About Xi'an

Xi'an, known as Chang'an throughout most of its history, stands as one of China's Four Great Ancient Capitals, with 12.95 million residents calling this historic metropolis home. This ancient city served as the capital under some of China's most important dynasties including the Western Zhou, Qin, Western Han, Sui, Northern Zhou, and Tang, making it one of the oldest cities in China and the world. As the easternmost terminus of the legendary Silk Road, Xi'an was the gateway where East met West, facilitating trade, cultural exchange, and the spread of ideas between China and Europe for over a millennium.

Xi'an achieved global fame in 1974 when local farmers discovered the Terracotta Army near Emperor Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum, revealing over 8,000 life-sized warriors, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses buried to protect China's first emperor in the afterlife. Both the Terracotta Army and the Silk Road sites are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city preserves remarkable treasures including intact Ming Dynasty city walls, the Great Mosque, and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. Xi'an represents the cradle of Chinese civilization, where imperial power, artistic achievement, and multicultural exchange converged to shape the course of world history.