City Introduction

Xi’an, which was called Chang’an in ancient times, is the starting point of the Silk Road and home to the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Xi’an enjoys fame with Athens, Cairo, and Rome as one of the four major "Ancient Civilization Capitals".

 

 

 

 

History and Culture

In Records of the Grand Historian, Xi’an is praised as “Land of thousands miles and rich in harvest can be found here, as if this place belongs to the nation of the heaven.” Xi’an is the cradle of Chinese civilization. It was built by Emperor Wen of Zhou Dynasty in AD 12th century. Xi’an witnessed the establishment of 21 dynasties and regimes. The rulers of 13 dynasties set up their capitals here (maybe 17 dynasties). Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang, these four great dynasties in Chinese history placed their capitals here. It was authorized by the UNESCO as a world-famous historic city in 1981 and one of the national historical and cultural cities announced by the State Council.

 Terracotta Warriors is known as one of the eight wonders of the world displaces profound history of this city. The history of a city is the history of the nation. Thanks to its profound historic and cultural background, Xi’an is a film recording of Chinese history, a name card of Chinese culture and a chip of Chinese spirit. In the Western Zhou Dynasty, Xi’an was called Fenggao, which was the combination of two cities, Fengjing and Gaojing, established by the kings Wen and Wu of Zhou respectively.

In the early Western Han Dynasty, Liu Bang established his capital in Xi’an and named it Chang’an, which means “eternal ruling and permanent peace”.　After the Silk Road opened, Chang’an had become a center of oriental civilization. It was once known as “Rome in the west while Chang’an in the east”. In the Sui Dynasty, Emperor Wen of Sui Yang Jian was crowned as Daxing Duke by the Emperor Ming of Northern Zhou. Thus, the new capital was named Daxing City. In the Tang Dynasty, the city took the name of Chang’an. In the Yuan Dynasty, it changed its name to Fengyuan circuit. In 1369 (the second year after the Ming Dynasty), the Ming government changed Fengyuan to Xi’an, meaning “to pacify northwest”. Since then, the name of Xi’an has been adopted.

From the 11th century BC to the end of the 9th century AD, Xi’an was China’s political, economic and cultural center and the seat of local government -- province, commandery, prefecture, circuit, province, and the location of Chang’an and Xianning county govenment. In most dynasties, Xi’an was commandery and prefecture. In the Yuan dynasty, Jingzhao changed to Anxi circuit (later changed to Fengyuan circuit). In 1369 (the second year after the Ming Dynasty), Fengyuan circuit changed to Xi’an. Since then, Xi’an gets its name. In 1928, Xi’an firstly became a city. In 1948, Xi’an become a municipality directly under the national government.

 

 

 

 

Natural Environment

Xi’an lies in the central part of Shaanxi province and in the Guangzhong Plain on the middle reaches of the Yellow River, stretching from 107 ° 40 ' east to 109 ° 49' east of longitude and 33 ° 39 ' north to 34 ° 45' north of latitude. With the boundary of Linghe and Bayuan Mountain on the east, it connects with Huaxian County, Weinan, Shangzhou, and Luonan County; with the boundary of Taibai Mountain and Green Mountain of the Loess Plateau on the west, it is bounded by Meixian County and Taibai County; on the south, it stretches to the main ridge of north Qinling which separated Xi’an from Foping County, Ningshan County and Zuoshui County; on the north, it reaches to Weihe River and across Weihe River on the northeast, and borders Xiangyang City and Yangling District, Sanyuan, Jingyang, Xingping, Wugong counties, Fufeng County and Fuping County etc. Xi’an extends 116 kilometers from north to south, and 204 kilometers from east to west.

 

 

 

 

Climate

Xi'an belongs to the warm temperate zone and has a sub-humid continental monsoon climate with clearly defined seasonal changes. Summers are hot and rainy; winters are cold, dry and occasionally snowy; the drizzly weather sometimes appears in spring and fall and usually has a long duration. The annual temperature of Xi'an is 13℃.

 

 

 

 

Useful Information

Air: Xi’an Xianyang International Airport is located to the northwest of Xi’an and in the suburb of Xianyang. There are direct flights from Xi’an to many countries, such as Japan, Thailand, and Korea. The airport is 47km away from Xi’an city and around 1hour to Xi’an downtown via airport expressway. Airport shuttle will depart according to flight schedule. Schedules on shuttle back are the departure time from city bus stations.

Road transportation: Xi’an is the second largest road transportation hub in China, only after Beijing and 9national highways connect Xi’an to other cities across China. There are multiple highways in Xibao, Xitong, and Xilin, connecting Xi’an to other cities. It’s easier to take a taxi in Xi’an than in Shanghai and other large cities. You could easily get on a taxi on the street. Please be reminded that taxi could not drop off passengers on some key streets, such as East Avenue, South Avenue and Bell Tower, except for fixed taxi stations.

