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Xi'an

An ancient capital witnessing 13 dynasties

Here is one ancient city in China that can be called a living history book, recording as it does the numerous exploits and the vicissitudes of the Chinese nation. It is Xi'an, one of seven ancient capitals in the country.

China means "a country in the center" in Chinese, and its central point falls in Xi'an, which is reflected in the old saying "Emperors have set up their empires in Qinzhong since the ancient times." (Qinzhong is the area around Xi'an.)

Xi'an has a fairly long history. The Lantian who lived here in the Old Stone Age turned over the first page in the history of human civilisation as early as over one million years ago. Then, about six to seven thousand years ago, the ancestors of the modern state set up the primitive village that is called Banpo by archaeologists. It is regarded as a model of the Chinese matriarchal community during its most flourishing period.

Emperor Qinshihuang (Ying Zheng), the first Chinese emperor, had his mausoleum built in Xi'an, which served as the capital city for 13 dynasties spanning 1140 years - ranging from the Xizhou (1046-771BC) and its society based on slavery to the other 12 dynasties of the feudal society (up to the Tang, the last one). From 1057 to 904 BC it was the political, economic, and cultural center of the country. Like Athens, Cairo, and Rome, Xi'an is one of the most famous ancient capital cities in the world.

The first emperor of the Chinese feudal system, Ying Zheng, reunited the country in 221 BC, and established the Qin - the first feudal centralized dynasty- in Xianyang (today's Xi'an). Then he began to work on the construction of the Efang Palace, a masterpiece in the history of Chinese architecture. Moreover, the emperor ordered the building of a large-scale mausoleum for himself. Among the total of nearly one hundred emperors' tombs in the country, Ying Zheng's mausoleum comes in first in terms of its grand scale and rich burial reserves. The terracotta warriors dug from the mausoleum look like the troops of the Qin, which may indicate their great military strength and incomparable fighting spirit. You can imagine how mighty and powerful Ying Zheng must have been when he led his troops across the land, conquering one kingdom after another before the reunification of China.

A good many of the earthshaking events in China's history took place in Xi'an - Jing Ke's attempt to assassinate Ying Zheng, Xiang Yu's burning of the Efang Palace, and the Hongmen dinner among them.

Xi'an society was at its peak in the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD), when it became the greatest metropolis in the world, with a population of over one million. This is indicated by the saying: "As there is Rome in the east, so there is Xi'an in the west." Many of the mightiest emperors left valuable historical sites after them. The Zhao mausoleum of Li Shiming, the second emperor, is the largest one among the 18 emperors' tombs of the Tang. The Qian mausoleum, where Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu Zetian were buried together, is the most complete and magnificent tomb of that period, and of particular interest because it was, unusually, constructed for two rulers.

In addition, Huaqingchi, the construction of which was begun by the Xizhou and continued down to the Tang, is a renowned imperial garden and winter resort, with splendid palaces and pavilions as well. In Huaqingchi, the imperial bathing pool is where Emperor Xuanzong and his mistress YangYuhuan played out their romance in full. Bai Juyi, the well-known poet of the Tang, described their love story in one long poem. Some of the lines go as follows: "In spring the emperor bathes with Yang in Huaqingchi, where Yang's fine skin is nourished with spa water. So delicate and tender is Yang, for she gains new favour from him."

Location

Xi'an is situated in the middle of the Guanzhong Plain in the Yellow River area. In the vicinity is Qinling Mountain to the south, which borders the Weihe River to the north.

Climate

At Xi'an the climate is of the monsoon type, with four seasons and mild temperatures for most of the time.

Of Special Interest

Xi'an is the ancient capital city of China and has links with more dynasties than anywhere else in the country.

Main Attractions

Banpo village ruins, Emperor Huangdi's mausoleum, the Stele Forest, and the ancient city wall.

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