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powellproject · 7 years ago

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The Greatest Show on Earth Visits St. Joseph

An advertisement that appeared on page 1 of the St. Joseph Daily Morning Herald on Friday, August 16, 1872.

On Saturday, August 10, 1872, the St. Joseph Daily MorningHerald announced the pending arrival of “The Greatest Show on Earth”:

P. T. Barnum’s World’s Fair

What magic there is in that famous name! How it has thrilled the hearts of thirty millions of American people for more than a quarter century. How the announcement in another part of our paper this morning, that the veteran show prince of the world, who is to be here on Tuesday, August 20th, with the largest and most attractive combination of exhibitions the world has ever known, will turn the heads of fifty thousand people within a radius of fifty miles of St. Joseph, and especially those of our own city…. The six colossal tents in which the mammoth show will be given, will hold 20,000 people—one fifty cent ticket admitting the holder to all parts of the exhibition.

The article went on to state:

Barnum has spent more money for his group of marvelous sea lions, his living giraffs [sic], his Fiji Cannibals, riding goat, Digger Indians, and the four or five hundred animals, birds and reptiles alone than it costs to fix up six ordinary shows.

The following day, the DMH reported:

A Side Show Worth Seeing.

It is seldom that exhibitions of this class consist of more than a few monkeys, a prairie wolf, an owl and a fox or two, and are rarely patronized to any extent. Attached to the Great Barnum show, however, is an entertainment of extraordinary merit; a side show which in size would compare favorably with an ordinary circus tent, filled with remarkable human beings. Among which may be mentioned Col. Routh Goshen, the famous Arab giant, the world renowned Aztec Children, two white Moors from Madagascar, Maximo, a one armed African prince, a troupe of Hindoo jugglers, conjurors and wonder workers. Admission 25 cents. Open before and after the Great Barnum show.

A photograph of the interior of a sideshow tent in P. T. Barnum’s Circus— known at the time as “P. T. Barnum’s Great Traveling Exposition and World’s Fair” (circa 1872 or 1873). Some of the performers in this photo include John Hanson Craig (The Kentucky Fat Boy), Mary Powers (The Kentucky Giantess), Zip the Pinhead (The What is It?), and Annie Jones (the bearded child).

St. Joseph’s population was approximately 30,000 in 1872. The city previously hosted other noteworthy spectacles and performances (John H. Steiner’s balloon ascension in 1868 and James Robinson’s Great Circus and Animal Show in 1870), but this was BIG. American showman Phineas Taylor Barnum’s circus was the largest in American history. It traveled by train and had sixty cars—including forty-five flatcars that carried approximately 100 wagons.

Barnum organized this version of his famous circus in 1871. Referred to as “The Greatest Show on Earth,” it had six tents that covered five acres. The attractions included a museum, a menagerie, and a hippodrome arena that accommodated 20,000 seated patrons at a time. “We ought to have a big show,” Barnum proclaimed. “The public expects it, and will appreciate it.”

According to an article published on the website of the Indianapolis’ Children’s Museum, Barnum’s show is significant in the history of the American circus because it brought about three major innovations that drastically changed the way American circuses operated:

1. A second ring was added that doubled the number of displays and significantly increased seating capacity.

2. The show was put on rails, allowing the circus to play towns in the Midwest, creating the model for the “railroad circus” that would define the circus industry through the next century and beyond.

3. Advertising opportunities were used to draw patrons from neighboring towns to the show.

Advertising in the St. Joseph press was abundant and excitement for the spectacle was palpable. On August 13, a full week before the opening, the DMH reported:

—Barnum’s show, the greatest in the world, is beginning to be the topic of conversation. It is without question the largest entertainment of the kind that ever visited the west, and will be worth seeing. Near five hundred men are employed, and the expenses daily amount to five thousand dollars.

The night before the performance, a group of circus employees decided to patronize some of St. Joseph’s finest saloons. The press reported:

—At two o’clock this morning we met a crowd of twenty men on Second street, all of whom declared that they belonged to Carnum’s Bircus—and we believed it.

On the day of the event, the circus grounds opened at 10am. The hippodrome hosted performances at 11am, 2pm, and 8 pm. The DMH reported:

DOWN AT THE CIRCUS.

