Browsing Category: DEEP China. Michelin BIG Questions Series

Section 1 — Xi’an Was the Capital. So Why Did China Leave? For many first-time international travelers, China’s capital is obvious: Beijing (北京, Běijīng). Forbidden City. Temple of Heaven. Tiananmen. Imperial palaces. Political center. Capital. Easy. Then you travel to: Xi’an (西安, Xī’ān). And suddenly every guide starts telling you: “Xi’an was an ancient capital of China.” Then: “Chang’an was one of the greatest capitals in Chinese history.” Then: “The Han ruled...

Section 1 — You’re in Xi’an, “Starting Point of the Silk Road.” But What Does That Actually Mean? For many first-time travelers to: Xi’an (西安, Xī’ān) the phrase appears almost immediately: Silk Road (丝绸之路, Sīchóu Zhī Lù). You’ll see: Silk Road museums. Silk Road exhibitions. Silk Road performances. Silk Road souvenirs. Silk Road everything. 😂 And you’ll probably hear that ancient: Chang’an (长安, Cháng’ān) — today’s Xi’an — was the eastern end...

Section 1 — You’re Standing on the Great Wall. Which Side Was “China”? Imagine you’re standing on: the Great Wall (长城, Chángchéng) outside: Beijing (北京, Běijīng). You’ve already learned something important from our earlier Deep China journey. The wall wasn’t simply: CHINESE INSIDE ↓ FOREIGNERS OUTSIDE. 😂 The northern frontier saw: warfare (战争, zhànzhēng), trade (贸易, màoyì), diplomacy (外交, wàijiāo), migration (迁徙, qiānxǐ) and: cultural exchange (文化交流, wénhuà jiāoliú). But now comes...

Section 1 — Ming. Qing. Tang. Qin. What Do All These Names Actually Mean? You’re walking through: Forbidden City (故宫, Gùgōng) in: Beijing (北京, Běijīng). Your guide says: “This palace was built during the Ming dynasty.” Then: “The Qing dynasty later ruled from here.” Fine. Next you travel to: Xi’an (西安, Xī’ān). Now you hear: “Tang dynasty.” At the: Terracotta Warriors (兵马俑, Bīngmǎyǒng) you hear: “Qin dynasty.” Then Dad sends you to...

Dessert After Our Eight Big Questions   You’ve survived: eight Michelin courses. 😂 We stood on the: Great Wall (长城, Chángchéng) and asked why China built so many walls. We walked through: Forbidden City (故宫, Gùgōng) and asked how one emperor governed such an enormous country—and why his palace looks the way it does. We visited: Temple of Heaven (天坛, Tiāntán) and discovered: Mandate of Heaven (天命, Tiānmìng). Then we traveled to:...

Section 1 — If Qin Shi Huang “Unified China,” When Did China Begin? For many first-time international travelers, the historical journey through China begins in: Xi’an (西安, Xī’ān). And very often, it begins with: Terracotta Warriors (兵马俑, Bīngmǎyǒng). Thousands of life-sized clay soldiers. Horses. Chariots. An enormous underground army created for: Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇, Qín Shǐhuáng) the: First Emperor (始皇帝, Shǐ Huángdì). [INSERT DAD & ELAINE TERRACOTTA WARRIORS PHOTO] And somewhere...

Section 1 — Fifteen Years?! Then Why Is Qin Shi Huang Such a Giant in Chinese History? You’re standing in front of: Terracotta Warriors (兵马俑, Bīngmǎyǒng) outside: Xi’an (西安, Xī’ān). Thousands of soldiers. Horses. Chariots. One of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the twentieth century. And all of them belonged to the enormous mausoleum complex of: Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇, Qín Shǐhuáng) the: First Emperor (始皇帝, Shǐ Huángdì). You’ve probably already heard:...

Section 1 — “Qin Shi Huang Unified China.” But What Was China Before 221 BCE? For many first-time international travelers to: Xi’an (西安, Xī’ān) there is one excursion that is almost compulsory: Terracotta Warriors (兵马俑, Bīngmǎyǒng). Thousands of life-sized clay soldiers. Horses. Chariots. Generals. Infantry. An underground army created for: Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇, Qín Shǐhuáng) the: First Emperor (始皇帝, Shǐ Huángdì). And somewhere during your visit, you’ll almost certainly hear: “Qin...

Section 1 — You’re at the Temple of Heaven. Why Is the Emperor Talking to Heaven? For many first-time travelers to: Beijing (北京, Běijīng) the: Temple of Heaven (天坛, Tiāntán) is another must-see. You recognize it immediately. Blue roof. Circular building. Beautiful symmetry. Probably one of the most photographed buildings in China. Most visitors know its most famous building: Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (祈年殿, Qínián Diàn). Take the photograph. Absolutely....

Section 1 — Gate. Courtyard. Hall. Another Gate. Is This Really Necessary? For almost every first-time traveler to: Beijing (北京, Běijīng) the: Forbidden City (故宫, Gùgōng) is a must. You enter through: Meridian Gate (午门, Wǔmén). Then: courtyard. ↓ gate. ↓ another enormous courtyard. ↓ another hall. ↓ another gate. ↓ another courtyard. 😂 At some point, a perfectly reasonable Western traveler may wonder: How many gates and courtyards does one emperor...