XI'AN: It has been said that to see China's present one should go to Beijing. To see China's future one should go to Shanghai and to see China's past one should go to Xi'an.

Handily for the traveller all these cities are within reasonable distance to each other in eastern China.

Xi'an certainly offers some historical perspective. Its location means it has been close to the action throughout Chinese history.

Its main attraction, the Terracotta Warriors, is a short bus ride from the city centre. Built over 2000 years ago beside Qin Shi Huang's tomb the warriors were intended to protect him in the afterlife.

Qin Shi Huang declared himself the first emperor of the middle kingdom and went on to unite the country. His afterlife army was discovered by local farmers in 1974. It is now a well oiled tourism machine.

Local hawkers sell miniature and life size replicas along the entrance to the complex. Inside an iMax movie and museum provide information to tourists before they descend into the three pits to view the stone carvings.

The carvings are impressive. Each warrior has a unique face and facial expression. There are horse and carriages and different ranks of warriors. With their original paint and weapons (long eroded and removed) they would have been beautiful works of art.

Inside the city there are other remnants of Chinese history. The city walls are the only fully intact city walls in China. Hiring a bike to ride around the top of the walls is a fun experience.

Be warned, the less than flat surface plays havoc on even young joints and the jarring impact of the cobblestones can be felt for days afterwards.

It is also a good idea to check your bike out properly before setting off. The surface and over-use of the hire bikes can result in breakdowns. And, as a friend found out, the best time to discover this is not 7km into the 14km ride.

A walk inside the city walls is a good way to get oriented with the city and is a relaxing way to take in the many old buildings including the great mosque, bell tower and museums.

There is also much to be seen outside the city walls. While inside is the most popular tourist destination, this city of over six million people extends far behind its historic boundary. A trip through the newer areas of town reveals tall buildings and development much like that seen in the rest of China.

The article above was found on Google and was published originally on STUFF.co.nz