Notes and Incidents Gathered by a Herald Reporter Yesterday

Barnum’s show, of which so much has been said, and so much written, arrived in the city yesterday morning. In a few minutes time, after his arrival, over three hundred men were at work preparing to pitch the great canvass, and got everything in readiness for the entertainment. They were not long in doing either, for in an incredulous short space of time the immense pavilion was up, the ring made, flags displayed, and everything in readiness for business. To carry on such an institution successfully requires no small amount of ingenuity and management, and the best of order and discipline must prevail to prevent the business of each department conflicting with the other. Barnum, in this respect, has worked the circus business down to a point. His men go about their business like clock work. No hallooing or boisterous conduct can be heard; no profane or indecent language is used, but every man goes along quietly and performs the duty allotted to him rapidly, without disturbing his neighbor.

IMMENSE CROWDS.

Early in the morning thousands of people began to gather on the grounds. They could be counted by acres, and it is safe to say that never before has such a crowd of people gathered in St. Joseph. Excursion trains were run on all the roads and most of them came in crowded. The hotels were thronged and the restaurants over-run. The thoroughfares were a perfect moving mass, and many of the streets presented a Broadway appearance. People from the country were here; people from Kansas had come to see the elephant, and our neighbors from above in Nebraska had determined to see the sea-lion cost what it might.

Oh they came, and for hours there appeared to be no end to the arrivals. Excursion train after excursion train empties its contents at the depots, and well might the the well known tocain have been sounded, “The cry is, still they come!” The Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad brought in about twelve cars literally crammed with people. The K. C., St. Joe & C. B. brought in a large number packed like sardines in a box, and the Denver road brought in several cars crowded down. From the country hundreds came in wagons, and indeed it really appeared as though everybody of any account in towns for miles around, were in the city, and all bent upon beholding the multitudinous attractions of the greatest show on earth. An estimate of the number of visitors fixes the number at ten thousand, while not a few maintain that there were more. But leaving figures out of the question, there can be no difference upon one point at least, and that is that nothing to compare with the assemblage of yesterday was ever known in the northwest before. Old residents were astonished, and as for comparatively new comers, they looked on the multitude surging through the streets with amazement depicted upon their countenances, and almost skeptically exclaimed, “can it be possible that all of these people came to see Barnum’s show.” Yes, it was even so, but to no other man but Barnum in the universe would such honor be paid.

At the morning performance fully ten thousand people were present, and in the afternoon and at night the number if anything, was increased to twelve thousand or thereabouts.

The performance was good, although we have seen better. The collection of animals and curiosities was excellent.

In the forenoon the procession passed through the streets to the delight of thousands.

The reason why Barnum exceeds all his compeers is because of his boundless liberality, and his superior advantages for procuring curiosities from the uttermost parts of the earth. If there be a rare animal captured, a human monstrosity in existence; a choice production of musical or mechanical skill, a lusus naturae; a “What-is-it”; a wild Cannibal; a Digger Indian; a wooly horse; and Egyptian mummy; a horse-riding goat; a nondescript specimen of zoology, mythology, or ichthyology; a beautiful production of automation skill; a Perezitian Giant or a Lilliputian Dwarf, P. T. Barnum, in preference to all the world, is sure to be applied to, and he never fails to buy it if it has merit, at any price.

It is by this means he has come into the possession of the largest collection of curiosities in the world, with all of which he fills six separate colossal tents, while his generosity prompts him to exhibit them all for fifty cents.

The grand show left this morning for Chillicothe, where they will give three of their exhibitions to-day.

While I can’t confirm it, I’d like to think W. Angelo Powell took his wife Cecelia, twelve-year-old Flora, eleven-year-old Anna, five-year-old Celia (known as “Lillie”), and eight-year-old William to see “The Greatest Show on Earth.” They, along with thousands of other spectators, would have witnessed all the aforementioned spectacles.

As impressive as the days events must have been, the night ended in tragedy. A fight broke out leaving one man dead:

Stabbing Affray.

