May 21, 2013 Xian - Shaanxi Provincial History Museum, Big Goose Pagoda, Forest of Stone Steles Museum, Great Mosque,and Bell Tower

May 21, 2013

Xian - Shaanxi Provincial History Museum, Big Goose Pagoda, Forest of Stone Steles Museum, Great Mosque,and Bell Tower

Britney picked us up at 9:00 AM and our driver, Jia drove us to see the Big Goose Pagoda. The Pagoda is over 1000 years old and has 6 levels. It was used to store and protect Buddhist writings in the past. Next we went to the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum where we saw artifacts that have been collected in Shaanxi Province since the upper Cave Man 18,000 years ago. The artifacts were shown from all the various Dynasties. This was very interesting to see. After lunch we went to see Forest of Stone Steles Museums where we saw historical records carved on large stone blocks. Then we went to the Great Mosque that has served as the main mosque in China. It was a ladies pray day at the mosque so we were not allowed to see inside the mosque. However there was a group of ladies that were visiting from another area that wanted to talk to us as we were obviously from another country. They were very friendly and nice to us. Our last place to visit was the Bell Tower that is in the center of the city that is within the walls. We climbed the tower and were able to see the North, South, East and West gates of the City Walls. Around the tower is a very busy traffic circle that is used to switch traffic from North, West, South and East streets of the city. Each of these streets is wide so gives a very impressive sight from the Bell Tower. Close to the Bell Tower is the Drum Tower that is another very old historic building.

We finished our tour for this day about 5:30 PM so on the way home we hit the rush traffic and it took us quite a while to get to our hotel that was in the western part of the city. Yes we were quite tired after visiting so many places, but were very happy that were were able to see so many interesting historical sites. 

Dorothy and Con with a large incense urn to the left and the Gig Goose Pagoda in the background.

The elaborate entrance stairway to the temple with the Big Goose Pagoda in the background. 

The firebox to light and dispose incense praying sticks.

A beautiful golden Buddha.

Another beautiful golden  Buddha.

The statue of the Buddha monk who brought the Buddha writings to China.

A new shopping mall.

The Shaanxi Provincial History Museum

The traditional Chinese building at the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum

Modern looking downtown Xian near the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum

Our Guide, Britney and Dorothy in front of the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum

Dorothy and Con in front of a drawing in the entrance of the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum

A very old skeleton head recovered in Shaanxi Province

A very old 3 legged  cooking vessel recovered in Shaanxi Provinc

Our Guide, Britney and Dorothy admiring an ancient artifact  recovered   in Shaanxi Province

An old beautifully carved horse found  in Shaanxi Province

A dinner theater where we had a buffet lunch.

Dorothy at the entrance of the Forest of Stone Steles Museum.

Dorothy and Con in front of a big bell at  the Forest of Stone Steles Museum.

A very import stone plaque at the  Forest of Stone Steles Museum.

Our Guide, Britny and Dorothy in front of the building housing the stone  plaques  at  the   Forest of Stone Steles Museum.

One of the many stone plaques at the  Forest of Stone Steles Museum.

A very old stone plaque with Chinese writing  made  by  a famous  scholar and  carved into  the stone by a stone mason.

Beautiful carved hitching posts for the horses of visitors who came to read the  stone plaques.

An interesting carving at  the Forest of Stone Steles Museum.

Stores outside the Great Mosque area

Our Guide, Britney and Dorothy in the inside shopping area  leading  to  the  Great Mosque.

Dorothy and Con at the entrance to the Great Mosque.

A beautiful garden area before the Great Mosque

The Great Mosque.

Women leaving the Great Mosque on a day of prayer for  Women.

The Bell Tower at the center of the old walled city of Xian.

The underground shopping area close to the Bell Tower.

The entrance to the subway from the underground shopping area  close to the  Bell  Tower.

Our Guide Britney, and Dorothy in front of the  bell at the  Bell Tower.

A young boy dressed up as a prince and sitting  on a golden  chair at  the Bell Tower.

Musical bells in the Bell Tower.

View from the Bell Tower of a main street leading to one of the gates in the old  city wall around  Xian.

Con admiring the view from the top floor of the Bell Tower.

The beautifully painted roof on the top floor of the Bell Tower.