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Today we went to the Qin Shi Tomb, even though it's a mound it's beautifully decorated with gardens, trees and walkways. What's underneath can only be imagined, never excavated it's thought vast riches lie around the tomb, legend has it that the people who designed it were buried alive within it carrying all the secrets with them. With supposed mercury rivers flowing around it amongst other ingenious defensives its unlikely it will be opened any time soon. (scientists have proved the presence of mercury around the base) Later we went to the Banpo Neolithic village, which houses the archaeological remains of a 6000 bc settlement. Even at that time they had some ingenious pottery designs, realising the centre of gravity they had water flasks that would pop upright when full and with a pointed end to stick in to the sand to keep cool while resting on long hunting journeys. The ingenuity and craftsmanship of the Chinese race is really evident at the site of the Terracotta warriors, very few words will describe the view of 6000 clay life-size warriors facing you in battle formation as you enter the building, each with unique facial expressions, even unique hair styles!There's also two bronze chariots which are harder to see in a dark room, but still seem to have great detail.On the way back we stopped at a silk factory with everyone standing outside, our guide told us there was a V.I.P in side, after we realised it was the Earthquake that happened in Chengdu everyone was outside incase it struck again. All along the street on the way back people were outside, we were wondering what was the big problem we actually felt nothing.!That night we ate the famous dumplings, not that great, meat and veg covered in doughy pastry and either boiled or steamed.
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