On Wednesday night, after the close of the performance, a white man named Thomas Haley, and a negro, whose name we were unable to learn, became engaged in a political argument on the circus ground. During the conversation, both became very angry, and indulged in language more forcible than elegant, which terminated in an altercation between the parties. In the melee the negro received a wound from a knife, in the left breast, near the heart, which terminated his existence, as were are informed, at an early hour last evening. There are several conflicting stories in regard to the matter, and by whom the cutting was done, but the above we believe to be nearest the truth. Haley has been employed as a teamster in the city for some time past. The negro was a steamboat hand. No arrest had been made put to last night.

The press later identified the name of the African American who was killed as “the negro Wilson.” They also reported that Thomas Haley was never arrested for any crime.

In 1881 Barnum, who was losing money, joined forces with James Bailey and James L. Hutchinson. The name, “P.T. Barnum’s Greatest Show On Earth, And The Great London Circus, Sanger’s Royal British Menagerie and The Grand International Allied Shows United” was eventually shortened to “Barnum & London Circus.”

A series of splits ensued resulting in several more name changes. The circus became known as “Barnum & Bailey Greatest Show on Earth” and later the “Barnum & Bailey Circus.”

#St. Joseph #The Greatest Show on Earth #P. T. Barnum

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ramoscamellia · 8 years ago

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A Guide to Traveling in Europe with Friends

The post A Guide to Traveling in Europe with Friends appeared first on Footloose.

Dream Vacation or Trip to the Heart of Darkness?

You have always said that one day you will take that dream vacation to Europe with your honey and some of your closest friends. Now, finally, you can all afford it…..Now what? Where do you start? Making major, and costly, decisions with your friends can be daunting, unfamiliar territory. It’s easy to become overwhelmed and end up planning a trip to the heart of darkness rather than your dream vacation.

In the best of situations, there are a million things to consider on a trip to Europe and even the best of friends will run in to some difficulties in the planning stage. And it might seem that the magic of being in Europe will overtake just about any kind of disagreement. You will compromise. After all, it’s the trip of a lifetime.

Well, unless you are willing to take some risks up front with your friends and get some advice, you may find yourself having a European Vacation experience, Griswald family style. And because you are not related, you won’t have a legal requirement to stay friends. After a 17-day trip to seven cities in two European countries with some of my best friends (luckily we still are), we have compiled some hindsight wisdoms to help other compadres venturing on their first trip to Europe avoid some pitfalls of traveling abroad: Listen to the Advice of Travel Agents

In the planning stages, be sure to be reasonable about the amount of traveling within Europe that you want to do. If a travel agent recommends that you cut down the number of places you travel in the time you have allotted, take his or her advice. You will be glad you did.

Europe has a wonderful rail system, and it is easy to get from one country to another. But remember that you will be carrying your bags and using a system of travel that you are unfamiliar with. If you are not careful, you will spend your entire time in Europe running from train to train, staring at train station terminals hoping it will begin to make sense to you at some point. We all agreed that we would spend more time in Paris and Rome on our next trip to Europe and cut down drastically the number of cities we traveled to in two-weeks’ time.Plan Separate Accommodations when Possible

It’s a good idea to plan to fork over the extra dough to have separate rooms for at least some of the trip. Mix it up so you are staying together for some of the time and separate at other times. Living space in Europe can be a lot smaller than it is here, so you will be glad you did. Book Outside Isles on the Plane

For the flight over and back: Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT sit in the middle row of the plane. After nine hours, you will feel like a manic anchovy, especially in the middle seat. Let whoever books the flight know this.Communicate About Different Styles of Traveling

Discuss your fears and travel proclivities with your friends. If you are afraid that your snoring will be an issue and you like to sleep in on trips and take sightseeing casually, talk about that. If you like to explore the nightlife, find out how you can work that into the sightseeing schedule without overwhelming your fellow weary travelers. Count on Rail System Strikes in Europe

