Good Day as  I rise early this morning for a deliciously home-cooked style Chinese Breakfast here inside Oriental Express the Deluxe Express Train travelling on the Silk Road in China on Day 3 :

In the midst of our pretty yummy Breakfast, we meet Mr Li Liang Yi – General Manager of China Express Travel Service (or China Express Holidays Singapore), who’s in-charged of the Silk Road Express Train which opened in 1993.

Mr Li Liang Yi has come to welcome us aboard the Oriental Express Train on our Mysterious Silk Road Tour……….

Well-known to China’s Tourism World & in Southeast Asia, Mr Li Liang Yi dedicated all his efforts to develop the Chartered Train Tour for more than 10 years – bringing several thousands visitors to the Silk Road each year!!

For his Professional Services & exciting Lecture named “Chinese Culture & Tour”, Mr Li Liang Yi gained the name “King of The Silk Road” :

I’m now back inside our Train Cabin which is the 1st Cabin on Carriage 6 of the Oriental Express the Deluxe Express Train………….Well, last night’s sleep wasn’t a very pleasant one as the moving Train was pretty noisy & sometimes jerking though the Bed’s pretty comfortable!!

Guess it’s just a matter of getting used to it as our Silk Road Trip continues on…………Afterall it was a real good experience & the first ever for Me who’s always been fascinated with Trains & travelling in Trains heheh!!

I’m here standing at the Corridor outside our Cabin :

And since arriving last night, I’ve really liked sitting on the Foldable Seat here at the Corridor outside our Cabin enjoying the on-going outside sceneries as our Train travels along the Silk Road………….& of course it was total darkness last night as we departed Xi’an, China!!

Here’s the Common Toilet with a small washing Basin (with only COLD water!!) in our Carriage 6 next to our Cabin – not quite what we’d expected but it’s “managable” & good enough…………

And there’s limited Gallons of COLD Water available in the entire Train (cos it’s to be refilled at Train Station stops!!), so sometimes there’s no Water flushed out at all after using the Toilet ahahah!!

As there’s still some time before our arrival at the next destinated Train Station, I decide to walk around to explore & have a peek at the other Carriages & Cabins of the Oriental Express the Deluxe Express Train…………

Hey there’s even a Piano inside the Entertainment Carriage – how amazing!!

Hahah, above is where I brushed my teeth & washed my face this morning upon waking up – MY GOODNESS the water was ssosososooo freezing COLD (it still is now!!) in here & I’d to hold on to something while standing & washing to prevent myself from falling cos of the constant moving Train!!!

I bought the following China Silk Road Travelling Souvenir Book from the most friendly Train Waitress as she shares with me her story about only being able to go home once in every 3 to 4 months from working in the Oriental Express the Deluxe Express Train :

This thick China Silk Road Travelling Book consists of pages & pages of continuous stories & pictures introducing the world famous mysterious & historical Silk Road -  if only it comes in English version too but nevertheless, it’s now my most treasured & priced China Silk Road Souvenir!!

I’m now showing you my very 1st lunch here in Xi’an of Shaanxi, China after visiting Huaqing Pond (Huaqing Hot Springs) before visiting Musiem of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses on my 2nd Day of Mysterious Silk Road Tour, where I’ve pretty delicious Xi’an Cuisines :

It’s my very 1st time tasting the Chinese Freshwater Fish which has many Bones that can be real killing (stuck in throats!!) for people who’re not careful when eating them - luckily for me I’ve heard many stories from Mom & Dad about these Fish so I’m extremely tactful & only take exremely tiny bits of the Fish to try!!

Here’s when I see more Bing Ma Yong - Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses on sales, which our Xi’an Chinese Tour Guide advises us not to buy cos most of them are fake as can been seen in their unnatural colors etc :

My paternal 4th Auntie (whom I call “Si Kor” in Hokkien) who’s travelling with us, just gave my brother-in-law Ah Hia & I a freshest huge Pomegranate which she purchased from the Fruits Stall :

Now, here below’s the Dining Restaurant where we’ve our most yummy Xi’an Dinner Cuisines after visiting the Ancient City Wall of Xi’an here in Shaanxi, China :

More Pork Slices for our Steamboat Dinner…………

Silly Me should have just gotten the above standing GENERAL Bing Ma Yong Souvenir Photo Frame (2nd from left) which I adore!!

