Jump to content

Xi'an: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Reverted edits by 67.189.117.59 (talk) (HG) (3.1.22)
DeadPi (talk | contribs)
16 edits
←Replaced content with 'PRINSIPE YBARRO IS DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'
Tags: possible vandalism shouting blanking repeating characters
Line 1: Line 1:
PRINSIPE YBARRO IS DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
{{Redirect|Xian}}
{{For|the Dowager Empress of China|Ci'an}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{stack begin}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = {{raise|0.2em|Xi'an}}
| official_name = <!-- Official name in English if different from 'name' -->
| native_name = {{lower|0.1em|{{nobold|{{lang|zh-hans|西安市}}}}}}
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[Sub-provincial city]]
| image_skyline = Xi'an montage.png
| imagesize =
| image_caption = From top: [[Terracotta Army|Xian Terracotta Warriors Museum]], [[Giant Wild Goose Pagoda]], [[Drum Tower of Xi'an]], [[Bell Tower of Xi'an]], [[City wall of Xi'an]], [[Tang Paradise]] at night
| image_flag =
| image_seal =
| nickname =
| motto =
| image_map =Location of Xi'an Prefecture within Shaanxi (China).png
| mapsize =
| map_caption =Location of Xi'an City jurisdiction in Shaanxi
| image_map1 =
| map_caption1 =
| pushpin_map = China
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Northwest of China
| coordinates = {{coord|34|16|N|108|54|E|region:CN-61|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = People's Republic of China
| subdivision_type1 = [[Province (China)|Province]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Shaanxi]]
| leader_title = [[Communist Party of China|Party Secretary]]
| leader_name = [[Wang Yongkang]]
| leader_title1 = Mayor
| leader_name1 = [[Shangguan Jiqing]]
| area_magnitude = 1 E9
| area_total_km2 = 9983
| area_total_sq_mi =
| area_land_sq_mi =
| area_water_percent =
| area_urban_km2 = 2420.7
| area_urban_sq_mi =
| area_metro_km2 = 3866.25
| area_metro_sq_mi =
| area_blank1_sq_mi =
| elevation_m = 405
| population_total = 8,705,600
| population_as_of = 2015
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_urban_km2 = auto
| population_metro = 13,569,700
| population_density_metro_km2 = auto
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = '''710'''000 - '''710'''090'''
| area_code = +86/29
| website = http://www.xa.gov.cn/
| footnotes =
| timezone = [[China Standard Time|CST]]
| utc_offset = +8
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
| blank_name = [[Gross domestic product|GDP]]
| blank_info = (2016)
| blank1_name = - Total
| blank1_info = [[Renminbi|CNY]] 625.72 billion<br/>(US$ 94.22 billion)
| blank2_name = - Per capita
| blank2_info = [[Renminbi|CNY]] 71,853 (US$ 10,823)
| blank3_name = [[Licence plates of the People's Republic of China|License plate]] prefixes
| blank3_info = {{lang|zh-cn|陕}}A
| blank4_name = City flower
| blank4_info = [[Pomegranate]] flower
| blank5_name = City tree
| blank5_info = [[Pagoda tree]]
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
|pic=Xi'an_(Chinese_characters).svg
|picsize=125px
|order=st
|title = '''Xī'ān'''
|c={{linktext|西安}}
|p=Xī'ān
|w= Hsi<sup>1</sup>-an<sup>1</sup>
| lang1_content = 西安: [ɕi²¹.ŋã²¹] <br> 長安: [ʈ͡ʂʰaŋ²⁴.ŋã²¹]
| lang1 = [[Xi'an dialect]] ([[Zhongyuan Mandarin]])
|mi={{IPAc-cmn|AUD|Zh-Xi'an.ogg|x|i|1|.|an|1}}
|gr=Shi'an
|bpmf=ㄒㄧ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄢ
|myr=Syīān
|j=Sai<sup>1</sup>-on<sup>1</sup>
|y=Sāi-ōn
|wuu=Si<sup>平</sup>oe<sup>平</sup>
|tl=Se-an
|l="Western Peace" |psp=Sian
|altname=Cháng'ān|t2={{linktext|長安}}|s2={{linktext|长安}}|l2="Perpetual peace"|p2=Cháng'ān|w2=Ch&#x2bb;ang<sup>2</sup>-an<sup>1</sup>|mi2={{IPAc-cmn|AUD|Zh-Changan.ogg|ch|ang|2|.|an|1}}|gr2=Charng'an|bpmf2=ㄔㄤˊ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ㄢ|j2=Coeng<sup>4</sup>-on<sup>1</sup>|y2=Chèuhng-ōn|tl2=Tn̂g-an|mc2=ɖjang-an
}}
{{stack end}}
'''Xi'an''' ({{IPAc-cmn|AUD|Zh-Xi'an.ogg|x|i|1|.|an|1}}; {{zh|c=西安|p=Xī'ān}}), formerly romanized as '''Sian''',<ref name="br"/><ref>It is also called "Sianfu" by many Western authors of the early 20th century. For example, the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Xi'an|Catholic Archdiocese of Xian]] used to be called the [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dsian.html Vicariate Apostolic of Sianfu]. Adolf S. Waley, [https://archive.org/stream/remakingofchina00walerich/remakingofchina00walerich_djvu.txt The Re-making of China], New York: E.P. Dutton and Company, 1914.</ref> and also known as '''[[Chang'an]]''' ({{IPAc-cmn|AUD|Zh-Changan.ogg|ch|ang|2|.|an|1}}; {{zh|t=長安|p=Cháng'ān}}) before the [[Ming dynasty]],<ref name="br">{{Cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/542532/Xian|title=Xi'an|work=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]|accessdate=2008-09-03}}</ref> is the capital of [[Shaanxi Province]], [[People's Republic of China]]. It is a [[sub-provincial city]] located in the center of the [[Guanzhong Plain]] in [[Northwest China]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Illuminating China's Provinces, Municipalities and Autonomous Regions|url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/43599.htm|publisher=PRC Central Government Official Website|accessdate=2014-05-17}}</ref> One of the [[oldest cities in China]], Xi'an is the oldest of the [[Historical capitals of China|Four Great Ancient Capitals]], having held the position under several of the most important [[dynasties in Chinese history]],<ref name="encarta">{{Cite web|url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761572407/Xi%E2%80%99an.html|title=Xi'an|work=[[Encarta]]. 1993-2008|date=September 3, 2008 |archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20080228105855/encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761572407/Xi%E2%80%99an.html |archivedate=February 28, 2008}}</ref> including [[Western Zhou]], [[Qin dynasty|Qin]], [[Western Han]], [[Sui dynasty|Sui]], and [[Tang dynasty|Tang]].<ref name="encarta"/> Xi'an is the starting point of the [[Silk Road]] and home to the [[Terracotta Army]] of [[Emperor Qin Shi Huang]].<ref name="br"/>

