Follow along as I explore China with Wendy Wu Tours and Liberty Travel! I’m sharing my experiences while traveling abroad. Here’s my recap of Xi’an (Part 2)!
Xi’an is the capital of the Shaanxi province and is one of the oldest cities in China. In my previous post, Xi’an Part 1, I took you down to the pits to experience the Terracotta Warriors up close. With the rest of our time left in Xi’an, we packed in lots of good eats and more historical sightseeing.
One of the most memorable meals I had during my China Adventure was a traditional banquet dinner. Coming to China, I knew that I was going to have lots of dumplings. But, I never imagined a meal like this one – it was an extravagant feast! Served family-style, course after course was presented to our table with elaborate and delicate dumplings. Each one was unique and you could tell that lots of time was spent in preparation for the meal. Our guide, Manny, explained that traditionally, these banquet dinners occur during holidays or celebrations like weddings since they are very labor intensive. Take a look at some of the spread -
These frogs were filled with shrimp!
Shaped like a walnut and yes, stuffed with them too!
More and more dumpling goodness
I’d highly recommend putting a banquet dinner on your list of things to experience while you’re in China. The place we went to had an accompanying show as well. The colorful costumes and traditional music kept us entertained as we dined.
The following morning, we had to walk off all that food. Manny took us to one of the oldest and best preserved city walls in China that surrounds Xi’an. It was re-constructed in the 14th century during the early Ming Dynasty based on the inner imperial palace of the Tang Dynasty. The wall stands 40 feet tall and covers a distance of 8.5 miles. Many tourists and locals were out for a leisurely walk or bike ride. My group posed for a photo before we explored:
Group photo at the City Wall
Before it was time to jet off to Shanghai, we stopped by the Muslim Quarter to taste some street food and pick up souvenirs. This area is full of stalls and shops with authentic snacks and crafts that you can barter for a really good price. The colors and high energy of the street draw you in. Make sure to try some of the sweet pastries and wash them down with their famous plum juice.
Some fried dough, raisins, and sweetness = delicious
Coming up next: follow along as I make my final stop in the city of Shanghai during my China Adventure with Wendy Wu Tours. We’ll do some major shopping, walk along the historical Bund, and be amazed by the skyline.
And in case you missed it, read more about my China Adventure, how I packed for the big trip, Beijing Travels: Part 1 / Part 2, and Xi’an Travels: Part 1. If you’re interested in embarking on a Wendy Wu Tour of your own, you can take a look at many of their packages on our website.
