Xi'an Ancient City--Millennium-old Capital, Starting Point of the Silk Road

Author: Zeng Xiaohua
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
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 walls, whenever the majestic ramparts evoke a sense of nostalgia, I am jolted back to reality by the sudden appearance of modern buildings in the periphery. Xi'an, formerly known as Chang'an, is located in the middle of the "Eight Hundred Li Qin Plain" and is one of China's six renowned ancient capitals. It is a historically and culturally famous city both domestically and internationally, 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 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, brimming with culture and dotted with countless historical and cultural 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 walls, all reflecting the prosperity and splendor of the former Chang'an City. Beyond its heavy cloak as the capital of thirteen dynasties, Xi'an is also a microcosm of life in western China. The high-pitched Qin Opera, the indigenous folk arts, and the Muslim community living in the historic Hui Quarter all showcase the beauty and authenticity of western life. The hospitality, magnanimity, and warmth unique to people from the northwest are like the fiery lamb soup, genuinely warming the heart.