Zhou shows me around historical Xi'an

Zhou, Suzan's cousin, spent the day showing me around China's first capital, Xi'an. They say,

"If China is a tree, Beijing is the trunk, Shanghai and Guangzhou are the branches, and Xi'an is the roots. Thus, visiting China without visiting Xi'an, is not visiting China."

Today, I visited China, climbed ancient Bell towers (bells were rung to tell time, and signify the beginning of the day).

I struck ancient (refurbished) drums (Boiler UP!), which were used to mark the time the ancient city's gates closed at night. According to ancient tradition, the drums were struck 3 times a night. First at the beginning of the night watch, around 19~21 o'clock, after sunset, signaling to close the city gates. The second, around 22~24 o'clock (midnight) to warn the citizens of safety. The final striking of the night, the last night watch, at 5 ~ 7 o'clock.

This is where the saying "morning bell and dusk drum" comes from, because the first bell of the morning, signified when the city gates and palace doors opened up.