Since the 1990s, as part of the [[China Western Development|economic revival of inland China]] especially for the central and northwest regions, the city of Xi'an has re-emerged as an important cultural, industrial and educational centre of the central-northwest region, with facilities for [[research and development]], [[national security]] and [[Chinese space program|China's space exploration program]]. Xi'an currently holds [[sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China|sub-provincial]] status, administering 9 districts and 4 counties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.docin.com/p-51864614.html |title=中央机构编制委员会印发《关于副省级市若干问题的意见》的通知. 中编发[1995]5号 |publisher=豆丁网 |date=1995-02-19 |accessdate=2014-05-28 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529084536/http://www.docin.com/p-51864614.html |archivedate=May 29, 2014 }}</ref> {{As of|2015}} Xi'an has a population of 8,705,600 and the Xi'an-Xianyang metropolitan area has a population of 13,569,700.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.xatj.gov.cn/ptl/def/def/index_923_6225_ci_trid_2005876.html|title=西安市2015年国民经济和社会发展统计公报|website=http://www.xatj.gov.cn/|access-date=2016-05-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tjsql.com/data.aspx?d=168172|title=4-5各市、县(市、区)常住人口(2013-2014年)-tjsql.com|website=www.tjsql.com|access-date=2016-03-06}}</ref> It is the most populous city in [[Northwest China]], as well as one of the three most populous cities in [[Western China]].<ref>{{cite web|title=最新中国城市人口数量排名（根据2010年第六次人口普查）|url=http://www.elivecity.cn/html/yijuyanjiu/yijuyanjiu1/645.html|publisher=www.elivecity.cn|year=2012|accessdate=2014-05-27}}</ref> According to a July 2012 report by the [[Economist Intelligence Unit]], it was recently named as one of the 13 emerging megacities, or [[megalopolis (city type)|megalopolises]], in China.<ref>[http://www.eiu.com/public/topical_report.aspx?campaignid=Megalopolis2012 Supersized cities: China’s 13 megalopolises]</ref> The report pinpoints and highlights the demographic and income trends that are shaping these cities' development.

==Toponymy==
The two [[Chinese characters]] "{{lang|zh|西安}}" in the name Xi'an mean "Western Peace". During the [[Zhou dynasty]], the area was the site of the national capital, which is a [[twin cities|twin-city]] named '''[[Fenghao]]''' ({{zh|t=豐鎬|labels=no}}) on the two banks of the Feng River near the confluence with the [[Wei River]], with the part on the west bank of the Feng River called Fengjing ({{zh|t=豐京|l=Feng capital|labels=no}}) and the portion on the east called Haojing ({{zh|t=鎬京|l=Hao capital|labels=no}}).<ref>''Zhongguo Gujin Diming Dacidian'' 中国古今地名大词典, 2005. (Shanghai: ''Shanghai Cishu Chubanshe''), 1540.</ref> It was renamed [[Chang'an]] (meaning "perpetual peace") during the [[Han dynasty]] (206 BC–220 AD), although it was sometimes referred to as Xijing ({{zh|t=西京|l=western capital|labels=no}}) during the [[Eastern Han dynasty]] after the capital was relocated to [[Luoyang]] in the east. It changed to '''Daxing''' ({{zh|t=大興|l=great prosperity|labels=no}}) in 581 AD during the [[Sui dynasty]], then again became Chang'an from 618 during the [[Tang dynasty]]. During the [[Yuan dynasty]] (1270–1368), the city was first given the name '''Fengyuan''' ({{zh|t=奉元|labels=no}}), followed by '''Anxi''' ({{zh|t=安西|labels=no}}) then '''Jingzhao''' ({{zh|t=京兆|labels=no}}).

It finally became Xi'an in 1369 at the time of the [[Ming dynasty]]. This name remained until 1928, then in 1930 it was renamed Xijing ({{lang|zh|西京}}), or "western capital". The city's name once again reverted to its Ming-era designation of Xi'an in 1943.

Xi'an currently does not have a widely accepted one-character abbreviation as many other Chinese cities do, possibly due to fact that it was historically called ''Jing'' ({{lang|zh-hant|京}}) or ''Du'' ({{lang|zh-hant|都}}), both meaning "the capital".{{dubious|date=September 2014}} Several suggested abbreviations include Feng ({{lang|zh-hant|丰}}, the city's first name when it was founded as the new capital of Zhou, meaning abundance, greatness, and bumper harvest), Hao ({{zh|c=镐|p=Hào|links=no}}, derived from the name of Zhou dynasty's capital [[Haojing]]), or Tang ({{zh|c=唐|p=Táng|links=no}}, from the name of the Tang dynasty).

