Xi'an

**Xi'an** ( pinyin:Xī'ān) is the capital city of the Shaanxi Province in China. Its metropolitan area has a population of 6 million people in 2011.  This city is famous for the splendid Terracotta Army was found inside the tomb of Chinese first emperor Qin Shi Huang.

## History

In past China, it was the capital of 13 dynasties, including the Zhou Dynasty, the Qin Dynasty, the Han Dynasty, the Sui Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty. It was the eastern end of the ancient Silk Road and was commercial hub linked to home of silk production city Suzhou and Hangzhou.
Xi'an is regarded as one of the most oldest capitals in the world history together with the other three Athens, Rome and Cairo.

## Name

Xi'an was called Chang'an in ancient times. In Classical Chinese it literally means "Perpetual Peace". But from 9 AD-23 AD, during the Xin Dynasty, it was renamed "Constant Peace" (it is said the same way). By the time of the Ming Dynasty it had been named Xi'an (which means "Western Peace"). It was named Xi'an because was in the western part of the Ming Empire.

## Political divisions

Xi'an Municipality is divided into 10 districts and 3 counties.
- Beilin District
- Yanta District
- Weiyang District
- Baqiao District
- Xincheng District
- Lianhu District
- Chang'an District
- Yanliang District
- Lintong District
- Gaoling District
- Lantian County
- Zhouzhi County
- Huyi District

## Culture

Xian's profound culture is featured by many kind of traditional festivals, handicrafts and more ethnic flavor.
- Yango - Popular rural folk dance
- Qinqiang - Shaanxi  local opera
- Shaanxi Shadow Play
- Fengxiang Clay Figurines

## Tourism

As ancient capital, Xian's rich history is reflectey by the relic of Chinese dynasties such as ancient emperor story, imperial tombs, palace legends in the Qin, Han and Tang Dynasty. The following attractions is top among them.
- Banpo Neolithic Village
- Terracotta Army & Warriors
- Xian Ancient City Wall
- Bell & Drum tower
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda
- Hanyangling Mausoleum

## Infobox (settlement)

- **settlement type**: Sub-provincial city
- **image skyline**: Xi'an montage.png
- **image caption**: From top: City wall of Xi'an, Xingqinggong Park, Drum Tower of Xi'an, Great Mosque of Xi'an, Southeast city corner, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Nan'erhuan Road
- **image map**: Location of Xi'an Prefecture within Shaanxi (China).png
- **map caption**: Location of Xi'an City jurisdiction in Shaanxi
- **pushpin map**: China
- **pushpin map caption**: Location in China
- **subdivision type**: Country
- **subdivision name**: People's Republic of China
- **subdivision type1**: Province (China), Province
- **subdivision name1**: Shaanxi
- **leader title**: Communist Party of China, CPC Xi'an
- **leader name**: Sun Qingyun ()
- **leader title1**: Mayor
- **area total km2**: 9983
- **area total sq mi**: 13.9
- **area urban km2**: 826
- **area metro km2**: 3830
- **area blank1 title**: Yangling
- **area blank1 km2**: 94
- **population urban**: 6501200
- **population density urban km2**: auto
- **population as of**: 2010 census
- **population metro**: 7168005
- **population total**: 8467837
- **population density km2**: auto
- **elevation m**: 405
- **timezone**: China Standard Time, CST
- **utc offset**: +8
- **postal code type**: Postal code
- **postal code**: **710**000 - **710**090
- **area code**: +86/29
- **blank name**: Gross domestic product, GDP
- **blank info**: (2010)
- **blank1 name**: - Total
- **blank1 info**: Chinese renminbi, ¥ List of China administrative divisions by GDP, 324.1 billion
- **blank2 name**: - Per capita
- **blank2 info**: ¥List of cities in the People's Republic of China by GDP per capita, 26,259
- **blank3 name**: Licence plates of the People's Republic of China, License plate prefixes
- **blank3 info**: A
- **blank4 name**: City flower
- **blank4 info**: Pomegranate flower
- **blank5 name**: City tree
- **blank5 info**: Pagoda tree