Shaanxi Sheng Hotels China

Shaanxi Sheng , situated between Mongolia and the East China Sea, is famous for historical and cultural relics, and has some big plans to boost ecological and leisure tourism in its Qinling Mountains. Xian is a major historic city in Shaanxi Province in China and it is said if you haven’t visited, you haven’t seen China. It is more than 3,000 years old and for 1,000 of them the city was the capital for 13 dynasties. In all, over 70 emperors ruled here, making it without dispute the cradle of Chinese civilization.

With so much history in the ground on which the city lies, the numbers of historical ruins, cultural relics and museums is not surprising. Add to this weight of history the fact it was also the terminus in the east of the Silk Road, where the early global traders met, shared and exchanged goods and ideas. Within the city of present day Xi'an little of this early glory remains, mainly swept away through warfare and political change.

Now the city has a modern and cosmopolitan air, but not all history is lost. There are the Bell and the Drum Towers, and a visit to the acclaimed Army of Terracotta Warriors and Horses is a must, just a short distance away. The city itself also has the world’s largest city wall, which has been restored - it’s wide enough to ride five abreast on bikes! Other city attractions include the Shaanxi Provincial Museum with local exhibits from the entire history of the area, from the Neolithic period to the Qing dynasty.

There is the forest of Steles - a collection of over 2,000 stone tablets, the biggest and the oldest in the Republic and bearing epitaphs and Chinese classic stories. The Wolong Temple, a Buddhist temple from 200BC, has recently been restored to use as a vibrant and busy place again.

Recently restored the temple is vibrant and busy. The Little and the Big Wild Goose Pagodas dates from 600 and 700AD and used for the city’s emblem. You can find some shopping, night-life and bars just outside the city walls south of the city.

You can eat well, from the local food to tourist pizza. There are local and better known hotels and you can stay pretty cheaply in a budget room if you’re on a budget. Travel is best done by bus or train because local driving etiquette is pretty anarchic for those of us accustomed to rules of the road.

In addition, to explore within the province there are: the 6,000 year old Banpo Village Ruins, Taiping National Park, Xiangyu Forest Park, Hua Mountain, Famen Temple, Huaqing Palace, Mao Ling, Qinshihuang and Qian Ling Mausoleums, and the Tomb of Emperor Jingdi - among other attractions.