==History==
{{Main article|History of Xi'an|Chang'an}}
{{Multiple image
| align = left
| direction = vertical
| width = 220
| image1 = Western Zhou dynasty Carriages pit2 Xi'an.JPG
| caption1 = Remains of carriages and horses in [[Fenghao]] of the Western Zhou period (1046–771 BC)
| image2 = Xian guerreros terracota general.JPG
| caption2 = [[Terracotta Army]] inside the [[Qin Shi Huang]] Mausoleum, 3rd century BC.
| image3 = Weiyang Palace site.JPG
| caption3 = Site of front hall of Weiyang Palace in Chang'an city of Western Han dynasty (206 BC–9 AD)
}}
{{Multiple image
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| width = 220
| image1 = Daming Palace Hanyuan Hall Site.jpg
| caption1 = Site of Hanyuan Hall of [[Daming Palace]], Tang dynasty
| image2 = Xi'anviewpic15.jpg
| caption2 = Statues in the Imperial Tomb of [[Tang dynasty|Tang Emperor]] [[Emperor Gaozong of Tang|Gaozong]]
}}
[[File:Xi'an scene.jpg|thumb|left|220px|Xi'an in 1908]]
[[File:Street statue of Lady Congsun sword-dance master of the Tang Dynasty.jpg|thumb|left|220px|Statue of Lady Gongsun, a [[sword-dance]] master of the [[Tang Dynasty]]]]
===Prehistory===
Xi'an has rich and culturally significant history. The [[Lantian Man]] was discovered in 1963 in [[Lantian County]], {{convert|50|km|abbr=on}} southeast of Xi'an, and dates back to at least 500,000 years before the present time. A 6,500-year-old [[Banpo]] [[Neolithic]] village was discovered in 1953 on the eastern outskirts of the city proper, which contains the remains of several well organized [[Neolithic]] settlements [[radiocarbon dating|carbon dated]] to 5600&ndash;6700 [[Before Present|years ago]].<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1007/978-90-481-8716-4_8 |chapter=Climate Change and Desertification with Special Reference to the Cases in China |title=Changing Climates, Earth Systems and Society |year=2010 |last1=Yang |first1=Xiaoping |isbn=978-90-481-8715-7 |pages=177}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z4_bT2SJ-HUC |chapter=East Asian plant domestication |pages=77–95 |title=Archaeology of Asia |isbn=9781405153034 |author1=Stark |first1=Miriam T |date=2008-04-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.homepages.ucl.ac.uk/~tcrndfu/articles/china%20overview%20pre.pdf |title=A Critical Assessment of Early Agriculture in East Asia, with emphasis on Lower Yangzte Rice Domestication |last1=Fuller |first1=Dorian Q |last2=Qin |first2=Ling |last3=Harvey |first3=Emma |journal=Pragdhara |year=2008 |pages=17–52}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |pmid=21592462 |year=2011 |last1=Meng |first1=Y |last2=Zhang |first2=HQ |last3=Pan |first3=F |last4=He |first4=ZD |last5=Shao |first5=JL |last6=Ding |first6=Y |title=Prevalence of dental caries and tooth wear in a Neolithic population (6700-5600 years BP) from northern China |volume=56 |issue=11 |pages=1424–35 |doi=10.1016/j.archoralbio.2011.04.003 |journal=Archives of oral biology}}</ref> The site is now home to the [[Xi'an Banpo Museum]], built in 1957 to preserve the archaeological collection.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chinamuseums.com/ban_po.htm |title=Banpo Museum in Xi'an |publisher=chinamuseums.com |accessdate=29 July 2013}}</ref>

===Ancient to Imperial era===
Xi'an became a cultural and political centre of China in the 11th century BC with the founding of the [[Zhou dynasty]]. The capital of Zhou was established in the twin settlements of Fengjing ({{lang|zh-hant|丰京}}) and [[Haojing]], together known as [[Fenghao]], located southwest of contemporary Xi'an. The settlement was also known as Zhōngzhōu to indicate its role as the capital of the vassal states.<ref>Third scroll of the ''Chang'an Annals'' (长安志) interpreted by [[Huangfu Mi]] in his ''[[Age of Kings (book)]]'' (帝王世紀)</ref> In 770 BC, the capital was moved to [[Luoyang]] due to political unrest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.suliantuo.net/qita-gudu-xian-1.htm|title=China's six major historical capitals - Xi'an's cultural history|accessdate=22 February 2011|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5wftXxuhC|archivedate=22 February 2011}}</ref> Following the [[Warring States period]], [[China]] was unified under the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC) for the first time, with the capital located at [[Xianyang]], just northwest of modern Xi'an.<ref name="diming">''Zhongguo Gujin Diming Dacidian'' 中国古今地名大词典, 2005. (Shanghai: ''Shanghai Cishu Chubanshe''), 2134.</ref> The first emperor of China, [[Qin Shi Huang]] ordered the construction of the [[Terracotta Army]] and his mausoleum just to the east of Xi'an almost immediately after his ascension to the throne.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/archaeology/emperor-qin/|title=Emperor Qin's Terracotta Army|author=O. Louis Mazzatenta|publisher=National Geographic}}</ref><ref>The precise coordinates are {{Coord|34|23|6|N|109|16|23|E|type:landmark_region:CN|display=inline|name=Qin Shi Huang mausoleum}})</ref>

