Xian Continued

Our favorite place in Xian turned out to be the old mosque in the Muslim Quarter. The Mosque was beautiful and surrounded by a really cool marketplace where you could buy everything from jade jewelry to fake terra cotta warriors.  We didn't get to shop, though, as we had child drama going on.  I still regret not getting to go back and junk shop. 

The mosque is still a functioning mosque but they pull in a  little extra by selling tourists tickets to come in and look around.  I know when you think of China you don't think of Muslims but there are actually quite a few pockets of Muslims in China and Xian is one of these places. The Muslims have been in Xian for hundreds of years. Our guide told us that in general the Muslims and Chinese get along well in Xian and that she has several Muslim friends, but there have been times when there was fighting and China is very cautious about possible terrorism.  While we were there I read about Muslim-Chinese tensions in other places in China. 

 

At the Great Mosque.

 

"Maybe I should have become a Muslim. This place is lovely and maybe Melinda would be more submissive..."

 

Cool tree things at the Great Mosque.

 

The sun hitting Sam in the eyes at the Great Mosque.

 

Leaving the Great Mosque these little Muslim girls wanted their picture made with Sam.

From the Great Mosque we went to the Bell Tower.  Xian has two ancient structures, the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower.  Sherry gave us the history of these. Unfortunately, with two Ph.D.s in history and two pretty smart kids, none of us remember the details!  One of these was used to chime out the time. One was used to alert people to danger. At any rate, we climbed the bell tower and inside saw a little show.

 

The bell (being "renewed")

 

Sam on top of the bell tower.

 

Music show in the bell tower.

 

Sid and Sam look out over Xian from the top of the Bell Tower. Notice the mixture of ancient and Chinese and new and American.

 

The soldiers march from the Bell Tower to the Drum Tower.