Anyone working or studying in Xian?

[rivercao]

My beautiful beautiful hometown, a historic city which is the capital of 13 dynasties(including Qin and Tang Dynasty).

The Terra-cotta Figures is amazing, the local food there are fantastic! I think Xian is the best place for travelling, and living probably.

I want to know your comments. And I'm ready to give any information for you.

[Meng Lelan]

No, but I may be traveling through there this July. Where do you recommend I go for Chinese teaching materials/books/resources? Local souvenirs/crafts/gifts?

[rivercao]

No, but I may be traveling through there this July. Where do you recommend I go for Chinese teaching materials/books/resources? Local souvenirs/crafts/gifts?

Aha, If I were there, I would be your guide, but unfortunately I won't be there. I usually guided my friends from other places to travel around Xian, I can give you a list of top 3 places of interest:

1. Terra-cotta Figures (兵马俑): A must-see spot, one of the two best historic heritages in China, another one is well-known Great Wall in Beijing. The warriors and horses figures has 2000 years history, think about that.

2. The City Wall (城墙): the feature of Xian, the city's layout never changed for 2k years, and the city is rounded by The City Wall, and a River Ring is round the Wall, it's the only city in China where you can see this ancient scene.

3. Big Wild Goose Pagoda (大雁塔): a holy place for Buddhists, it functioned to collect Buddhist materials that were taken from India by the hierarch Xuanzang (Monkey King's Shifu in legend story).

Any places not in the list above can be elective.

In terms of local souvenirs/crafts/gifts and food, I think you can find some local food on Gulou(鼓楼, almost in the centre of the city) Street and crafts and souvenirs on Shuyuanmen(书院门, inside the South Gate of City Wall)。

That's fairly enough for a 3-day-travel. You can ask me any further information at any time.

[rivercao]

I think I have replied in your thread regarding Nirenzhang clay culpture...haha.

Good luck on your travel.

[Meng Lelan]

What about bookstores? If no bookstores I'll be a sobbing mess....

[rivercao]

About Chinese teaching material...

What do you use the material for? Quickly learning of Chinese, or take it home?

I recommend you buy some books in Xinhua bookstore(新華書店), it's in city, somewhere near East Avenue.

[roddy]

For Chinese learning materials? What about bookstores near universities, they're often a better option - which universities have the most foreigners studying Chinese?

[rivercao]

For Chinese learning materials? What about bookstores near universities, they're often a better option - which universities have the most foreigners studying Chinese?

It should be Xian International Studies University(西安外语学院).It's in southern suburb.