In 202 BC, the founding emperor [[Liu Bang]] of the [[Han dynasty]] established his capital in Chang'an County; his first palace, Changle Palace ({{lang|zh-hant|長樂宮}}, ''perpetual happiness'') was built across the river from the ruin of the Qin capital. This is traditionally regarded as the founding date of Chang'an, or Xi'an. Two years later, Liu Bang built [[Weiyang Palace]] ({{lang|zh-hant|未央宮}}, ''(perpetual happiness) hasn't reached its midpoint yet'') north of modern Xi'an. Weiyang Palace was the largest palace ever built on Earth, covering {{convert|4.8|km2|acres|lk=out|abbr=off}}, which is 6.7 times the size of the current [[Forbidden City]], or 11 times the size of the Vatican City.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://history.cultural-china.com/en/52History6236.html|title=Weiyang Palace: the Largest Palace Ever Built on Earth}}</ref> The original Xi'an city wall was started in 194 BC and took 4 years to finish. Upon completion, the wall measured {{convert|25.7|km|2|abbr=on}} in length and {{convert|12|to(-)|16|m|2|abbr=on}} in thickness at the base, enclosing an area of {{convert|36|km²|2|abbr=on}}. In the year 190, amidst uprisings and rebellions just prior to the [[Three Kingdoms]] Period, a powerful warlord named [[Dong Zhuo]] moved the court from [[Luoyang]] to Chang'an in a bid to avoid a coalition of other powerful warlords against him.

Following several hundred years of unrest, the [[Sui dynasty]] united China again in 582. The emperor of Sui ordered a new capital to be built southeast of the Han capital, called Daxing ({{lang|zh-hant|大興}}, ''great prosperity''). It consisted of three sections: the Imperial City, the palace section, and the civilian section, with a total area of {{convert|84|km2|abbr=on}} within the city walls. At the time, it was the largest city in the world. The city was renamed Chang'an (長安, ''Perpetual Peace'' or ''Eternal Peace'') by the [[Tang Dynasty]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huaxia.com/gd/csdh/xa/2006/00459499.html|title=History of Xi'an|language=Chinese|accessdate=22 February 2011|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5wftJE6eZ|archivedate=22 February 2011}}</ref> In the mid-7th century, after returning from his pilgrimage to India, [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] monk [[Xuanzang]] (popularly known as ''Tang Sanzang'') established a translation centre for [[Sanskrit]] scriptures.

Construction of the [[Great Wild Goose Pagoda]] began in 652. This [[pagoda]] was {{convert|64|m|2|abbr=on}} in height, and was built to store the translations of Buddhist sutras obtained from India by [[Xuanzang]]. In 707, construction of the [[Small Wild Goose Pagoda]] began. This pagoda measured {{convert|45|m|2|abbr=on}} tall at the time of completion, and was built to store the translations of Buddhist sutras by [[Yijing (monk)|Yijing]]. The massive [[1556 Shaanxi earthquake]] eventually damaged the tower and reduced its height to {{convert|43.4|m|2|abbr=on}}.<ref name="kiang 12">Kiang, 12.</ref>

Chang'an was devastated at the end of the Tang dynasty in 904. Residents were forced to move to the new capital city in [[Luoyang]]. Only a small area in the city continued to be occupied thereafter. During the [[Ming dynasty]], a new wall was constructed in 1370 and remains intact to this day. The wall measures {{convert|11.9|km|abbr=on}} in [[circumference]], {{convert|12|m|2|abbr=on}} in height, and {{convert|15|to(-)|18|m|2|abbr=on}} in thickness at the base; a moat was also built outside the walls. The new wall and moat would protect a much smaller city of {{convert|12|km2|abbr=on}}.

===Modern era===
In October 1911, during the revolution in which the Qing dynasty was overthrown, the Manchus living in the northeastern zone within the city walls were massacred.<ref>Ernest Frank Borst-Smith, ''Caught in the Chinese Revolution: a record of risks and rescue''. London: [[T. Fisher Unwin]], 1912.</ref> By the time the rebels were finished killing and pillaging, 20,000 Manchus had been killed.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QiM2pF5PDR8C&pg=PA190 | title=Manchus and Han: Ethnic Relations and Political Power in Late Qing and Early Republican China, 1861–1928 | author=Edward J. M. Rhoads | page=190 | publisher=University of Washington | year=2000}}</ref>

In 1936, the [[Xi'an Incident]] took place inside the city during the [[Chinese Civil War]]. The incident brought the [[Kuomintang]] (KMT) and [[Communist Party of China]] to a truce in order to concentrate on fighting against the Japanese Invasion.<ref>Guo Rugui,'''中国抗日战争正面战场作战记''' ,第二部分：从“九一八”事变到西安事变 绥远抗战的巨大影响和军事上的经验</ref> On May 20, 1949, the Communist-controlled [[People's Liberation Army]] captured the city of Xi'an from the [[Kuomintang]] force.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xa.gov.cn/zwgk/content/content_zwzy1402525_1.htm|title=Public Government Policy|publisher=City of Xi'an|language=Chinese|accessdate=22 February 2011|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5wfuAg9g8|archivedate=22 February 2011}}</ref>

Xi'an made headlines for being one of the many cities where the [[2012 China anti-Japanese demonstrations]] occurred.<ref name=sinapatriot>{{cite news |script-title=zh:打砸抢烧不是爱国是害民 | work=北京青年报 |date=2012-09-16 |accessdate=2012-09-16 |url=http://news.sina.com.cn/pl/2012-09-16/000025182748.shtml |language=Chinese }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sg.news.yahoo.com/photos/demonstrators-hold-chinese-flags-banners-beside-overturned-car-photo-094258536.html|title=Xi'an Protesters Overturn Cars |date= |accessdate=2012-09-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/15/anti-japan-protests_n_1886427.html|title=Anti-Japan Protests In China Swell, Turn Violent |date= 2012-09-15|accessdate=2012-09-17|work=Huffington Post}}</ref>

==Geography and climate==
{{climate chart
| Xi'an
| −3.8 | 4.8 | 6.9
| −1.1 | 8.3 | 9.6
| 3.6 | 13.9 | 28.6
| 9.5 | 21.0 | 43
| 14.2 | 26.1 | 60.2
| 19.2 | 31.2 | 54.4
| 21.9 | 32.1 | 98.6
| 20.9 | 30.8 | 70.8
| 15.9 | 25.3 | 91.6
| 9.9 | 19.5 | 59.9
| 2.9 | 12.2 | 23.9
| −2.5 | 6.4 | 5.8
|float=right
|clear=none
|source = China Meteorological Administration }}

Xi'an lies on the [[Guanzhong|Guanzhong Plain]] in the south-central part of [[Shaanxi]] province, on a flood plain created by the eight surrounding rivers and streams. The city has an average elevation of {{convert|400|m|0}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]] and an annual precipitation of {{convert|553|mm|1|abbr=on}}. The urban area of Xi'an is located at {{Coord|34|16|N|108|56|E}}. The [[Wei River]] provides potable water to the city.