But luckily I managed to get hold of the similar 1st piece - Bronze Chariot Souvenir Photo Frame (originally from Xi’an too!) while shopping for 2008 Beijing Olympics Souvenirs in China last year – seen below inserted with Dear & My Portrait taken infront of the majestic Forbidden City in Beijing, China :

As our Tour will be leaving Xi’an tonight to embark on our Mysterious Silk Road Deluxe Express Train, it’s my last & only chance now of grabbing hold of Xi’an Souvenirs………

And I’m most glad that I manage to get the folllowing China Xi’an Souvenir T-Shirt (depicting Xi’an’s Famous Places of Interests such as The Silk Road, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Huaqing Hot Springs, City Wall etc ) for my Dear Dear whom I know is missing me lots back home in Singapore :

As well as COUPLE Wear - Xi’an Bing Ma Yong – Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses Bronze Chariot Souvenir T-Shirts for Dear & myself :

It’s now time to travel to the Xi’an Train Station where we’ll board our Mysterious Silk Road Deluxe Express Train…………

The Xi’an Train Station is packed with many people (tourists as well as locals) as we all wait in line for our arriving Trains………..

After about an hour later, our Silk Road Deluxe Express Train (Oriental Express) arrives & we’re led by our Xi’an Chinese Tour Guide to our designated Train Cabins, after walking a pretty long way from the Train Station up an Overhead Bridge & then down the Bridge towards our parked Train – all in all carrying our own Travelling Hand-Luggages with us……….& at the same time facing a huge commotion as there’re more than 200 of us alone (from Singapore, Malayasia & Hong Kong!) travelling on the same Silk Road Deluxe Express Train leaving Xi’an, China tonight!!! 

Now, here’s my Mysterious Silk Road with Deluxe Express Train Visitor Guide from China Express Holidays back home in Singapore :

Finally here I am settling down inside our extremely small Cabin of the Mysterious Silk Road Deluxe Express Train (Oriental Express)………..

After yet another 45mins later after our Train departs Xi’an in Shaanxi, China – our other Huge Travelling Luggages arrive before us – these we need not carry up & down the Train Station & Overhead Bridge earlier with us but are taken care of by our China Express Holidays Tour managment here in China……….

But Aahahhahaah we’ve a good laugh cos there’s practically NO MORE ROOM for walking or even standing (except to jump on top of our Beds!!) when all our Huge Luggages arrive here inside our Train Cabin!!!

Well, below pic shows Ah Hia seated along the narrow Corridor outside our Train Cabin where Ah Hia & I put our Huge Travelling Luggages to allow space inside our Cabin for our 2 Auntie Bunkmates to unpack…………….

Ahahah WHAT a Surprise WHAT a Surprise!!! Our Bunkmates & Ah Hia & I couldn’t stop laughing over how extremely tiny our Train Cabin is cos we’d been told how big & luxurious it’d be before we came here!!

But may be these standards are already considered the best here in the Silk Road for the Chinese huh! Or may be we’re just expecting too much too much!!

But still, we’re laughing when we start imaging we’ve to be in our extremely small Cabin for more nights & days to come travelling here in the Silk Road from Xi’an, Shaanxi in China ahahahah!!!

Here’s a close-up view of the more than 6 decade-old Ancient City Wall Floor Tiles :

Hey there’re even Ancient War Weapons (mostly made of wood) displayed here at the Ancient City Wall of Xi’an in Shaanxi, China :

Here’s Me standing on the Ancient City Wall – drizzling now………..

