Chinese Affair

The next destination is for the history buff in me. I recently read a series of books, the 39 Clues, which got me enamored with this historical spot.

A train crossing of China's Silk Road takes you through a cultural journey from the Far East to the Mideast, from modern Chinese mega cities through an ancient arid desert plateau to stunning mountains. For an ideal 10-day trip, you can follow the ancient trade route used from the 1st century B.C. to the 10th century A.D. starting in Xian, home of the Terra Cotta Warriors. Along the way, travelers can make stops at the official end of the Great Wall at Jiayu Guan, the Mogao Buddhist caves near Dunhuang, the aforementioned desert basin of Turpan, and the provincial capital Urumq– an ideal base for a day trip to Heavenly Lake. 

All of these had been mentioned in the book, and now my yearning to see these Terra Cotta Warriors has intensified. The idea that people lived here centuries ago, gets my spine tingling and makes me see that we are insignificant in this world; just a mere speck.