We've been in Xian (pronounced "she-on") for several days now and I'm still discovering what a diverse and interesting place it is. The first picture is of the "Bell Tower" where huge bells hang that once were used for various communication and entertainment purposes. The second picture is of the night market in the area of the Bell Tower. The street is jammed with shops, vendors and people. It's amazing and fun. Xian was established as China's capital by emperor Qin (of Terracotta Warrior fame) in about 200 BC and stayed the capital until about 800 years ago when Beijing took over. It was the beginning (or the end, depending on your direction of travel) of the "Silk Road", a great trade route that linked China in the east with Persia and Asia Minor in the west and was actively traversed from the time of Christ until modern times.
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