Ancient Xi'an: A Thousand-Year-Old Capital, Starting Point of the Silk Road

Author: Zeng Xiaohua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Xi'an is an ancient city, as everyone knows, so old that the residential areas within it barely feel the passage of time. Many times while gazing from a moving vehicle at the famous ancient city wall, whenever the majestic ramparts evoke a sense of nostalgia, I am jolted back to the present by the sudden appearance of modern buildings in the periphery. Xi'an, anciently known as Chang'an, is located in the middle of the "Eight" (Qin Basin), and is one of China's six famous ancient capitals. It is a historically renowned cultural and heritage city, listed by historians as one of the "Four Great Ancient Capitals of the World." Xi'an is the city with the most dynasties as its capital and the longest history in Chinese history, once serving as the political, cultural, and economic center of ancient China. The unification dynasty of feudal China (the Qin Dynasty) was established here, and the Silk Road originated from this place, embodying the rich and profound historical and cultural heritage of the Chinese nation. It is often hailed as a natural history museum. Ancient Xi'an is a famous tourist city in China, with a wealth of cultural figures and countless historical landmarks: the world-famous Terracotta Army of the Qin Mausoleum, the Stele Forest with its ancient inscriptions, the towering Big and Small Wild Goose Pagodas, and the well-preserved ancient city wall, all reflecting the prosperity and splendor of ancient Chang'an. Beyond its heavy cloak as a capital for thirteen dynasties, Xi'an is also a microcosm of life in western China. The high-pitched Qin opera, native folk arts, and the Muslim community of Huifang, which has lived there for generations, all showcase the beauty and authenticity of western life. The hearty, generous, and warm hospitality of the people in the northwest is like the fiery lamb soup, genuinely warming the heart.