Sheraton in Xian
You could have a Western breakfast or an Asian breakfast or many dishes in between.
Sheraton in Xian
Sheraton in Xian
A wild tiger in anticipation of the coming up Year of the Tiger greeted us in the hotel’s lobby.
Sheraton in Xian
Sheraton in Xian
View of Xian from my hotel window. This part of Xian, a city of almost 4 million, is modern. There was free wifi throughout the hotel so I could e–mail my family right from my hotel room.
Sheraton in Xian
Sheraton in Xian
More of Xian.
Sheraton in Xian
Sheraton in Xian
Artwork in the lobby.
Sheraton in Xian
Sheraton in Xian
Pretty fixture in the lobby.
Sheraton in Xian
Sheraton in Xian
Our hotel’s dining room––we are being greeted by a terra cotta warrior (we were to see the real ones this afternoon). Usually, tour groups don’t get treated to a full buffet, but since there were so few tourists here, we had the works for breakfast.
Sheraton in Xian
Sheraton in Xian
All kinds of steamed buns, one having cream inside. Yummy.
Sheraton in Xian
Sheraton in Xian
A beautifully decorated cake in a lounge eatery.
Sheraton in Xian
Sheraton in Xian
Individual cakes.
Sheraton in Xian
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Our first stop today was at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. This is a photo of our local guide, Jenny. She joined Kathy in giving us the tour of Xian. Jenny told me that she is trying to find out about life in America. To do this, she watches American soap operas and has seen the film “Sex and the City.” When I gave her a funny look after she told me this, she told me I should go see the movie. We found out that Communism is not a synonym for conservatism. Although some Chinese still follow the old customs of having their daughters live with them until they are married, and then once married, they move into their mother–in–law’s home and virtually become their servants, the new generation has unmarried couples living together. We also were told about “one–night love” being arranged over the Internet.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is part of the Da Ci’en Temple. It was originally built in 652 A.D. during the Tang Dynasty and was five stories high. It collasped 50 years later, then was rebuilt in 704 A.D. with 12 stories. A massive earthquake in 1556 reduced it to its present seven stories, at 210 feet high. It was built to hold scriptures and figurines of the Buddha that Xuanzang Sanzang, a Buddhist traveler, was bringing back from India.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
If this looks like this is the Leaning Tower of Xian, you are right. It is leaning. How it got its name: Legend has it that wild geese were flying over and one dropped from the sky and died on the ground. It was believed that the goose was a Buddha and the pagoda was erected to celebrate this.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
This is an active Buddhist temple. Monks wear clothes of different colors indicating their ranks. Yellow indicates the lowest rank and monks wearing this do the scut work.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Close–up of the monk wearing lowly yellow.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
The Great Hall of the Buddha in front of the pagoda.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Jenny told us we could take photos of the inside of the temple as long as we were outside it. Three Buddhas are in the temple.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
It is almost Chinese New Year’s so fruit has been placed at the bottom of the statues.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
To the left. Those are cushions on the floor for the monks.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
To the right.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
For burning incense.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
The Hall of Xuanzang Sanzang who brought the religious items from India. His remains are here.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
On the walls of the hall there are murals telling the story of Xuanzang Sanzang. They are quite beautiful.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
More of the mural.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
More of the mural.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
And one more.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
The ceiling of the hall.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
There were a number of stores in the old temple buildings built during the Ming Dynasty.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
The corridor to the stores.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Going into one of the stores.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Many various items for sale: these hangings were too expensive for me. I liked the girl in red.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
If you hang him next to your front door, evil spirits will not enter your house. I bought a smaller version of him at another temple store. This other store was near the entrance and contained many very nice but high–priced artwork. Some of it was by famous Chinese artists. I didn’t take any photos in that store.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
A Laughing Buddha for sale.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
A different Buddha for sale.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
I assume that these are incense sticks not fireworks.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
And these as well.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Kung Fu kids.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
A Buddha outside in the snow.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
And another.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Votive tablets that you write your personal prayers on. I saw these hanging often in Japan but these are the first ones I saw in China.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
One for love.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Birds in a golden cage looking up at the pagoda.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Another temple building.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Statue of Xuanzang Sanzang in front of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Some Spring Festival decorations have already been put up.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Across from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Across the street is the entrance to a long rectangle with many fountains in it and lined with old pretty buildings. It was difficult to cross the street here as some cars didn’t stop even when they had a red light telling them to. I made it across and back again safely but very carefully.