You will want to check regularly at the train stations to make sure you know when and if strikes are taking place. In our case, we found out there was a rail system strike planned in Italy the day we were traveling from Nice, in the south of France, to Venice. The strikes are announced in advance and planned for specific durations of time. Due to the strike, we had to make a major decision about our trip within an hour. We had to cut our time short in Nice and head to Venice a day early. Because of this we missed the Cannes Film Festival, a highly anticipated part of the trip, at which we planned to scope out the stars. It was both unfortunate and fortunate. We had extra time in Venice, which is a great city, but it was a grueling decision. Some of us were so desperate to stay and see Cannes that we contemplated taking an eight-hour bus trip overnight to Italy the following day. Others, not so keen on the idea of arriving in Venice, at 2 in the morning, were quite prepared to take the fastest train out of Nice, ditch Cannes, and get to our accommodations in Italia at a reasonable hour, with enough time to get a pizza and some gelato, if we were lucky. We all eventually said au revoir to stalking Johnny Depp and headed to Venice, but not without some tears. Be prepared to make these kinds of decisions with your friends. Purchase Flexible Eurail Passes

Purchase flexible Eurail passes so that your group can split up if you have differing interests on a particular day (or in the event that there is a rail system strike and some of you can’t get Johnny Depp off the brain). Though it is cheaper to buy Eurail passes that have limitations, you will regret having these limitations. For instance, we bought tickets that required that we travel in a group. None of us could take a train without the rest of us in tow. We had to travel like a pack of ducks, everywhere. It may seem that you will all want to stick together because you will be in a foreign place, but you will get accustomed to the metro and rail system and will want to explore different areas on your own or in smaller groups. For instance, while in Paris, half of our group wanted to go to Versailles for a day and half of us wanted to take a trip to Rouen to visit the Joan of Arc Museum. Some of us also considered heading to the Normandy beaches. Because we had to travel in a group, we all had to compromise and agree on one destination. Get Acquainted with Each European Destination

When you arrive at each destination, take a half a day to learn the surrounding areas. Memorize your address and make sure each of you has it written down as well. Learn the common metro stops for your area and write these down and keep them with you. Take a test run on your own and meet your friends for lunch. Then you will all feel comfortable later splitting up to find different points of interest. And always make an alternate plan in case something goes wrong. For instance, you might decide to all meet at the apartment/hotel at the end of the day at a specific time as a last resort. Plan for Shopping Time

Plan time in your schedule to shop. Some of us have different needs for shopping, but we all want to bring something home for at least one person. If you don’t plan time into your schedule for shopping, you will never find time if you are on a tight sightseeing schedule. Under-book Your European Sightseeing Schedule

Don’t plan a tight sightseeing schedule. All the attractions take time to locate and time to enjoy thoroughly. Also, remember that the hours for different attractions vary. Some of the attractions like the Sistine Chapel close at odd hours, like 2:45 p.m., and many of the attractions are closed on certain weekdays. And try to do this before you get on the plane. Do your research and make sure that you have time to see what’s important to you. Plan Time for Laundry

We all packed as light as we could for our two weeks of travel-well, okay not as light as we could- and we all had to do laundry at least twice while we were there. Apartments and flats often come equipped with washing machines, but there are NO CLOTHES’ DRYERS in the apartments in Europe. The only dryers we found were in a laundry mat in Florence. Don’t Expect to Eat Dinner Early

Many restaurants also have irregular hours. Many times, if we arrived at a restaurant too early in the evening (like 7:00 p.m. I don’t think they have a problem with acid reflux in this country.), we would catch the staff during their dinnertime. After they finished eating, they would usher us in for dinner. For those of you who have trouble eating too late in the evening, you may want to plan ahead for this.

European Menus

Watch out for pricing on menus. One of us ordered a fish entrée at a small restaurant in Venice that was priced at 7 euro per ounce. Apparently the fish was 12 ounces when cooked, but when it was prepared and brought to the table, it appeared much smaller. Needless to say, the 84-euro fish made quite an impression.

Language Barrier

It’s true. In the major metropolitan areas of France and Italy, most folks are not delighted to speak in English. It’s not their native tongue after all. We were lucky to have fluent speaker with us, but he couldn’t be with all of us at all times. In the more rural and touristy areas, you will have much more luck with happy English speakers. Still, beef up on as much of the language as you can before you arrive and come emotionally prepared to be mildly tolerated by the natives!

Overall, the magic of being in Europe will overtake a lot of things, but good planning and communication will help you avoid some pitfalls of traveling with friends.

