Jim Zahn's Report
Xi'an Study Group

Travelling from Hong Kong to Xi'an, China via Dragon Airlines flight KA940

We left the Tai Tam campus of Hong Kong International school at about 5:40 this morning, a group of 12 there joining a group of 12 from the Repulse Bay stop before proceeding to the airport where another 30 or so were waiting for us. The flight was relatively uneventful, although one of our staff was able to sit in the jump seat of the cockpit for awhile. The Dragon flight had an American captain and a Chinese First Officer who actually made the landing in Xi'an. The weather in Xi'an wasn't much different than that we'd left in Hong Kong ...... rainy, although Hong Kong had warmer temperaturers with readings about 8 degrees Celcius warmer than the 9 degree Celcius temperatures waiting for us in Xi'an.

Xi'an has about 6 million people, with 3.5 million of them living in the suburbs. The wall surrounding the city is a square, 14 kilometers long in total. Perhaps some students out there might be able to calculate how many square miles of city lie within the city walls. Also, if the "non-suburb" people all live within the walls, what would be the population density of the city within the walls?

Our guide told us that 73 emporers had made Xi'an their home and capital, covering a period of 1,100 years. Of course that's why Xi'an is known as the anxient capital of China. As we drove the 40-50 minutes from the airport to the hotel we noticed crops of winter wheat which will be harvested in June. These fields will then be planted with corn, harvested in October. There is not enough water available to grow rice. Summer temperatures in Xi'an can reach as high as 40 degrees Centigrade, although even at those temperatures it would probably be more comfortable in Xi'an than in Hong Kong with a temperature of 35 degrees Centigrade because it is so dry in Xi'an. Normal winters bring temperatures as low as -3 degrees Centigrade, with occasional dips to -10 Centigrade when it snows. This happens about 5 times each year.

In ancient times Xi'an was know as "Chang An" which means eternal peace. Later with the emergence of Beijing as an important city the name was changed to "Xi'an" which means western peace. As we drove toward Xi'an through a light but steady rain we could see through the foggy windows of the bus some of the tombs of the many emporers who ruled from Xi'an. One tomb within a few hundred meters of the main road was constructed during the Han Dynasty, about 2000 years ago and has not been opened, so it's contents remain unknown. The Chinese fear that opening the tomb may cause its contents to deteriorate. Many times these "exposed" tombs were robbed of their treasures in the past, so some of the northern and southern emperors decided to build tombs completely underground, with horses running and grazing directly above them so as not to provide a clue as to their locations. One emperor during the Kung Dynasty could not tolerate the fact that no one would know where his tomb was, so he tunneled a deep passageway into a mountain, then used huge rocks, iron stakes, and molten lead to seal his mosoleum.

As we approached the city we saw the 9 story "North Gate" of the wall. A few minutes we were within the walled city passing by the actual Bell Tower. This bell would be rung in the morning to signify the beginning of another day, and the gates would be lowered allowing movement in and out. The Drum Tower, which stands about 300 yards away from the Bell Tower, was used to signal the end of the day and the gates would once again be closed. We'll try to get you pictures of the Bell Tower, the Drum Tower, and the wall surrounding Xi'an to send with our messages.

Talk to you again soon!
Jim Zahn
Teacher, Hong Kong Int'l School

Virtual China moderator: Jim Zahn Technology Coordinator Hong Kong Int'l School (M.S. Div.) Fax: 852-2899-0809
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