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White House Diaries
April
29
1984
April 29, 1984
Sunday, April 29, 1984
This was our tourist day. We flew in A.F.1 to Xian the ancient capital of China. Then an hour & a half drive to the tomb of the 1st Emperor. This is the great excavation scene where they have uncovered 800 life size Terra Cotta figures of soldiers standing in ranks complete with horses & chariots guarding the Emperor’s tomb. They know there are more than 7000 they haven’t uncovered yet. It is an unforgettable experience. This plus the drive past villages surrounded by endless wheat fields dotted here & there with burial mounds & relics of Chinas ancient past—made for a day we’ll long remember. Before we left they had set up an example of a free market. We wanted to see the real thing because it’s part of their departure from communism—individuals selling their wares in the open market for profit. The Chinese said no—for security reasons so they set up a temporary one at the museum locale. Nancy bought some decorative items for our Xmas tree. There was an incident—her bill came to 5 Yuan ($2.50). The poor gal selling didn’t have any change. I’m aware there is no tipping in China but she was so embarrassed and looking to others for help. I said “keep it,” & we moved on. She caught up with us & gave me the change she’d gotten from someone for the 10 Yuan note I’d given her. Our T.V. press made a big thing of it—that I had committed a blunder & tried to tip her. Then back to Beijing & our last night at Diaoyutai.
