Xi'an, China ~ May 2005

My first trip to the East...

In the spring of 2005, I traveled to Xi'an, China (for my day job) to train several employees hired to work in a newly opened office. Although my trip was comprised mostly of work, we found time to do some sight-seeing and we got a 2 week introduction to the local culture.

Xi'an is located in central China, in the fertile Wei River plain. To the north is a vast loess plateau. And to the south are the Qingling Mountains. Temperatures are generally moderate, though summertime can be hot. The rainy season comes in late summer and they receive about 24 inches average annual rainfall. During our visit, we had a couple sunny, blue sky days, some hazy warm days, and several days of rain (more than usual according to the locals).

Xi'an has a rich and important history that covers over 3100 years. Originally called Chang'an, it has been the seat of power for 13 Chinese Imperial dynasties, including the Qin, Tang and Ming emperors.

Normally, I write my travelogues in chronological order, day-by-day. But since most of my days were filled with work, and the sight-seeing was sprinkled throughout, this travelogue will be organized by sight-seeing location. As usual, I'll include many images not found in the China Collection of my website's Gallery Section. Follow the links below to find out more about this amazing city...