On Friday evening, after one week in Beijing, we boarded an overnight soft sleeper train to Xi’an, an 8-hour journey shared with two other bunk mates.
This is where the extremes began.
For starters, we got extremely sick. 
We contracted severe food poisoning shortly after boarding the train to Xi’an.
The conditions were grim, using one shared bathroom, a glorified hole in the ground, all-the-while, battling nausea caused by the train slowly chugging along the tracks. We’re tough ladies, but that was a doozy! 
That being said, our bunk mates were sweet, and nice enough to give us a bottle of water and directions to the nearest hospital, if needed. 🙂 As well, if you aren’t sick, the train isn’t a bad option, and I easily booked the tickets using travelchinaguide.com.
Luckily, our journey could only go uphill from there. 😀Accommodation in Xi’an
On Sunday, we awoke to a grand hotel breakfast buffet, offering Korean, Chinese and American food stations. Sadly, with our illness, all of this was absolutely wasted on us. 😥
The Terracotta Army
What’s also extremely impressive is that each terracotta solider has unique facial features, designed by skilled craftsman brought in from around China.
Over a half million workers spent nearly 30 years constructing this intricate army, as well as, Qin’s mausoleum, which is the largest burial complex in the world.
You may wonder, why did Qin need such a big army to protect him?
Anyway, after being hidden for more than 2,000 years, this terracotta army was finally discovered by a local farmer in Xi’an.
The dig site itself divided into three pits, with Pit 1 being the most impressive.
Thousands of terracotta warriors stand proudly with their horses, lined up and prepared for battle.
This active dig site also showcases the painstaking process of putting together thousands of shattered pieces, restoring these warriors back to their original form.
Now, Pit 2 is noteworthy for its discovery of chariots and weaponry, including bronze battle axes and crossbows.
Last but not least, Pit 3 has a small collection of well-preserved soldiers, standing boldly on a cobblestone walkway, surrounded by a sturdy barricade.
To get there, we took local bus 306, which took an hour and cost 3 USD.
Ticket Price: The total cost was 22 USD, but included access to the museum and mausoleum. That is, if you want the see the unexcavated mound of dirt where Qin is buried. Hah. 😕
Overall, we found the terracotta army to be visually stunning for its immense size, as well as, the care taken to preserve the site and surrounding facilities. 😀
Lastly, Xi’an’s most extreme site is Mt. Huashan, which offers visitors the chance to climb one of China’s top Taoist mountains, and cross the world’s most dangerous path. 😀
Mt. Huashan and The Cliff Side Plank Path
After mom left for the airport on Monday, I was back to solo travel, and ready for a slightly riskier endeavor. 😀
From there, I began the incredibly arduous journey, climbing the five peaks of Mt. Huashan.
Mt. Huashan is one of the top mountains in China, rising up at an altitude over 7,000 feet.
It’s also a sacred religious site, known for its famous Taoist temples, scattered along the mountain peaks.
I began by taking a cable car to the north side of the mountain.
The North Peak is famous for its cloud terrace, and the many locks of luck that visitors chain along its path.
From there, I hiked upward towards Central Peak.
By the way, I don’t use the phrase, “hiked upward” lightly. 😛
This is where the extremes kick in, and your glutes begin to burn. 😛
Thousands and thousands of seemingly endless stairs- both a physical and mental battle.
Miraculously, at my mental low point, when I was sweating, but also freezing, because it had begun to snow, this man walked past blasting Scorpions, “Rock You Like a Hurricane” on his boom box. 😀
Bless this man, because his energizing music lifted my spirits, and this song became my battle cry to get me to the top! 😀
After two hours of walking I reached Central Peak, known as Jade Lady Peak.
There I saw a few people having lunch, and feeding some adorable mountain cats. 😀
From there I journeyed to East Peak, known as Immortal’s Palm Peak.
The fun began at South Peak, the highest point of the mountain and the location of the infamous cliff side plank path.
It’s known as the world’s most dangerous path, since it initially took around 100 lives each year.
Recently, they have added the addition of harnesses, so it’s more feasible to cross, although still requires much mental toughness.
The journey begins with a sheer drop off the mountainside, where you climb down a steel ladder to a small wooden plank.
At times, there was nothing but tiny indented rock holes to place your feet.
This venture is not for those with a fear of heights, as absolutely nothing separates you from a falling off the cliff, held up by no more than a wooden board and two harnesses.
What makes this path more challenging is that it’s a dead-end, and actually involves two-way traffic!
That’s right! As you walk along the plank, people walk around you on the outside. Absolutely ridiculous! 😕
As a safety precaution, each harness has two clips, and you make sure to unclip one at a time, so that you are never left unsecure.
At the edge of the plank path, there’s a brooding Chinese man with a camera, sitting on the rock face, taking the perfect capture of your walk along the world’s most dangerous path.
Terrifying? Yes.
Worth it? Absolutely! 😀
From there, I journeyed to West Peak, the location of the stunning Taoist temple, Cuiyun Palace.
At that point, the snow was falling and I could hear birds whistling in the trees. I felt so accomplished after conquering this mountain, that when I stood at the foot of the temple, surrounded by the peace and tranquility of snowfall and chirping birds, I experienced an ethereal moment of sheer bliss. 😀
Cost: Expensive, at around 50 USD, including shuttle, round-trip cable cars and entrance fee.
That being said, the mountain is very well-maintained, and visitors are even fingerprinted upon entering, for monitoring and safety reasons. 
After a long day, I returned to my hostel in Xi’an, Seven Sages Youth Hostel, for a well-deserved nights rest. 🙂
http://www.hostelxian.cn/en/
There you have it, the extreme sites of Xi’an. From an immense excavated army of terracotta soldiers, to the rising peaks of Mt. Huashan, my experience in Xi’an was surely incredible and extremely unforgettable. 😉
From there I flew to Chengdu to interact with local wildlife, including an up close and personal encounter with Giant Pandas. Stayed tuned to hear all about it. 🙂
