Xi'an was called Chang'an in Han Dynasty. The connotation of "Chang'an" is "a place of permanent peace". It was not until the prosperous Tang Dynasty that Chang'an became famous both at home and abroad as the largest and busiest international metropolis of that age in the world. Xi'an obtained its present name in 1369. It stands first on the six largest ancient capitals. From the 11 century B.C. onwards, Xi'an or its vicinity was established as the capital city by 11 dynasties successively, including the Western Zhou, the Qin, the Han, the Sui and the Tang, and it also served as the capital of two peasant regimes respectively under the rule of Huang Chao and Li Zicheng. The city's capital status lasted for 1,608 years. As regards the number of dynasties and span of time, Xi'an served as an ancient capital beyond compare.
Xi'an is also a world-famous tourist city, a treasure house of cultural relics. The remains of past civilizations furnish evidence of every major epoch in China's half a million history, making for a particularly illustrative textbook of Chinese culture. The history apparent in Xi'an is so ancient and continuous that the city has no parallel anywhere as a cultural site. Here one can visit the sites once inhabited by its primitive people; admire the bronze wares manufactured in the Bronze Age; wander through the city ruins of the Qin, Han, Sui and Tang Dynasties; imagine for oneself the clamour of the old Oriental metropolis; explore the imperial tombs of the Qin, Han and Tang Dynasties, testimony to the pervasive power of the feudal ruling class; ramble in temples and pagoda courtyards, tracing vestiges of the Silk Road; and study stone inscriptions to appreciate Chinese calligraphy. Not least, Xi'an is the site of excavation of the vast army of terracotta warriors and horses from the tomb of China's First Emperor, Qin Shihuang, from whom the country derives its name.
I am a native here, I know the history and intereting points of xi'an, as well as backstreets and water-mouthing snacks.
Hi! I am Mary Yin and I have 5 years experience in showing people of all nationalities around Beijing, and arranging excursions to the surrounding areas, the most popular being The Great Wall. My unique knowledge of the city allows me to provide my customers with an exclusive service that gives them an insight into the history behind all the sites, which has been greatly appreciated by my customers. I am able to provide a tour guide service for groups of people, or on a one to one basis if it is required.
Just to look at the sights in Beijing is an enjoyment in itself. However you get so much more when you start to understand the history behind it, plus some of the reasonings why something was built in a certain manner. For example the moat running through the Forbidden city was put there for a purpose.
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