Across from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Across from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda
One of the fountains. A Westin hotel is being built here.
Across from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Across from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Fountain, red gate, and pagoda.
Across from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Across from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Some of the buildings lining the rectangle.
Across from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Across from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda
A Papa John’s Pizza Parlor. I wish that we were given the time to walk around the rectangle. The fountains I could see looked beautiful. However, when you are on a tour, you go where the tour goes and you don’t always get to spend time where you want to.
Across from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Jade Store
Our next stop was at a government jade store. Terra cotta warriors “guarding” the jade store.
Jade Store
Jade Store
Jade statues were lined up along the hallway.
Jade Store
Jade Store
Very Western–looking statues made entirely of jade. These were about 3 feet tall. Price: from about $17,000 up.
Jade Store
Jade Store
Our store guide gave us a lecture on jade. There are two types of jade, called nephrite and jadeite, from two different metamorphic rocks. Nephrite is creamy white as well as various shades of green. Jadeite can be blue, lavender, pink, green, etc. Jadeite is rarer. These rocks are in their natural state.
Jade Store
Jade Store
The huge government jade store.
Jade Store
Jade Store
There were hundreds of decorative pieces of jade in the store. This one was selling for 69,000 yuan, about $10,485. Remember, you can bargain here to obtain a lower price.
Jade Store
Jade Store
516,000 yuan or $77,400.
Jade Store
Jade Store
2,900 yuan or $435.
Jade Store
Jade Store
7,200 yuan or $1,080 each.
Jade Store
Jade Store
There also were cases upon cases of jade jewelry. These jade rings ran from 3,200 yuan ($480) up. If you are going to China and will be thinking about buying jade items, you should do some research on jade and prices of jade items before you go. I didn’t know if these were good prices or even good quality jade. I didn’t buy any jade.
Jade Store
Jade Store
We walked out through the downstairs of the store which contained very interesting furniture.
Jade Store
On the Way to Lunch
We next drove to a restaurant for lunch. I saw a number of these three–wheel cars on our way there.
On the Way to Lunch
Our Restaurant
These are real blossoms on the shrubs.
Our Restaurant
Our Restaurant
Okay, what is Santa Claus doing on the restaurant’s window? Christmas has been over for a long time and this is China. Kathy gave me the same answer as when I asked her about the Christmas trees at the Beijing Olympic Stadium––the Chinese like Christmas decorations and like Santa Claus so they stay up.
Our Restaurant
Our Restaurant
Another Santa Claus.
Our Restaurant
Our Restaurant
Inside there was a decorated Christmas tree.
Our Restaurant
Our Restaurant
And a Chinese Santa.
Our Restaurant
Our Restaurant
A welcome banner.
Our Restaurant
Our Restaurant
A store for us to wander through on the way to the restaurant. Here Mao has his own table: plates and cups with his picture on them, Little Red Books, and Mao caps.
Our Restaurant
Our Restaurant
Chinese lanterns for sale.
Our Restaurant
Our Restaurant
The restaurant.
Our Restaurant
Our Restaurant
Banner in the restaurant and artwork for sale.
Our Restaurant
Our Restaurant
This was a buffet. I didn’t try this dish.
Our Restaurant
Our Restaurant
My conservatively chosen lunch. There was always rice to fill up with. Also, the usual watermelon slices for dessert. From our restaurant, we drove to see the terra cotta warriors––they will be on the next album.