The city borders the northern foot of the [[Qin Mountains]] (Qinling) to the south, and the banks of the [[Wei River]] to the north. [[Mount Hua|Hua Shan]], one of the five sacred Taoist mountains, is located {{convert|100|km|abbr=on}} away to the east of the city. Not far to the north is the [[Loess Plateau]].

At the beginning of Han dynasty, Prime Minister Zhang Liang advised the emperor Liu Bang to choose Guanzhong as the capital of the Han dynasty: 'Guanzhong Plain, which is located behind Xiao Pass and Hangu Pass, connects Long ([[Gansu]]) and Shu ([[Sichuan]]). Land of thousands miles and rich in harvest can be found here, as if this place is belongs to the nation of the heaven.' ({{lang|zh-hans|《关中左崤函，右陇蜀，沃野千里，此所谓金城千里，天府之国也》}}) Since then, Guanzhong is also known as the 'Nation of the Heaven'.<ref>《史记·留侯世家》</ref><!--Removal of this will be met with a swift revert-->

===National Time Service Centre===
The Shaanxi Astronomical Observatory was established in 1966. In 1975, according to the Geodetic Origin Report of the People's Republic of China, 'in order to avoid bias in the mensuration as much as possible, the Geodetic Origin would be in central mainland China.' Lintong ({{lang|zh-hans|临潼}}), a town near Xi'an was chosen. Since 1986, Chinese Standard Time (CST) was set from NTSC. The NTSC in Lintong is {{convert|36|km|abbr=on}} away from Xi'an.

<blockquote>
National Time Service Centre (NTSC), the Chinese Academy of Sciences is an institute which is mainly engaged in the service and research on time and frequency. NTSC takes charge of generating and maintaining the national standard time scale, disseminating the time and frequency signals. The autonomous standard time scales of universal time and atomic time and the dissemination techniques with LF radio and HF radio were established successively during the 1970s and 1980s, which meet all the requirements for different applications on the whole, such as the scientific researches, national economy, etc.<ref>[http://www.time.ac.cn/jianjie/1.htm NTSC] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001755/http://www.time.ac.cn/jianjie/1.htm |date=March 4, 2016 }} 国家授时中心简介</ref>
</blockquote>

===Climate===
Xi'an has a [[temperateness|temperate]] climate that is influenced by the [[East Asian monsoon]], classified under the [[Köppen climate classification]] as situated on the borderline between a [[semi-arid climate]] (''BSk'') and [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cwa''). The Wei River valley is characterised by hot, [[Humidity|humid]] summers, cold, dry winters, and dry springs and autumns. Most of the annual [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] is delivered from July to late October. Snow occasionally falls in winter but rarely settles for long. [[Dust storm]]s often occur during March and April as the city rapidly warms up. Summer months also experience frequent but short [[thunderstorm]]s. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from around the freezing mark in January to {{convert|27.0|°C|1}} in July, with an annual mean of {{convert|14.08|°C|1}}. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 31&nbsp;percent in December to 47&nbsp;percent in August, the city receives 1,536 hours of bright sunshine annually. Extremes since 1951 have ranged from {{convert|−20.6|°C|0}} on 11 January 1955 to {{convert|41.8|°C|0}} on 21 June 1998. A highest record of {{convert|42.9|°C|0}} was registered in another station on 17 June 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/dataSetLogger.do?changeFlag%3DdataLogger |title=Archived copy |accessdate=February 18, 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318113757/http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/dataSetLogger.do?changeFlag=dataLogger |archivedate=March 18, 2013 }}</ref><ref name = Mherrera/>