Notes: Taxi drivers will change shift around 4-5 pm. It’s hard to find a taxi during this time slot. Xi’an has well-developed public transportation network. You could take public transport to any destinations.

There are three kinds of buses:

1. Ordinary bus: Most of buses are pay-to-the-driver bus, RMB 1 with the ticket fare of 1 per person, exact fare only.

2. Air conditioning bus: Some buses charge RMB 2 per ticket, while some buses charge RMB 1 for six stations, and RMB 2 for over six stations. The price will be shown on bus body. Some air conditioning buses have ticket assistant. Please tender exact fare on the pay-to-the-driver buses. Change will be given if there is ticket assistant on bus.

3. Mini bus: Mini buses run flexibly and have many stops, picking up/dropping off passengers on some small streets. Tour bus: There are many special bus lines from/to scenic spots in Xi’an.

Tips:

1. Public transport is convenient in Xi’an. Buses are available at all scenic spots. Please remind that there are some private buses in railway station, bus terminals and suburb scenic spots. The official buses have “BUS” sign on bus body and showing bus line number, route or stop name on bus head. These buses only pick up/drop off passengers at fixed bus stations.

2. Attraction shuttle buses will run a trip per day. They will park at the attraction site after arriving in the morning and return to Xi’an downtown in the afternoon. Please remember the bus schedule, if you need to take bus from/to attraction sites. Or, you could ask the ticket assistant when the bus will depart from the attraction site.

 

 

 

 

Religion

There are many Muslims in Xi’an. Visitors shall pay attention to Muslim customs. The Muslims don’t eat pork, dog meat, horse meat, and donkey meat. They don’t eat meat from animals not slaughtered by following Muslim ritual or died animals. They also don’t eat animal blood. Don’t smoke or drink in Muslim restaurants or talk about related topics. Don’t joke for taboo food, such as describing the color of chilli as red as blood. Don’t go topless or wear too short shirt or skirt before the Muslim. The Muslim take care of their personal hygiene. They will wash their hands before and after dinner.

 

 

 

 

Tourism Service Number

Tourism Administration of Xi’an service line: 029-87630166 Address: Building 5, Municipal Administration Center, No. 109 Fengcheng 8 Road, Xi’an City.Xi’an City Hongying Road Police Station: (029)88426189 Address: No. 146 Hongying Road, Xi’an

 

 

 

 

Notes

1. As the climate is drier in Xi’an than in South China, drinking more water and keeping skin moist are recommended for visitors. If you visit Xi’an in summer, sunscreen protection is strongly recommended. The sunshine is very strong around the noon with occasional rains. Do not visit the scenic spots without shade cover in the daytime, such as the fortifications of Xi’an. Scenic sports in the suburb are alright, where have lots of trees and cooler than downtown.

2. Better to choose public transportation if possible. In Xi’an, some private cars provide sight-seeing transportation services. Official public transportation services are strongly recommended. You will see some buses with Sightseeing 2 or Sightseeing 3 signs in railway station. Please remind that the official sightseeing buses have “BUS” sign on bus body. Official sightseeing buses provide good services. Tickets are sold on the bus. The ticket assistant will ask about your destination and told you how to get there.

3. Qinqiang is recommended. Qinqiang (the tune or sound of Qin) or “Luantan” is a folk opera with Shaanxi characteristics and one of the oldest opera tune in China’s national opera. You could see Qinqiang performance at Xi’an May 1st Troupe (Dongmutoushi No. 146) and Yisu Opera House.

4. Visitors may be easily stuffed with noodles, Paomo, beef and lamp these Northwest cuisines. So, do not eat too much. For Paomo (crumbled flatbread in mutton stew), you could break the bread into small pieces by yourself--the smaller the pieces are, the more delicious the taste is.

 

 

 

 

Festivals(Important/Historical/Folks Ones)

Chang’an International Calligraphy Festival takes place in the last week of March,organized by Tourism Administration of Shaanxi. Xi’an Terra Cotta Warriors and Pomegranate Festival is held in the middle of September every year, lasting for one week. During the seven days, tourists can visit the Terra-Cotta Warriors, Huaqing Hot Spring, and Pomegranate Garden. In addition, tourists can also attend many activities. For example, tourist can attend the pomegranate festival and Lishan Beacon Tower Lighting Ceremony. From 1990, the Xi'an Ancient Culture and art festival is held in each September. Xi'an City Wall International Marathon takes place in the first week of November.