We’re now inside one of the City Wall Towers where we see, & are introduced to Fengshui Artifacts such as Pixiu which we can purchase if we like :

I’m now outside Pit 1 walking towards Pit 2 of Museum of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses in Xi’an, Capital of Shaanxi – China :

This below pic shows the Hole Digged for Stealing the Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses Relics seen inside Pit 2 of Museum of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses :

The Digged Hole as seen on the right in below pic, with the Morden Well (used in burying the Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses) to its left & bottom :

Soon, we leave Pit 2 walking to Pit 3 now when our Xi’an Chinese Tour Guide stops to show us the Floor Tiles indicating the Terra Cotta Excavation Grounds down below :

Here below’s a modern-looking Coffee Kiosk beside the Museum of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses Souvenir Shops where many tour mates of mine stop to rest their legs (cos we’ve been walking pretty non-stop since morning!!), & drink Coffee which tastes more like Expresso………..

And there’re huge lovely Roses outside the Souvenir Shops which greatly remind me of my most beautiful Home Garden Roses (with beautiful Rose Syrub Fragrance!!) back in Geelong (Victoria – Australia) during my uni days!!

I’ve now stepped into the Museum of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses Souvenirs Shop eager to start hunting for my Bing Ma Yong Souvenirs…………

And LUCKY us we happen to meet the Chinese Archaeologist who founded the Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses, from whom many Tourist visitors are queuing up right now to purchase his Archaeologist Book with his newly signed Signature!! What an honor & pleasure!!

Here’s a Poster seen inside the Souvenirs Shop – showing the Chinese Archaeologist meeting Bill Clinton – ex-President of USA…………

WOW WOW!! See the many different sized Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses displayed inside the Souvenirs Shop – & all are for sales!! How amazingl!!!

Here’s Me posing with the charming Bing Ma Yong (Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses)………..

Hahah I’m getting real excited as I hunt around for the best piece of Bing Ma Yong to bring home with me!!

I’ve seen quite a few pieces in Tourist Shops at Jianguo Hotel, as well as at our Lunch Restaurant earlier this afternoon, but we were strongly advised by our Xi’an Chinese Tour Guide to best not buy those Bing Ma Yong, cos some of them may be FAKE!!

And true enough for me, somehow I find them looking kinda weird in color (either too dark or light!!), or seem much lighter or are too heavy in weights, & they usually sell at a much lower rate which means they’re of not too good qualities!!

But the ones inside the Souvenir Shops here at Museum of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses are made of the real Clay material as originally used in making the buried Bing Ma Yong of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, & they’re for sure very genuine ones!!!

Therefore, my brother-in-law (Ah Hia) & I specially waited till now to buy our Bing Ma Yong – YES FINALLY I’ve got mine!! seen here below – ahahah too bad I could only afford ONE miniature piece of course – hahah wish I could get the Kneeling Archer Bing Ma Yong too!!

But NOPE I can’t!! thinking I’ve to be carrying all my purchases for the rest of my days here in Silk Road, China (up & down Coaches & Trains etc!!) -  So the less I buy, the less load I’d be travelling with for the rest of my Trip!! Ahhaha wish my Dear Dear’s with Me right now!! (so that he can carry for Me hahah!!!)

BUT still I love this miniature GENERAL Terra Cotta Warrior of mine so much so much & I’m really proud to be owning him heehhehe!!!

I bought more wonderful Souvenirs :

Love these Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses Poker Playing Cards cos they feature all totally different aspects & pics of the Bing Ma Yong (from Excavations to Restoration to Display & with Descriptions too!!) – YES YES!! 54 unique sceneries featured in 54 individual Cards for me as if I’m travelling with the Bing Ma Yong!! It’s really so cool!!!

This’s truely a most rare Souvenir Treasure find for me!! And ahahah I must be the smartest girl here right now to have gotten this charming Pack of Cards!!