<center>
{{Weather box|location = Xi'an (normals 1981–2010, extremes 1951–2013)
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|collapsed = Y
|Jan high C = 5.1
|Feb high C = 8.9
|Mar high C = 14.4
|Apr high C = 21.5
|May high C = 26.6
|Jun high C = 31.4
|Jul high C = 32.4
|Aug high C = 30.3
|Sep high C = 25.6
|Oct high C = 19.3
|Nov high C = 12.4
|Dec high C = 6.3
|year high C= 19.5
|Jan low C = −3.3
|Feb low C = −0.4
|Mar low C = 4.1
|Apr low C = 10.3
|May low C = 15.1
|Jun low C = 19.9
|Jul low C = 22.3
|Aug low C = 21.0
|Sep low C = 16.5
|Oct low C = 10.2
|Nov low C = 3.2
|Dec low C = −2.2
|year low C= 9.7
|Jan record high C = 17.0
|Feb record high C = 24.1
|Mar record high C = 31.3
|Apr record high C = 34.9
|May record high C = 38.6
|Jun record high C = 41.8
|Jul record high C = 41.0
|Aug record high C = 40.0
|Sep record high C = 38.5
|Oct record high C = 34.1
|Nov record high C = 24.5
|Dec record high C = 21.6
|year record high C= 41.8
|Jan record low C = −20.6
|Feb record low C = −18.7
|Mar record low C = −7.6
|Apr record low C = −4.0
|May record low C = 3.5
|Jun record low C = 9.2
|Jul record low C = 15.1
|Aug record low C = 12.1
|Sep record low C = 4.8
|Oct record low C = −1.9
|Nov record low C = −16.8
|Dec record low C = −19.3
|year record low C= −20.6
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 6.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 9.8
|Mar precipitation mm = 27.1
|Apr precipitation mm = 37.5
|May precipitation mm = 54.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 64.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 97.5
|Aug precipitation mm = 78.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 94.1
|Oct precipitation mm = 61.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 21.5
|Dec precipitation mm = 7.3
|Jan mean C = 0.3
|Feb mean C = 3.6
|Mar mean C = 8.7
|Apr mean C = 15.4
|May mean C = 20.5
|Jun mean C = 25.3
|Jul mean C = 27.0
|Aug mean C = 25.1
|Sep mean C = 20.3
|Oct mean C = 14.1
|Nov mean C = 7.2
|Dec mean C = 1.5
|year mean C= 14.1
|Jan humidity = 65
|Feb humidity = 62
|Mar humidity = 64
|Apr humidity = 64
|May humidity = 65
|Jun humidity = 61
|Jul humidity = 68
|Aug humidity = 75
|Sep humidity = 77
|Oct humidity = 76
|Nov humidity = 73
|Dec humidity = 68
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 3.4
|Feb precipitation days = 4.0
|Mar precipitation days = 6.4
|Apr precipitation days = 7.8
|May precipitation days = 8.2
|Jun precipitation days = 8.8
|Jul precipitation days = 9.9
|Aug precipitation days = 10.0
|Sep precipitation days = 11.6
|Oct precipitation days = 9.9
|Nov precipitation days = 5.5
|Dec precipitation days = 3.6

|Jan sun = 88.4 |Jan percentsun = 32
|Feb sun = 96.1 |Feb percentsun = 34
|Mar sun = 116.6 |Mar percentsun = 33
|Apr sun = 142.8 |Apr percentsun = 38
|May sun = 169.5 |May percentsun = 40
|Jun sun = 179.7 |Jun percentsun = 43
|Jul sun = 181.1 |Jul percentsun = 44
|Aug sun = 168.1 |Aug percentsun = 47
|Sep sun = 121.0 |Sep percentsun = 34
|Oct sun = 98.9 |Oct percentsun = 32
|Nov sun = 92.4 |Nov percentsun = 32
|Dec sun = 81.0 |Dec percentsun = 31
|year percentsun= 37
|source 1 = China Meteorological Administration,<ref name=CMA>{{Cite web
|url=http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/shuju/index3.jsp?tpcat=SURF&dsid=SURF_CLI_CHN_MUL_MMON_19712000_CES&pageid=3
|script-title=zh:中国气象局 国家气象信息中心
|language=Chinese
|accessdate=2009-03-17
|publisher=[[China Meteorological Administration]]
|date=June 2011
|deadurl=yes
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090716061113/http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/shuju/index3.jsp?tpcat=SURF&dsid=SURF_CLI_CHN_MUL_MMON_19712000_CES&pageid=3
|archivedate=July 16, 2009
}}</ref> all-time extreme temperature<ref name = Mherrera>{{cite web
|url= http://www.mherrera.org/temp.htm
|title= Extreme Temperatures Around the World
|accessdate= 2013-02-21
}}</ref>
|date=August 2013}}
</center>

==Demographics==
[[File:Muslim Quarter Xi'an China.jpg|thumb|Muslim Quarter in Xi'an]]
By the end of 2012, Xi'an had a population of 8.55&nbsp;million.<ref name="xianpop"/> Compared to the census data from 2000, the population has increased by 656,700 persons from 7.41&nbsp;million.<ref name="xianpop"/> The population is 51.66&nbsp;percent male and 48.34&nbsp;percent female.<ref name="xianpop"/> Among its districts, [[Yanta District|Yanta]] has the largest population, with 1.08&nbsp;million inhabitants.<ref name="xianpop">{{Cite web|title=西安人口 (Xi'an population) |url=http://www.xa.gov.cn/cenweb/xagov/xazl/xazonglan.jsp?flag=3 |publisher=City of Xi'an, in Chinese |accessdate=2007-05-16 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070322151526/http://www.xa.gov.cn/cenweb/xagov/xazl/xazonglan.jsp?flag=3 |archivedate=March 22, 2007 }}</ref>

The majority of Xi'an residents are [[Han Chinese]], who make up 99.1&nbsp;percent of the city's total population. There are around 81,500 people belonging to ethnic minorities living in Xi'an, including 50,000 [[Hui people]].{{citation needed|date=July 2012}}

During World War II, Xi'an became a destination for many refugees from other provinces of China, especially neighboring [[Henan]] Province. Because Xi'an was far inland, the invading Japanese army only managed a few aerial assaults on the city. As a result, Xi'an suffered minimal destruction. After 1949, the national government tried to balance the development in different regions of China, and relocated a number of factories and universities from other cities to Xi'an. Modern [[Xi'an Jiaotong University]] was relocated from its original campus in Shanghai.

