A vast country such as China boasts of a large number of attractions ranging from culture, history, religion and much more. Travellers who come to Xian have a number of religious sites to explore ranging from traditional pagodas, Buddhist temples and even Islamic mosques. It is ample proof of the diversity of this eastern land. Some of the most famous religious sites in the area are the Big Wild Goose Pagoda known as Dàyàn Ta, Famen Temple, Great Mosque called Xi’an Dà Qingzhensì, Hua Shan Mountains and the Small Goose Pagoda also referred to as Xiaoyàn Ta.
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is a temple of thanksgiving and it has an impressively high pagoda. It is also built next to the Tang Palace. One can see locals gathering here in the evenings to practice calligraphy, fly kites and even walk hand in hand in perfect harmony.
Famen Temple is believed to have been constructed in the 3rd century and Buddhists would find it to be of great interest to know that a sacred crypt containing four of Sakyamani Buddha’s finger bones was discovered here along with precious stones, gold and silver objects offered.
There is also the Great Mosque which is believed to have been built in 742 A.D. during the Tang Dynasty. There are four courtyards and a beautifully landscaped setting. There are many Arabic designs and architectural features that can be seen here marking the presence of Arabic influence on eastern culture. Outside one can find many stalls selling an assortment of food items and the traveller can definitely come close to the day-to-day life of the people of this area by visiting one of these places for a bowl of noodles.
If one has the time to drive a few hours east of Xian, there are China’s five sacred mountains known as Hua Shan. Its name means ‘flower mountain’ and the name has been derived from the fact that ancient Chinese have been reminded of flower petals when they look at the five peaks of the mountain. All these sites and more can be explored while staying at a Xian apartment. For those who are looking for accommodation in Xian, there is Citadines Central Xi’an from where the vibrant city can be enjoyed at its best.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.