Travel Group to Guangzhou

Laura Joan and the other babies in our travel group received their Chinese passports today. We were scheduled to go on a tour of the ancient city wall this morning but instead we had to hang out at the police station and wait for the passports to be finished. We left there and went straight to the Xian City airport to catch our flight to Guangzhou. Laura Joan did really well on the flight. She slept most of the time-hugh relief.

Xian City Sites

This is what some of Zian City looks like. Notice the smog, the polloution is really, really bad. There are no clear bright pretty days like in Atlanta, they burn coal and have alot more people.

The Wild Goose Pagoda

As we wait for the babies passports from the Chinese government we continue to tour Shaanxi province. Today we visited the Wild Goose Pagoda. 50 monks still live here and practice the Buddhist religion. It was a strange feeling to watch visitors lighting candles and burning incense before going before the Buddha statue to pray. The gardens were beautiful but it is hard to enjoy the beauty of nature in a place where a statue receives the glory for God's amazing work.

Afterwards we visited a government owned Jade factory. We got a lesson in the colors and qualities of Jade and watched as workers cut, sculpted and polished jade pieces. It was amazing to see the detailed pieces that had been made.

The Jade Factory

Afterwards we visited a government owned Jade factory. We got a lesson in the colors and qualities of Jade and watched as workers cut, sculpted and polished jade pieces. It was amazing to see the detailed pieces that had been made. Chris bought Laura Joan a little jade turtle because "turtle" is the first word she has been saying to us - we saw alot of little jade turtles at the Muslim Market and Chris was teaching her the name of them so now everything is "turtle, turtle" and she says it so cutely too. We just adore our little girl-she was made to be a "Mahler"

Terra Cotta Warriors

Clay Soldiers and Cacoons!

Today was a busy day of touring. We started the morning off with a one hour drive to see the famous Terracotta Warriors Museum. It was discovered in 1974 by three farmers digging a well. It is 3 pits of terracotta warriors and horses all built to guard the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. It covers a total area of over 20,000 meters and includes almost 8,000 warriors and horses and 100 chariots. It is known as the Eighth Wonder of the World and has been visited by more than 50 million people including 100 heads of different countries. Each piece is being refurbished because they were all broken by rebel soldiers who discovered them and stole the weapons that were buried there with the soldiers. There all also reproduction pieces made here in Xian and sold all over China. Each piece is hand made using molds and then baked in a kiln. I'm including a few pictures of the workers who are making larger pieces as well as a picture of the kiln. The pictures really don't do it justice. I guess it is one of those things that you have to see to appreciate.

While visiting the Terracotta Warriors today we ran into a tour group from the USA. They were here with their Chinese daughters that they adopted 9 years ago. They were so sweet and after admiring the children they wished us much happiness and were off to finish the tour.

Our Trip to Xi'an City Muslim Market

Amanda took us to Xi'an City's Muslim Market by the Drum Tower. You can buy lots of stuff and the prices our very negotiable. The loaded down bicycle is a very common site all over Xi'an City. It was amazing to see how much weight one man could pull on a bicycle.