<!--
{{HideH
|FrameStyle = margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:75%;
|HeadStyle = background-color:#1e6653;color:#ffffff
|ContentStyle = background-color:#c0d9cf;padding:5px;text-align:center;
|Breakdown of Xi'an population by district and county (2010 census)
}}
-->
{| class="wikitable sortable" align="center" border="1"
|+ Breakdown of Xi'an population by district and county
! scope="col" class="unsortable" rowspan=3 | Division
!! scope="col" colspan=3 | Permanent residents<ref name="Xi'an 2010 permanent">{{cite web|title=西安市2010年第六次全国人口普查主要数据公报|url=http://epaper.xiancn.com/xawb/html/2011-05/25/content_37285.htm|publisher=Xi'an Evening News ({{zh|s=西安晚报 |labels=no}})|accessdate=3 July 2014|date=25 May 2011|language=zh}}</ref>
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | [[Hukou system|Hukou]] residents<ref>People's Republic of China County-level Division Population Statistics ({{zh|s=《中华人民共和国全国分县市人口统计资料2010》|labels=no}}).</ref>
|-align="right" style="font-weight:bold"
|-
!! scope="col" width="70" | Total
!! scope="col" width="70" | Percentage
!! scope="col" width="70" | Population density (persons/km<sup>2</sup>)
|-align="right" style="font-weight:bold"
! width="200"|'''Xi'an City'''
| width="100"|8,467,837 || width="100"|100 || width="100"|838.66 || width="100"|7,827,260
|-align="right"
! [[Xincheng District, Xi'an|Xincheng District]]
| 589,739 || 6.96 || 19,574.51 || 503,641
|-align="right"
! [[Beilin District, Xi'an|Beilin District]]
| 614,710 || 7.26 || 26,298.54 || 732,494
|-align="right"
! [[Lianhu District]]
| 698,513 || 8.25 || 18,226.61 || 640,911
|-align="right"
! [[Baqiao District]]
| 595,124 || 7.03 || 1,833.97 || 508,535
|-align="right"
! [[Weiyang District]]
| 806,811 || 9.53 || 3,051.39 || 516,968
|-align="right"
! [[Yanta District]]
| 1,178,529 || 13.92 || 7,782.38 || 793,103
|-align="right"
! [[Yanliang District]]
| 278,604 || 3.29 || 1,139.26 || 252,449
|-align="right"
! [[Lintong District]]
| 655,874 || 7.75 || 716.04 || 697,586
|-align="right"
! [[Chang'an District, Xi'an|Chang'an District]]
| 1,083,285 || 12.79 || 681.94 || 980,803
|-align="right"
! [[Gaoling District]]
| 333,477 || 3.94 || 1,169.98 || 294,507
|-align="right"
! [[Huyi District]]
| 556,377 || 6.57 || 434.87 || 597,071
|-align="right"
! [[Lantian County]]
| 514,026 || 6.07 || 256.25 || 643,605
|-align="right"
! [[Zhouzhi County]]
| 562,768 || 6.65 || 191.08 || 665,587
|-align="center"
|}
<!--{{HideF}}-->

==Administrative divisions==
The sub-provincial city of Xi'an has direct jurisdiction over 10 [[District of China|districts]] and 3 [[County (People's Republic of China)|counties]]:

