About xi 'an

Xi'an, the eternal（永恒的） city, records the great changes of the Chinese nation just like a living history book, Called Chang'an in ancient times.Xian is one of the birthplaces of the ancient civilization in the Yellow River Basin area of the country. During Xi'an's 3,100 year development, 13 dynasties such as Western Zhou (11th century BC - 771 BC), Qin (221 BC - 206 BC), Western Han (206 BC - 24 AD) and Tang (618 - 907) placed their capitals here. So far, Xi'an enjoys equal fame with Athens, Cairo, and Rome as one of the four major ancient civilization capitals. Xi'an is the capital of Shaanxi province, located in the southern part of the Guanzhong Plain. With the Qinling Mountains to the south and the Weihe River to the north, it is in a favorable geographical location surrounded by water and hills. It has a semi-moist monsoon climate and there is a clear distinction between the four seasons. Except the colder winter, any season is relatively suitable for traveling.

The cultural and historical significance of the area, as well as the abundant relics and sites(遗迹),help Xi'an enjoy the laudatory title(美称) of 'Natural History Museum'. The Museum of Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses(兵马俑) is praised as 'the eighth major miracle of the world', Mausoleum (陵墓)of Emperor Qin Shi Huang is listed on the World Heritage List(世界遗产名录) , and the City Wall of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) is the largest and most intact(完整的) Ming Dynasty castle in the world. In the city, there is the 3,000 year old Banpo Village Remains from the Neolithic Age (新石器时代）(approximately from 8000 BC to 5000 BC), and the Forest of Stone Steles (碑林)that holds 3,000 stone steles of different periods from the Han Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty.

Around Xi'an, the Famen Temple enjoys the reputation of being the 'forefather of pagodas and temples in Central Shaanxi,' because it holds the finger bones of Sakyamuni -- the founder of Buddhism. The natural landscape （自然风光)around Xi'an is also marvelous(极妙的，不可思议的). Mt.Huashan ,one of the five best-known mountains in China, is famous for its breath-taking (令人吃惊的)cliffs(悬崖) and its unique characteristics.

Traditional downtown Xi'an refers to the area encircled (环绕)by the city wall, this has now been expanded to encompass(围绕) the area within the second ring road (Er' huan Lu). The Bell Tower is the geographical center of Xi'an and the four main streets are respectively (分别地)Dong Dajie, Xi Dajie, Nan Dajie and Bei Dajie which are also the main commercial streets. Xiao Zhai, the busiest commercial area is in the southern part of the city and is popular with both youths and students since many universities are located here. Shuyuan Men and the still under construction Luoma Shi are must-visit pedestrian (步行的)streets in the city. Xi'an is also famous for its quantity of colleges throughout China. The old campuses of many colleges and universities are massed in the southern suburb of Xi'an, but most have established new campuses in far southern suburb - Chang'an District due to the lack of space within the city.

As tourist development grows in Xi'an, the hotel industry flourishes(茂盛，繁荣) more and more. It is very easy to find a hotel in Xi'an, ranging from 5 star hotels to youth hostels. Of course, it will be any traveler's first choice to stay in the city center due to the superior geographical location and the convenient transportation.

Praised as 'the capital of table delicacies', Xi'an has been rich in the delicious Shaanxi snack(小吃), delicate Guangdong Cuisine, various kinds of fashionable foreign delicacies, and popular Sichuan Cuisine such as the hot pot. Among all the delicacies, the most famous and popular one is the Muslim Snack Street.

Xi'an is the most important city in northwest China, and so there are a lot of shopping outlets for locals and tourists alike. There are many big shopping centers, department stores and supermarkets in and around Xi'an city - the biggest and most comprehensive being Kai Yuan Shopping Mall and Century Ginwa Shopping Mall.

The night life in Xi'an has a unique glamour(魅力). Traditional ways include enjoying the night scenery around the Bell Tower, taking part in a Tang Dynasty Dinner Show, strolling on the ancient Big Wild Goose Pagoda Square and watching the music fountain performance. More modern and fashionable ways include singing in the KTV, hanging out in a bar, or dancing in a Disco. All in all, any experience in this ancient city will bring you fun and possibly a little surprise!