Xi’an is the capital of the Shaanxi Province in central China. This large city has been the chosen capital of multiple Chinese dynasties. The real draw of the place, however, is its fascinating Terracotta Army or Bingmayong.

西安是中国中部陕西省的省会。这个大城市曾是中国多个朝代的首都。然而，这个地方真正吸引人的地方是迷人的兵马俑。


I visited Xi’an on a trip to China with my family and close family friends, in April 2019. We covered Beijing and Shanghai and spent a night in Xi’an. China is a cultural experience beyond anything you’ve imagined. It was like being transported to a different world. Though the entire trip was memorable, this visit really stood out.

2019年4月，我和我的家人以及朋友游览了中国西安，并在西安过了一夜。我们还游览了北京和上海。游览中国是一种超乎你想象的文化体验。这就像是被送到一个不同的世界。整个旅程令人难忘。

The grimy streets and crowded by lanes of Xi’an were so unlike the orchestrated sparkle of Beijing and the slickness of Shanghai; that even our short visit seemed too much when we arrived.

西安曲折的街道和拥挤的小巷与北京的精心规划的繁华和上海的华丽是截然不同的，以至于当我们到达的时候，即使是短暂的旅游也收获良多。


There were rows upon rows of massive statues of men in full military dress holding weapons. Each statue was life-sized and completely life-like; with unique expressions, some angry, some serene, some sad. Each statue was dressed according to its military rank; and carried an assortment of weapons, no two soldiers with the exact same. The peripheries of the room housed other items that were found buried along with the army, as well as explanations of this wondrous exhibit in Chinese and English.

那里有一排排穿着军装手持武器的巨大男人雕像。每尊雕像都是真人大小，完全像真人，表情独特，有些愤怒，有些宁静，有些悲伤。每一尊雕像都按照军衔穿戴整齐，并携带各式各样的武器，没有任何两个士兵拥有完全相同的武器。房间的四周放着其他挖掘发现的物品，以及对这些展品的中英文解说。


Having studied China’s ‘Middle Kingdom’ philosophy in my History Honours course, I was amazed to experience it in person. The philosophy describes China’s belief of being the centre of the world for centuries. This made them feel that they were superior to other countries, and also ensured that they remained self-sufficient, without resorting to trade of any kind. Further, its leaders imagined themselves to be divine, deserving of a royal coterie after their death.

我在我的历史课程中学习过中国的“中央王国”哲学，不过亲身体验到了它让我感到惊讶。这种哲学描述了中国几个世纪以来作为世界中心的信念。这使他们感到他们比其他国家优越，并确保他们保持自给自足，而不诉诸任何贸易。此外，它的领导人把自己想象得很神圣，在他们死后值得拥有一个皇家陵寝。


The crowds and grime were a small price to pay, to witness a magnificent and unforgettable piece of history

为了见证一段宏伟而难忘的历史，人群和杂乱只是一个小小的代价。