The post A Guide to Traveling in Europe with Friends appeared first on Footloose.

from https://www.footloosetours.com/guide-traveling-europe-friends/ from http://footloosetours0.tumblr.com/post/157391925857

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ewellginny · 8 years ago

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A Guide to Traveling in Europe with Friends

The post A Guide to Traveling in Europe with Friends appeared first on Footloose.

Dream Vacation or Trip to the Heart of Darkness?

European Menus

Language Barrier

Overall, the magic of being in Europe will overtake a lot of things, but good planning and communication will help you avoid some pitfalls of traveling with friends.

The post A Guide to Traveling in Europe with Friends appeared first on Footloose.

From https://www.footloosetours.com/guide-traveling-europe-friends/

from https://footloosetours0.wordpress.com/2017/02/18/a-guide-to-traveling-in-europe-with-friends/

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raymodelmy · 8 years ago

Text

A Guide to Traveling in Europe with Friends

The post A Guide to Traveling in Europe with Friends appeared first on Footloose.

Dream Vacation or Trip to the Heart of Darkness?

European Menus

Language Barrier

Overall, the magic of being in Europe will overtake a lot of things, but good planning and communication will help you avoid some pitfalls of traveling with friends.

The post A Guide to Traveling in Europe with Friends appeared first on Footloose.

from https://www.footloosetours.com/guide-traveling-europe-friends/ from http://footloosetours0.blogspot.com/2017/02/a-guide-to-traveling-in-europe-with.html

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footloosetours0 · 8 years ago

Text

A Guide to Traveling in Europe with Friends

The post A Guide to Traveling in Europe with Friends appeared first on Footloose.

Dream Vacation or Trip to the Heart of Darkness?

European Menus

Language Barrier

Overall, the magic of being in Europe will overtake a lot of things, but good planning and communication will help you avoid some pitfalls of traveling with friends.

The post A Guide to Traveling in Europe with Friends appeared first on Footloose.

from https://www.footloosetours.com/guide-traveling-europe-friends/

0 notes

2traveldads-blog · 8 years ago

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Seriously, I could write about China all day every day. Thinking about what areas of China to visit, people will probably research what spots are going to have the best tourist sites or most famous Chinese landmarks. If that’s the approach you’re taking, then no doubt you’re going to be pointed towards the Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin. Or maybe you’ll find the deadliest hike on earth and plan on climbing Huashan (so cool!). Either of these are going to put you in Shaanxi province and you’ll have countless options for amazing experiences in China! That’s why we thought it would be good to have a Xi’an city guide.

Firstly, know that there are two different states in China called “Shaanxi”. We are talking about the southern of the two which is where you’ll find Xi’an. They border each other, so who knows, you may even find yourself in both when you’re visiting China. Shaanxi is a large province, but it’s still less than half the size of California. Having said that, that’s kind of how to approach planning a trip through Shaanxi: think of the amount of time you’d need for a Northern California or SoCal roadtrip and boom; you’ll need the same amount of time for a trip around Shaanxi province. If you base your travels off our little Xi’an city guide you’ll be set!

Arrival in Shaanxi Province

Depending on where you are coming from you probably cannot get a direct flight into Xi’an, China. Flying through Beijing is a great option and is surprisingly affordable. For example: a round-trip flight from Seattle to Xi’an via Beijing is about $550 USD. If you ever book international travel, you know that a $500 range round trip ticket is a pretty good deal.

Tip: I flew Hainan Airlines with a layover in Beijing and had more room in my coach seat than any other international flight ever. Also, I received Mileage Plan miles with Alaska Airlines for the flight, so win!

Another way you might arrive in Shaanxi province is if you are already on a road trip through Central China. Getting to Xi’an may take you a few hours from once you’re in Shaanxi province though, so plan for traffic and lot’s of potty breaks.

As you look at our suggestions know that an itinerary needs to work for travelers and for their starting point, don’t just build a trip using this one idea. Adjust the suggestions in our Xi’an city guide based on your time, your starting point, your strongest interests and advice from others.

