A Busy, Dusty Day in Xi'an

Fresh off getting spanked by Emily at ping pong last night (yes, in addition to a pool and a fitness center, our hotel has a dedicated table tennis room), we headed out this morning for a day full of activities in Xi'an. First stop was a local park. 

Now, the daily itinerary said "you may witness and have the chance to participate in morning exercise, singing and dancing". They weren't kidding. 

Here's Emily and I dancing along with about 2,000 of our newest friends. Note the drummers behind us, keeping time for everyone. There was also a man with a whistle, who seemed to be determining what cadence came next, and several ladies who led the dance steps and pulled people into formation. 

Also in the park, we saw people singing, ballroom dancing, tai-chiing, hacky-sacking, and playing some strange game of skill that involved a whip and a spinning top. I got to try the whip, and I must say it was very cathartic!

After the park we went to a lacquer furniture factory. Everything was gorgeous but sadly way out of my price range. No as-is section like at Ikea. 

Then after lunch we traveled to the site of the Terra Cotta Warriors. It was amazing. 

What I had not realized before was that the warriors weren't found as they are displayed now. Archeologists have had to piece each one back together. After the warriors were made, back in the Qin dynasty, they were sealed in a massive underground tomb, to protect the dead emperor. However, shortly after said emperor died, the farmers revolted and stormed the tomb, looting the warriors' weapons and setting fire to everything. The wooden roof of the tomb collapsed and crushed all the warriors. So guys like this...

are only possible for us to see now because an incredibly patient archeologist has pulled them out of a pit like this...

Lastly, did I mention the dust? A sandstorm moved in early in the morning, so although the sun was shining all afternoon, you couldn't really see it. Here's a picture I took of a magnolia tree (actual colors, no filter):

Luckily, the sandstorm did give us occasion to use the word haboob in general conversation, as well as allowed us to model some of the latest looks in facemask chic. Here's Emily and I with our tour-mate Chirag. 

If you ask nicely I'll let you borrow my mask when I get home.