There are many museums in and around Xian China where you can learn all about the ancient history and see the future. Xian museums will give you a background of the local culture and some will amaze you with the exhibits that are there for you to explore. Xian has been a cultural center starting in the eleventh century BC during the Zhou Dynasty. However this doesn’t mean the area was not populated before that. In fact the city dates back to ancient times way before. The Banpo museum, a 6500 year old Neolithic village that was discovered near the city in 1954 is testament to that.

The founding date of Xian is about 202 BCE when Emperor Liu Bang belonging to the Han Dynasty made his capital in Changan and a few years later he built a palace in Xian. During the Sui Dynasty about 582 a new capitol was built and there were three different sections one being Xian Palace. The city is in central China surrounded by 8 rivers and streams. Qinling Mountains are on the southern border and to the north is Wei River. With all the history of the area one would expect there to be some very good museums around and Xian has some excellent museums.

This is the home of the museum of the Terracotta Army. In 1974 some village people were drilling wells and came upon some interesting Bronze Age weapons. They knew the historical significance of these relics and called in help. Three pits were uncovered in an otherwise barren area of land and in these pits of about 16300 square meters more than 7000 life sized terracotta warriors with horses were found. A roof was built over the archaeological find in order to protect it and the excavation of the statues began. The excavation continues and you can see it happening right in front of your eyes.

Another museum that most have heard of is the Shaanxi History Museum in Xian City. The building is huge built in the Tang dynasty style. Inside just the main hall are 2700 pieces of art. There are permanent exhibitions and also some special ones brought in for just a time. The permanent exhibition is all about Shaanxi history. There are artifacts from all periods of time and many dynasties within the history of the area including Neolithic ceramics, bronze pieces including weapons, statues, swords, gold objects and many different photos of archaeological sites. There is a tip concerning the gift shop. There may be price tags on all the items for sale but you are expected to bargain with the clerk for the best price you can get.

The Hanyang Tomb Museum is relatively new opening just in 2006. It is an underground museum and is actually a tomb. Several pits were excavated and a glass floor placed over top allows you merely to look down to see the exhibit. There are other artifacts that are placed in glass cases that you can see very easily. This tomb was undisturbed for over 2000 years and it is still in the process of being excavated today. The site contains about 5000 tombs and includes a human sacrifice grave yard. You can view statues of both people and animals that are delightfully detailed. If you actually get to go down into the tomb itself do not be surprised if you are given two plastic bags to put on your feet in order to protect your shoes.

A Neolithic Village was found near Xian and has been excavated. It dates back to 4000 BC and the museum has been in business since 1958. There is a large hall in the center of Banpo Village that is surrounded by many small rooms with doors that open into the hall. In the village is a Kiln where ceramics were made, there is a large cemetery and 46 family houses. The town itself is encircled by a wide and deep trench that kept out intruders both human and animal. You will be able to see many of the tools people used in their every day life.

Another interesting museum is the Stele Forest Museum which is located near to the bell tower. Inside is a collection of over 1000 inscribed monuments made in stone and created during the Han to the Qing dynasty. The stele forest is in an eleventh century Confucius temple. The stone tablets are about 4000 years old up to the twentieth century. All are in ancient and modern calligraphy. You might even try creating some calligraphy on your own with the help of a guide.

The city of Xian is a great place for those who love history to visit. You can see a variety of historic sites from Neolithic villages to artifacts from the dynasties. You can view the magnificent life sized terracotta figures and try to make a bit of calligraphy of your own. These are only a few of the many museums in town and all of them are worth a visit.

Museums in Xi’an will give you background of the local culture and some will just amaze you with the exhibits that are there for you to explore. We’ve got the best inside info on the best Xian Travel and museums.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Related posts on travel
• How to Find the Best Travel Packages « Travel revew – Faxtravel.com
• Online Travel Magazine – Incredible Source for Travelers « Travel …
• Cheap Airfare Europe « Travel revew – Faxtravel.com