Touring Xi’an, the largest city in Shaanxi

Xi’an is such a cool City. The first thing that caught my eye was how big it was. The airport was as big as SeaTac here in Seattle but it turns out that Xi’an is nearly eight times the size of Seattle. Within the city you’ll find many interesting sites. You may be directed to any number of attractions, but not all are authentic or worth visiting. That’s why our Xi’an city guide isn’t crazy full of stuff. :)

Cultural History Museum in Xi’an

One of the sites we visited that was directly in Xi’an was the historical and cultural museum. If you don’t go to many museums you may be captivated and fascinated by most of what you’ll see there as it’s very different from what you’ll find in the museums in France or the United States. If you compare the quality of the exhibits, the cleanliness, and the number of people within small spaces in the museum you won’t be very impressed. Choose wisely as to if you want to spend time going through museum exhibits versus exploring the city.

Tip: a great phrase to have handy to let the Chinese folks around you know that you’re engaged and trying to immerse yourself in culture is “hěn yǒuyìsi,” which means “That’s interesting.” It’s fun to say and applies to almost everything you’ll encounter. Our buddy Richelle over at Adventures Around Asia shared this one!

Parks and Pagodas in Xi’an

Another way you can experience history is by going directly to the source. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda was my favorite site within Xi’an (which is why it’s the MUST of our Xi’an city guide). Being more than a thousand years old and centered within a Buddhist complex, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda was absolutely amazing. With smaller temples throughout, this site is worth an entire day. True, you can do it in 2 or 3 hours, but if you just want to relax and people watch as well as explore the many buildings, including a small museum on site, you could allot an entire day.

Directly next door to the giant Wild Goose Pagoda is the Tang Paradise Park. While some of the structures are much older, the colonnades, dragon fountains, and art installations are fairly recent. This is the site that emperors of ancient China would wander around following a visit to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda; they would enjoy their time there before returning to the Summer or Winter Palace, but most of those original structures are no longer found within the imperial gardens of the Tang Paradise. The site is amazing though. We were there for about two-and-a-half hours and could have easily spent five hours. It’s a half-day activity.

Note: certain sites in China require you to present a passport to be able to enter or even purchase an entry ticket. China is one country where traveling with your passport at all times is recommended, at least for this reason (and checking into hotels).

The Terracotta Warriors

I think it’s a safe bet to say that besides the Great Wall of China the Terracotta Warriors is the most famous site or tourist attraction within all of China. It’s totally understandable because they’re pretty darn cool. That was my first time ever visiting an active archaeological excavation and being able to watch people working with line tools uncovering pieces of the army as well as others reassembling… It was just so cool to see. The museum portions of the Terracotta Army Park were of a much higher quality than what we experience at the cultural and history museum. One of the things that really made the day fun when we went to the terracotta warriors with making a stop ahead of time in his Artisan shop where they make souvenirs relating to the Terracotta Army. We got to make our own Warriors as well as watch the process that was used nearly two thousand years ago.

Note: the actual National Park site is quite clearly the actual site. Don’t go to a knock off site or extra special tomb site or something. The Terracotta Warriors site is the only real one.

Also: this is a part of our Xi’an city guide because, although it feels like it’s far from the city, it’s truly a part of it. Xi’an is huge.

Biking the City Wall of Xi’an

The city wall of Xian is another fun sites to explore. And it’s more than just walking up to the wall and saying “There’s a wall…” we actually rented bikes and rode around the entire city wall except for a small portion where they were doing some re-construction. The city wall of Xian is the largest fully intact city wall in the world. It’s really really amazing. At night the bell towers and ramparts are lit up with colorful lights and spot lights. Even if you don’t have time to bike the entire wall you should be sure to be close to it at night for some really cool night time photo ops.

Tip: unless you have stellar balance, it might not be best to snap pics while riding a biking on a cobblestone elevated street. Pull over for actual photo ops and selfies. Or wear a GoPro for your ride and look at pics later.

Getting a dose of Chinese Culture

Something else that you want to be sure to do when you are in the city is to get your fill of culture and there are several ways to do it.

Actual Chinese Food

The easiest way to jump into culture is of course going and finding amazing food. FYI, the Chinese food you get in China is actually Chinese food. If you’re expecting something that you would get at a Chinese restaurant in America you are going to be shocked because American Chinese food is some sort of pretend concoction that people made up to try to make it so that Americans would eat some form of Chinese food.

