The Story of Xi'an Where Past and Present Meet

With its cultural and religious diversity, Xi’an in north-west China has been a centre for emperors, poets, monks, merchants and warriors. Though those illustrious times may have ended, an ample amount of the ancient city survives alongside the modern town, even today.

- Arachika Kapoor

Long before anyone knew of Beijing, Shaanxi was the centre for Chinese civilisation and history as the heartland of the first dynasty of Imperial China – the Qin dynasty, whose emperor united much of China for the first time.

In north-west China’s Shaanxi Province, Chang’an – now known as Xi’an, was one of the most populous cities in the world, whereas now it houses a comparatively small population of around 8.7 million people.

Xi’an was the capital of Tang Dynasty and everything from the tissues in restaurants to various signage in the city, will ensure that you know that fact. According to legends, Chang’an - literally meaning ‘forever peace’, was a peace loving area and the status is carried forward to the modern day Xi’an, which literally translates to ‘western peace’. “Xi’an is indeed a harmonious region. Though minor shocks around the city have been experienced but the last time this stretch was the centre for an earthquake was in 1368. Moreover, Xi’an does not experience floods like other locations in China,” Eric Wang, our tour guide, informed us.

Prior to becoming the capital of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an was also the capital city for 13 imperial dynasties, the most for any city, and is today a popular tourist destination with foreigners and locals alike.

Signboards in Mandarin and traditional Chinese, clean wide roads, elaborate fountainheads and malls, local shopping streets and tall buildings, welcomed us as we entered the city. “Northern suburb in Xi’an is called the New City because of the newly emerging tall modern apartment buildings,” explained Wang.