Sandiancun

Last night we walked after dinner. We saw people burning paper in circles on the sidewalk. It is for the spring grave sweeping ceremony to give the dead enough to send them in their way to the afterlife. One is supposed to return to the burial place of their ancestor to do this but if you can’t you do you it where you live.

If you are hospitalized, you have to have a family member with you to care for you since there are too many people for the doctor and nurse to do it.

This morning we visited a jade workshop. We purchased a kneeling archer of medium quality jade. This was a good choice as the kneeling archer is the only one found completely intact.

The terracotta warriors were built by the first emperor of China. He died when he was 49 years old. Each warrior is different modelled after real people. The Emperor is buried nearby but is surrounded by mercury so it has not been excavated, there are also booby traps so one cannot get to the burial place.

Many flowering pawlonia trees, also called Empress trees.

Toured the terracotta warrior workshop where they reproduce the warriors. Bought a family ball and a gift. We also toured the furniture workshop and a showroom where we could buy furniture and jewel boxes. There was a buffet lunch with a good variety of food.

There had been a sand storm during the night so the visibility is poor as we drive through the countryside. The sand has come from the Gobi Desert.

We visited the terracotta warrior area. The first building is two football fields long and has many restored statues and horses. In the second building
was an active dig snd the kneeling archer and a general with his horse and the third building was the military planning room and chariot and horses.

A one and a half hour bus ride brought us to the dumpling banquet and show at Hung Dynasty Opera House. Dumpling are the national food. The show is about an emperor and his concubine in the Golden Age, 600 to 900 AD. Beautiful costumes and lovely music.Read more