Chinese food in China is beyond amazing and that’s all I can say about it. Things to look for in great Chinese food would be lotus root, dragon fruit, dumplings that have some sort of black sauce in them, anything with Sichuan peppercorns that make your tongue tingle, aubergine, aubergine, aubergine, eggplant… Can you tell that the food was bomb digity?

Tip: BUY STREET FOOD. OMG, how can you not? It’s everywhere and it’s so awesome. Whether you’re getting cotton candy or something that looks like an onion pancake but has a layer of meat, it’ll be good.

Note: I have a whole string of tummy issues and a bizarre medical history and eating in China was a piece of cake. In fact, eleven days of Chinese food was the best I’ve felt in years and I had ZERO moments where I thought I was going to die from the food. (I’m not a doctor though, so don’t think of me as a medical expert of any sort.)

Muslim Quarter Street Market

I’ll be the first to say that crowds aren’t my favorite thing, particularly when I’m in a really unfamiliar place, but OMG, the Muslim Quarter has be to included in our Xi’an city guide. Just look:

Every corner within the Muslim Quarter had something different to distract us. We spent so much time wandering and trying foods we’ve never seen before that we almost didn’t make it home that night. We visited the Muslim Quarter of Xi’an twice and I can confidently say that day or night, it’s an amazing place to wander through.

Tip: this is your chance to try everything you’ve seen on travel or food shows that you’ve never had at your fingertips. When are you going to find barbecued cuttlefish again?

Chinese Ballet

Another form of culture that you should seek out is theater. We went to an amazing Chinese ballet in a beautiful theater covered in silk tapestries with gold end crystal chandeliers and it was mind-numbingly colorful. The show we went to featured many different styles of Chinese dance comma a full-sized Chinese dragon, and really incredible traditional music. After a long day it was a bit of a sensory overload but it was absolutely incredible and the perfect way-2 get a feel of traditional Chinese culture.

Tip: if you’re planning on doing any photography, be ready to adjust your camera settings quickly. You’re expecting to shoot low-light photography, and you will, but then the stage is bright beyond bright, so be quick about it!

Modern and Ancient Art in China

Well, I wouldn’t have thought to seek out a contemporary art gallery on a trip to China. That was one of the final activities we did while in Xi’an. We had an English-speaking guide within the gallery who explained the different pieces and the artists creating them. From Modern political art making statements about the one child policy to mid-century art making honorary references to Mao Zedong there was quite the gambit. The Tangbo Museum Gallery was an awesome surprise.

We got to see a collection of historical art ranging over a thousand years which included some rare portrayals of women in power as well as really elaborate battle tapestries unlike any I’d seen anywhere ever. In the same museum we also got to sit down with an instructor and learn how to create Chinese characters using traditional walnut ink and a lot of patience. I really enjoyed that and would love to actually study Mandarin to understand the characters, the history of the language, and so much more. Chinese culture is fascinating.

Tip: if you see art that you’d like to bring home, either in a gallery or in a marketplace, get it. Art from your travels is an incredible, one-of-a-kind souvenir.

Day Trips out of Xi’an

Does anybody travel with the intent of staying just within city limits? No, except for maybe NYC. Xi’an is centrally located within Shaanxi province, so you’ll have lots of options. If you’re not touring the entire province, there are a few sights that can be done as day trips out of the city.

The Death Planks of Huashan

Before I actually got to the death planks I really didn’t know what to expect or if I would actually be able to walk across these fabled pieces of wood above some sort of Canyon. Well, the experience was amazing. About 2 hours outside of Xi’an is Huashan National Park. When you arrive you get to start your day with a bus ride along what seems like a never-ending zig-zah road. We were fortunate enough to get to sit in a group of retired Korean tourists who had brought their own DJ box along with them and we’re pumping K-pop all the way up the winding mountain. It was hilarious.

When we got to the end of the road we boarded our cable car and headed up up up up up until we were staring across valley after valley of granite cliffsides. We headed up countless stairs passing thousands of locks on the railings and hundreds upon hundreds of prayer tassels while we made our ascent to the South Peak of Huashan. We passed by so many temples and religious sites on the way to the top, each being so different and having a different purpose. At the very top prior to doing it the death planks there was a huge bell where you could pay the bellman, say a prayer, and then bang the largest bronze bell I’ve ever seen. It was an awesome experience.

