Travel as a guest of China Travel and be one of the first to secure your attendance at this once-in-a-lifetime event in Xi'an on the 10th September 2019, secure your place at this once-in-a-lifetime event. From the moment you check in with the airline, the celebration will begin. So what are you waiting for?

For a video on this experience click here 

Held at the ancient Xi’an City Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage site, this once-in-a-lifetime performance is usually reserved for distinguished visitors to the city. Former President of the United States Bill Clinton and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were both received with this ceremony during their visit to the historically rich city. This regal greeting of such a grand scale is sure to be a dazzling showcase of the ancient city, as well as the nation’s rich culture and history.

Be greeted by “city officials” dressed in Tang dynasty costumes. They’ll then be lead down the Royal Road by courtesans and uniformed guards, all dressed in traditional costumes. This is the same welcome that dignified guests would have received over 1,000 years ago.

The drawbridge will descend and Tang Royal Guards dressed in their golden armour will emerge from behind the walls to escort guests into their city. In ancient years, if the guards welcomed visitors it meant that they were honoured to host them and bestowed a deep trust in their guests, which is symbolic of how China feels towards welcoming tourists to the country today.

Inside the gates, guests are then led to the Barbican at South Gate, which will act as a stunning backdrop for the ceremony. The towering South Gate is the oldest and grandest of the four gates within the ancient city. The mesmerising multimedia live-action performance is meant to introduce audiences to the Tang dynasty culture with traditional ethnic songs and dances throughout. To honour the China-New Zealand Year of Tourism, for one night only on 10 September 2019, the welcome ceremony also plans to incorporate some Kiwi elements woven into the show. This show is a tribute to the ancient civilisation and to those that once lived within its walls bestowing blessings of the glorious new world we now live in. It also symbolises a modern Silk Road, where people come together from around the world in peace and harmony.

Xi’an City Wall has a long history with an iconic ancient city wall that is the most well preserved in the world. The historical capital “Chang’ an” has a unique charm as the terminus of the Silk Road in Shaanxi Province as a melting pot of culture and religions; home to emperors, courtesans, poets, monks, merchants and warriors, the glory days of Xī’ān may have ended in the early 10th century, but a considerable amount of ancient Cháng’ān, the former city, survives behind the often roaring, modern city. Xī’ān’s Ming-era city walls remain intact, vendors of all descriptions still crowd the narrow lanes of the Muslim Quarter, and there are enough places of interest to keep even the most amateur historian riveted.

The Army of Terracotta Warriors is one of the top archaeological finds in the world. This subterranean life-size army of thousands has silently stood guard over the soul of China’s first emperor for more than two millennia. Archaeologists believe Emperor Qin Shi Huang expected his rule to continue in death as it had in life. Other places to visit include the Tomb of Emperor Jingdi, Xī’ān City Walls and the Muslim Quarter, as well as pagodas and museums, plus a side trip to nearby Huá Shān.

 

Our office favourite is the Once-in-a-life-time - Itinerary 1A tour. Click here to view the itinerary 

 

Be one of the first 1,000 New Zealand visitors that schedule a trip to Xi’an on 10 September 2019 to secure your place at this once-in-a-lifetime event. From the moment you check in with the airline, the celebration will begin.

So what are you waiting for?