Xi'An

Xi’an – Emmanuel Boros
Xi’an is the capital city of the Shaanxi Province, central China. Extremely famous as one of China’s major attraction, Xi’an meaning "Western Peace" and also called Chang’anin ancient times is known as one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China having held the position under several of the most important dynasties in Chinese history including Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui,and Tang Xi'an is also the eastern terminus of the Silk Road and home to the Terracotta Army. The city lies in the Guanzhong Plain of central China, in the fertile Wei River valley bordered by the QinlingMountains, natural and strategic defensive asset. Xi’an enjoys a monsoon semi-arid climate.
Standing as one of the epicenters of early Chinese civilization, Xi’an flourishes with remnants of thisgreat ancient past everywhere: Terracotta Army, Bell Tower, Ancient City Wall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, etc… This “Natural History Museum of China” is one of the best highlights of the country togetherwith Beijing, Shanghai and Guilin.
Xi'an became a cultural and political centre of China in the 11th century BCE with the founding of the Zhou Dynasty. The capital of Zhou was established in the twinsettlements of Fengjing and Haojing, together known as Fenghao, located south west of contemporary Xi'an. Following several hundred years of unrest, Sui Dynasty united China again in 582. The emperorof Sui ordered a new capital to be built southeast of the Han capital, called Daxing (great prosperity). It consisted of three sections: the Xi'an Palace, the Imperial City, and the civilian section,with a total area of 84 km² within the city walls. At the time, it was the largest city in the world. The city was renamed Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty. Chang'an was devastated at the end of the TangDynasty in 904. Residents were forced to move to the new capital city in Luoyang. Only a small area in the city continued to be occupied thereafter. During the Ming Dynasty, a new wall was...