Today we left Beijing and flew to the ancient dynastic capital city of Xi'an. Our guide noted that between 200 BC and 700 AD this was one of if not the greatest city on earth with millions of people, a size 9 times bigger than it is today and tens of grand palaces
. Unfortunately the loss of water due to deforestation and new dynasties leveling the city repeatedly did it in. Today there are a few buildings from 700 AD but all else has been plowed under...except for what was hidden or still remains underground waiting to be discovered.
When you drive in from the Xi'an airport there are literally tens of huge mounds along the highway where emperors or princes are buried...the government won't allow them to be dug up until they have more money, security and technology. But, you have no doubt heard of the one that did get dug up. A farmer was digging a well and found what turned out to be several football fields worth of life sized Terracotta warriors in his back yard 10 feet down. His backyard is now one of the most popular tourist sites in the world. We are going there tomorrow.
So you never know what you will find when your farm is on the site of an 8th century world capital.
Last night we all went out to dinner and Marian invited five of her former Forestry students who are now in interesting and important positions in China to meet with the Yale group. It was fascinating and gave great meaning to President Levin's desire to make Yale into a true global institution. Seeing how far these young people had gone and the impact that 
Yale had had on their careers was impressive and humbling to everyone there.
Yesterday we also visited the Qinq Summer Palace...a combination of Central Park and Versailles. Built in the 1860s and then several time rebuilt after it was burned to the ground by the invading European and Japanese forces during the Boxer Rebelian in the early 1900s, it is now a favorite place to enjoy a family outing in the midst of a very crowded city.
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