Shaanxi

Author: Chen Yue
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-03-01
Features: To understand China, Shaanxi is a place you cannot miss. Xi'an is the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, where the land of Guanzhong has accumulated thousands of years of Chinese history. The loess plateaus of northern Shaanxi are home to rich local customs, while across the Qin Mountains, the deep mountains of southern Shaanxi present a different world. Shaanxi is the land of paternal soil and maternal rivers. Stepping into Shaanxi is like taking a journey home. If you feel numb and artificial in modern society, come to Shaanxi to experience its simple customs and traditions, and you will find enlightenment. If you are accustomed to the small bridges and flowing waters of Jiangnan, come to Shaanxi to see the vast loess plateaus, and you will realize the difference between grandeur and charm. If you are lost in the concrete jungle and long for nostalgia, come to Shaanxi to see the traces of history everywhere, and your longing for antiquity will overwhelm you. If you are frustrated and want to seek self-punishment, come to Shaanxi to cross the Qin Mountains, and you will find that life is wonderful. If your heart is wounded and you seek comfort, come to Shaanxi, where you will find the maternal rivers and paternal soil.
Northern Shaanxi is represented by the loess. The vast loess plateaus, with their thousands of gullies and ridges, nurture the simple people who live there. The charm of the loess is something that must be felt with the heart—theing beats of the Ansai Waist Drum, theof the Xiantianyou, theof farmer paintings, theof paper cutting, and the of textile art—all of these can only be created by the people of the loess land. The scenery of the loess is a spiritual, with the ancient cypresses at the Yellow Emperor's Mausoleum, preserving the roots of the Chinese nation; the remnants of ancient cities and the Great Wall in the vast desert, telling stories of a long-lost civilization; the echoes of gunfire in Yan'an have long faded, while the Pagoda Mountain stands serenely; and the Yellow River flows through the canyons of the loess plateaus, sometimes roaring and turbulent, sometimes gentle and calm, still nurturing the people and the greenery on both banks as it has for millennia.
Central Shaanxi is represented by cultural relics. Xi'an, the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, has witnessed the reigns of countless emperors and generals, the clashing of swords and horses. Beneath its soil lie buried the memories and chapters of countless spring and autumn eras. The Terracotta Army in Lintong, the History Museum and Stele Forest in Xi'an, the mausoleums of emperors in Xianyang, the underground palace of Famen Temple, and the bronze artifacts in Baoji—all are witnesses to history! The Huaqing Pool at the foot of Li Mountain, the city walls of Xi'an, Zhongyuan Village in Wuzhangyuan, the Fishing Platform of Jiang Ziya, and the secret crossing of Chen Canyon all narrate countless stories! Every inch of land in central Shaanxi is unfathomable, as if holding the distant and profound past. If you have a deep sense of history, you will feel as though you are wandering through the times of the Qin and Han dynasties. As for natural scenery, the eastern side has the towering and magnificent Mount Hua, while the western side has the tranquil grasslands of Guanzhong. Here, the weight of history transforms into exhilaration over nature.
Southern Shaanxi is represented by the Qin Mountains. This mountain range divides the land into distinctly northern and southern landscapes, separating the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, and itself becoming a destination that travelers dream of. The vertical forests and snow-capped peaks of Mount Taibai, the landslide landscapes of Mount Cuihua, the fairyland-like waters of Mount Zhongnan, the limestone caves of Zhashui, and the harmonious natural scenery in several wildlife sanctuaries at the foothills of the Qin Mountains are truly heart-stirring. A single Qin Mountain gives birth to such a myriad of wonders. Moreover, here you can choose various self-guided travel methods—trekking across the mountains, camping, indulging in self-punishment, or simply enjoying the scenery in a simple and easy way, allowing travelers to choose their own "luxury."