The Xi'an Qujiang Cultural Tourism Company in partnership with the Sino-American Culture and Arts Foundation hosted the Xi'an Warrior Run in Battery Park City today. The run was accompanied by a cultural experience featuring Xian's iconic Terracotta Warriors, traditional performances, and Xi'an cuisine. Tracing along the Hudson River, the race featured more than 200 runners and walkers who posed for photos with Xi'an tourist attractions printed on banners along the racecourse.

Crossing the finish line at the end of the 3K race in first place with a time of nine minutes thirty-three seconds was Ted Brakob. Wang Genhua, deputy general manager of the Xi'an Qujiang Cultural Tourism Company congratulated Mr. Brakob, presenting him with the first-place prize and encouraging him to visit Xi'an and continue his athletic accomplishments with a bike ride all the way around the top of Xi'an's fully intact City Wall.

"It was an honor to come in first place, but the best part of the day was the delicious Xi'an food. It was awesome to see so many people turn out for the run despite the high winds. Hopefully, I can visit Xi'an soon to see the real Terracotta Warriors," Brakob said.

Wang Genhua spoke about the history of Xi'an, explaining to the audience, "Discovered in 1974, the Terracotta Army includes more than 8,000 soldiers buried outside of Xi'an more than 2,000 years ago to protect the tomb of China's first emperor."

Li Liyan, cultural counsellor from the Consulate of the People's Republic of China in New York, also spoke at the event, noting "Xi'an has a wealth of cultural assets and is a top destination in China for tourism. Events like this are a great way to encourage cultural exchanges and deepen mutual understanding between China and the U.S."

The Xi'an Warrior Run was an opportunity to get people ready for the New York City Marathon taking place tomorrow while also exposing New Yorkers to Xi'an's unique culture and tourist attractions. Once the most populous city of the world and the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, Xi'an had long attracted visitors from across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. In recent years, Xi'an is rediscovering its role as a center for foreign visitors and international cultural exchange in China.

Speaking to the runners before the race, Li Li, president of the Sino-American Culture and Arts Foundation said, "When Americans think of historic cities in China, most think of Shanghai or Beijing, but in fact, as the starting point of the ancient Silk Road more than 2,000 years ago and the capital of China for more than 1,000 years, Xi'an is the historical center of China."

The purpose of the Xi'an Warrior Run and other activities today were to deepen cultural understanding, share Xi'an's many tourist attractions, and encourage people to visit the city.

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