Xian West Market Reconstructed On Original Site |
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| By Mei Liu |
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| Rebuilding of the West Market of Xian has just been
completed. This ancient market is situated in Xian, the
capital city of China's Northwest Shaanxi Province. It was
established 1300 years ago on an enormous piece of land that
stretches across 2 city wards. It was divided into 9 areas,
all of which provided shoppers with a host of products. These included taverns, wine shops, pastries, gruel, cereals, and a Persian bazaar. The government offices were also housed in the complex, as was a safety deposit company. One of the main reasons for rebuilding this historical site is to give visitors some insight into the Tang Dynasty which ruled from 618 to 907 AD. These years were a prosperous time in Chinese history, chiefly due to vigorous foreign trade on the Silk Road. This famous link was cut off when the Tang reign ended, putting an end to trading. However, part of the rebuilding plan included the re-establishment of the Silk Road link. Xian was known as Chang'an at that time. It was one of the biggest cities in the world with more than 1 million residents. Prior to the Tang Dynasty coming into power, there were 2 markets, namely the east market and the west market. The east served the locals, while the west catered for visitors from abroad. Both of these markets exist today in some form or other During the Tang Dynasty, a number of cultural exchange programs were initiated in Chang'an, most of which involved foreign students participating in study programs. Friendly relations were also fostered with Arabic countries and, as a result, China acquired precious stones and food items. The imposing sculptures and murals at Mogao Caves were crafted in the Tang Dynasty. The West Market covers an enormous area. Costs for rebuilding amounted to 3.5 billion Yuan which translates to $460 million. Two phases of development took place. The first houses antique and souvenir shops, reception facilities for visitors, a museum, restaurants and a supermarket. This phase was finished in 2008. The total area is 660,000 square meters. Phase 2 has just about been completed. This section highlights the heritage and culture of the old Silk Road. Here you can get a fascinating insight into Chinese history and learn just how progressive this nation was. It was the Chinese who made ground-breaking advances in astronomy, science, medicine and printing. This area of 620,000 square meters also features offices and residential apartments. The economy has progressed at a rapid rate in Xian and it remains an integral city in the north western part of China. Shopping facilities at the rebuilt West Market are excellent and varied. Anyone with a passion for Chinese culture will find fascinating items that include green porcelain, Tang pottery, folk paintings and calligraphy rubbings. Until now, tourism statistics reveal that a visitor spends only 3 days in Xian, and spends $180. These figures are bound to increase now that the West Market of Xian has re-opened. |
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| Article Source: http://interpret.zar.vg | ||||
| About The Author Mei is owner operator of Xian Apartment Headquarters which is a quality provider of apartments in Xian China for long and short term stays |
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