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.

Our Restaurant