Crossing the death planks wasn’t that scary. Well, coming back across them was scary because we had to circumnavigate around a pack of tourists who were terrified and barely able to move. I think that’s why this is the most dangerous hike on Earth: because of the tourists who have panic attacks more than a mile above the valley floor. You should still do it though.

Tip: bring water and cash (RMB). You’ll get thirsty and if you want to have a harness on your for crossing the death planks, you have to pay the piper.

Ancient and Modern Buddhism at the Famen Temple

Gosh, even though I loved the Tang Paradise and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda for their history and beauty the Famen Temple was jaw-dropping. When we first approached we thought we were going to some sort of bizarre Lego structure. It wasn’t. The Famen Temple complex is the perfect combination of modern Chinese architecture juxtaposed against one of the most ancient temples in China. Take a look at this place!

The purpose of this Buddhist complex is to house the finger bone of the original Buddha, as well as be a center of learning and tourism for those interested in Buddhism and its devout followers. The contrast between the two parts of the Famen Temple complex really helped me understand Buddhism, its history, and it’s modern practice. I really loved it and appreciated being brought to this site.

Tip: plan on eating at the Famen Temple, as there are street vendors in the area between the Heshi Dagoba and the ancient pagoda, as well as a Buddhist restaurant that it fully vegetarian.

Taibai Mountain and Baoji

How to write about this without chuckling.

So, the city of Baoji is hilarious. Picture a Las Vegas that is only neon and LED lights but also completely abandoned and yet still very well kept. And then add some really cool structures like dragons and small pagodas and waterfalls and bridges and… And then cover them all in lights. That’s what this town is like. The tourist area of Baoji exists for the purpose of people visiting from Xi’an who want to experience the hot springs which flow through a really incredible Hot Springs Resort. But there is also amazing, genuine Chinese massage and treatments too… um, which were awesome (as you can see).

The Hot Springs Resort at Baoji was really fun to explore and try every single type of hot springs Treatment available. I’m not sure if my favorite was the propulsion jet that shot your body with scalding hot water at rocket speeds or getting buried by 200 pounds of smooth muddy rocks. Or maybe it was sitting in a pool of semi-rotten floating apples. No, it was being fully immersed in a pool filled with fish that were eating all the little skin cells off of every part of my body. The Taibai Hot Spring Resort was bizarre and amazing and I want to go back. We have nothing like it in the United States; if we do, somebody’s got to tell me immediately.

Beyond the hot springs is Taibai Mountain National Park. We approached Taibai Mountain with the best intentions and highest hopes. Pandas. Taibai National Park is one of the areas where pandas roam freely and we were so hoping to get to spot one. As luck would have it, a freezing fog rolled in and we were stuck on the mountain at the top of the cable car line in -5 degrees celsius weather wearing shorts and ponchos. Poor planning on our part, but surprise, it’s China!

The drive along the way up the mountain was really truly beautiful though. Countless waterfalls and amazing temples along the river that we’re all accessible as we drove. There’s a bus that will take you all the way up the mountain and drop you at any of the points of interest, which we took full advantage of. And after a long freezing day up in the National Park what’s better than going back to the Hot Springs Resort? Nothing. It’s an amazing day trip or even a two-day trip.

Note: if you do Baoji and Taibai Shan National Park you’ll be experiencing an off-the-beaten-path area of China. True, it’s not far from Xi’an which does get many international visitors, but during our three days there, we were the only non-Chinese visitors we met.

There is much more to do in Shaanxi province, but for now, this will take care of planning if you want to stay based out of Xi’an. You’ll be able to get a great taste of culture, history and nature while you’re in Xi’an and will be completely primed for another trip to China soon after.

Xi’an City Guide: experiencing China’s history, nature and culture Seriously, I could write about China all day every day. Thinking about what areas of China to visit, people will probably research what spots are going to have the best tourist sites or most famous Chinese landmarks.

#Buddhism #city break #international travel #itinerary #Shaanxi #street market #Xian

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