper the architecture, reminders of Xian’s exotic past are never far away. This multicultural city will make a difference from the more rigidly classical Chinese cities that you’ll find inundating this corner of the world – you could say that it’s a breath of fresh air, but then again, the infamous city pollution may just put a stop to that.