Here’re more great Souvenir Treasure finds for Me – Miniature 3D Terra Cotta Warriors Souvenir Magnets – hahah I was jumping in joy & excitement when I chanced upon these at a real small Souvenir Kiosk outside the above large Souvenirs Shop :

Lastly, I got myself this following Great Wall of China with Thermometer Souvenir Magnet – heeheheh Me wondering why there’re Great Wall Souvenirs available here at Museum of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses!?!? Well, cos Emperor Qin Shi Huang – the First Emperor of United China – was the one who initiated & built the Great Wall of China of course!!

Well, too bad too bad we’ve to leave now – wish I’ve got much more time to shop here!!!

But then, I’m already very pleased & happiest to have found all these most amazing Bing Ma Yong Souvenir Treasures!! What truely fantastic World Treasure Souvenirs I’ve just gotten myself!!

Hahah it’s been my long-time Dream to visit the Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses since hearing the Xi’an China Travelling Stories of Mom & Dad when I was at a young age, & now my Dream comes true!! I’m so happy happy!!

Here’s Me standing infront of the GIANT Statue of Emperor Qin Shi Huang outside the Museum of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses in Xi’an, China :

Here’s my Museum of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses Buggy Ride Ticket :

My Museum of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses – Bing Ma Yong Admission Ticket – this’s my precious Silk Road Souvenir in my World Souvenirs Collection :

I’m now inside Museum of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses – located 1.5km East of the Mausoleum of the 1st Qin Emperor – Qin Shi Huang. 

Decorated with lovely flowers at the main Entrance, the Museum of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses covers an area of 16300 square metres – divided into Sections  – Multi-Exhibition Hall, Pit 1, Pit 2 & Pit 3 :

Here’re the Tourist Introductions & Map Layout of Museum of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses seen at the main Entrance :

The following shows the Multi-Exhibition Hall of Museum of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses :

Touring Multi-Exhibition Hall now :

As my photos taken of the No 1 Bronze Chariot are all dark & blur, I’ve hereby included its following pic which I found on the Internet :

I’m now touring inside Pit 1 of Museum of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses – WHOA!! it’s so magnificent & awesome in here!!

Housed in a bow-shaped Steel Frame – Pit 1 is 230m long, 72m wide & 22m high – larger than 2 Football Fields!!

We’re now looking at the far end side of Pit 1 where there remain many Life-like Life-sized Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses that were excavated with many Ruined ones waiting to be restored & protected :

Made of Bronze & carefully crafted – the Weapons & Fight strategy discovered with the Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses are all very advanced – there’re Bows & Arrows, Weapons for close combat, & Longer Weapons for distance combat!

And they’re all still very shiny upon discovery, & have not rusted even though they’re over 2000 years old – showing the very high Metallurgical Technology in the Qin Dynasty then!!

Master Craftsmen & Skilled Artisans from all parts of China (Shaanxi, Henan, Hubei, Shandong & Shanxi Provinces) were recruited to make the Qin Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses – fulfilling the First Emperor of United China – Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s dream of Ruling in the After-World!!

And the NAMES of these Artisans were found carved or printed on the bodies of these Terra Cotta Warriors :

The  Horses found with the Terra Cotta Warriors were very well-made too with different Life-like facial expressions.

Some of these Horses are 1.5m tall with short legs & small heads, & they’re fat with erect ears – believed to be the Hequ Horses found in Gansu today, or the Hetian Horses found in Xinjiang, which are great for racing & fighting as they’re fast & strong :

Well, I’ve now come to the end of my Touring the Multi-Exhibition Hall & Pit 1 of Museum of Qin Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses – hope you’ve enjoyed all my featured photos & stories………… 

As a famous Ancient Chinese saying goes “If One has not seen Bing Ma Yong (Terra Cotta Warriors & Horses), the One would not have been truely considered having visited China!!” :

And YES YES!! I’m most glad I made it here today to see these magificent & awesome Bing Ma Yong, & have great insights into the sophisticated & fascinating “After-Life” with modern Technology already used over 2000 years ago by the Ancient Qin Dynasty on my very first visit here to China!!

I’m indeed very blessed!!