{| class="wikitable" align="center" style="width:90%; font-size:smaller" border="1"
! colspan="12"| Map
|-
| colspan=12 align="center" style="font-size:normal" |
<div style="position: relative" class="center">
{{Image label begin|image=Administrative Division Xi'an.png|width=735}}
{{Image label|x=905|y=380|scale=735/1470|text=[[Xincheng District, Xi'an|'''1''']]}}
{{Image label|x=885|y=405|scale=735/1470|text=[[Beilin District, Xi'an|'''2''']]}}
{{Image label|x=850|y=385|scale=735/1470|text=[[Lianhu District|'''3''']]}}
{{Image label|x=940|y=370|scale=735/1470|text=[[Baqiao District|'''Baqiao''']]}}
{{Image label|x=815|y=330|scale=735/1470|text=[[Weiyang District, Xi'an|'''Weiyang''']]}}
{{Image label|x=845|y=440|scale=735/1470|text=[[Yanta District|'''Yanta''']]}}
{{Image label|x=1060|y=70|scale=735/1470|text=[[Yanliang District|'''Yanliang''']]}}
{{Image label|x=1070|y=230|scale=735/1470|text=[[Lintong District|'''Lintong''']]}}
{{Image label|x=840|y=560|scale=735/1470|text=[[Chang'an District, Xi'an|'''Chang'an''']]}}
{{Image label|x=1140|y=520|scale=735/1470|text=[[Lantian County|'''Lantian<br>County''']]}}
{{Image label|x=290|y=640|scale=735/1470|text=[[Zhouzhi County|'''Zhouzhi<br>County''']]}}
{{Image label|x=610|y=600|scale=735/1470|text=[[Huyi District|'''Huyi''']]}}
{{Image label|x=925|y=190|scale=735/1470|text=[[Gaoling District|'''Gaoling''']]}}
{{Image label|x=700|y=150|scale=735/1470|text=[[Xincheng District, Xi'an|'''1. Xincheng''']]}}
{{Image label|x=700|y=185|scale=735/1470|text=[[Beilin District, Xi'an|'''2. Beilin''']]}}
{{Image label|x=700|y=220|scale=735/1470|text=[[Lianhu District|'''3. Lianhu''']]}}
</div>
|-
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | [[Administrative division codes of the People's Republic of China|Division code]]<ref>[http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjbz/cxfldm/2011/index.html 国家统计局统计用区划代码] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjbz/cxfldm/2011/index.html |date=* }}</ref>
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | English
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Chinese
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Pinyin
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Area in km2<ref>《贵阳统计年鉴2011》</ref>
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Seat
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Postal code
!! scope="col" colspan=6 | Subdivisions<ref>《中国民政统计年鉴2011》</ref>
|-
!! scope="col" width="45" | [[Subdistrict (China)|Subdistricts]]
!! scope="col" width="45" | [[Town (China)|Towns]]
!! scope="col" width="45" | [[Townships of the People's Republic of China|Townships]]
!! scope="col" width="45" | Residential communities
!! scope="col" width="45" | Villages
|-align="center" style="font-weight:bold"
! 610100 !! Xi'an
| {{lang|zh-hans|西安市}} || {{transl|zh|Xī'ān Shì}} || 10,096.81 || [[Weiyang District, Xi'an|Weiyang District]] || 710000 || 106 || 69 || 1 || 721 || 3025
|-align="center"
! 610102 !! [[Xincheng District, Xi'an|Xincheng District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|新城区}} || {{transl|zh|Xīnchéng Qū}} || 30.13 || Xiyi Road Subdistrict<br>({{lang|zh-hans|西一路街道}}) || 710000 || 9 || || || 104 || 1
|-align="center"
! 610103 !! [[Beilin District, Xi'an|Beilin District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|碑林区}} || {{transl|zh|Bēilín Qū}} || 23.37 || Zhangjiacun Subdistrict<br>({{lang|zh-hans|张家村街道}}) || 710000 || 8 || || || 103 ||
|-align="center"
! 610104 !! [[Lianhu District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|莲湖区}} || {{transl|zh|Liánhú Qū}} || 38.32 || Beiyuanmen Subdistrict<br>({{lang|zh-hans|北院门街道}}) || 710000 || 9 || || || 127 || 5
|-align="center"
! 610111 !! [[Baqiao District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|灞桥区}} || {{transl|zh|Bàqiáo Qū}} || 324.50 || Fangzhicheng Subdistrict<br>({{lang|zh-hans|纺织城街道}}) || 710000 || 9 || || || 37 || 223
|-align="center"
! 610112 !! [[Weiyang District, Xi'an|Weiyang District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|未央区}} || {{transl|zh|Wèiyāng Qū}} || 264.41 || Zhangjiabao Subdistrict<br>({{lang|zh-hans|张家堡街道}}) || 710000 || 10 || || || 93 || 181
|-align="center"
! 610113 !! [[Yanta District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|雁塔区}} || {{transl|zh|Yàntǎ Qū}} || 151.44 || Xiaozhai Road Subdistrict<br>({{lang|zh-hans|小寨路街道}}) || 710000 || 8 || || || 117 || 92
|-align="center"
! 610114 !! [[Yanliang District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|阎良区}} || {{transl|zh|Yánliáng Qū}} || 244.55 || Fenghuang Road Subdistrict<br>({{lang|zh-hans|凤凰路街道}}) || 710089 || 5 || 2 || || 23 || 80
|-align="center"
! 610115 !! [[Lintong District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|临潼区}} || {{transl|zh|Líntóng Qū}} || 915.97 || Lishan Subdistrict<br>({{lang|zh-hans|骊山街道}}) || 710600 || 23 || || || 38 || 284
|-align="center"
! 610116 !! [[Chang'an District, Xi'an|Chang'an District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|长安区}} || {{transl|zh|Cháng'ān Qū}} || 1,588.53 || Weiqu Subdistrict<br>({{lang|zh-hans|韦曲街道}}) || 710100 || 25 || || || 31 || 668
|-align="center"
! 610117 !! [[Gaoling District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|高陵区}} || {{transl|zh|Gāolíng Qū}} || 285.03 || Luyuan Subdistrict<br>({{lang|zh-hans|鹿苑街道}}) || 710200 || || 7 || 1 || 4 || 88
|-align="center"
! 610125 !! [[Huyi District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|鄠邑区}} || {{transl|zh|Hùyì Qū}} || 1,279.42 || Ganting Town<br>({{lang|zh-hans|甘亭镇}}) || 710300 || || 16 || || 21 || 518
|-align="center"
! 610122 !! [[Lantian County]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|蓝田县}} || {{transl|zh|Lántián Xiàn}} || 2,005.95 || Languan Town<br>({{lang|zh-hans|蓝关镇}}) || 710500 || || 22 || || 9 || 519
|-align="center"
! 610124 !! [[Zhouzhi County]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|周至县}} || {{transl|zh|Zhōuzhì Xiàn}} || 2,945.20 || Erqu Town<br>({{lang|zh-hans|二曲镇}}) || 710400 || || 22 || || 14 || 376
|}

==Transportation==
{{Multiple image
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| width = 200
| image1 = BEIDAJIE station platform.jpg
| caption1 = Xi'an Metro
| image2 = Yongningmen Station of Xi'an Metro Line 2.jpg
| caption2 = Yongningmen Metro Station
| image3 = Xi'an train station.jpg
| caption3 = Xi'an Railway Station
| image4 = Xi'an North Railway Station abend.JPG
| caption4 = Xi'an North Railway Station
| image5 = Zhongloutongdao.JPG
| caption5 = Bell Tower Underpass
| image6 = XiAn International Airport.JPG
| caption6 = Xi'an Xianyang International Airport
}}
Xi'an has many areas that are easily accessible on foot. In many commercial, residential, educations zones in the city, especially in the shopping and entertainment districts around the Bell Tower, underpasses and overpasses have been built for the safety and convenience of pedestrians.

Electric bikes are popular{{citation needed|date=July 2012}} among students and offer easy transportation in and around the city for many residents. Taxi services are numerous but many citizens of Xi'an still commute to work on one of about 280 bus routes. There are more than 2 million registered automobiles <ref>{{cite news|last1=小雪|first1=翟|title=西安机动车数量突破200万辆|url=http://epaper.xiancn.com/xawb/html/2014-07/04/content_308336.htm|publisher=西安晚报|date=2014-07-04}}</ref> in Xi'an, so cars play a very important role in people's daily life, which also means frequent traffic jams.

===Metro===
{{Main article|Xi'an Metro}}

Currently the metro system is designed with six lines.

Line 2, running through the city from north (North Railway Station) to south (Weiqu Nan), was the first opened to the public on September 16, 2011.<ref name=cnr>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnr.cn/newscenter/gnxw/201109/t20110916_508511548.shtml |script-title=zh:西安地铁二号线开通 西安迈入"地铁时代" |date=September 16, 2006 |work=China National Radio |location=Beijing |trans_title=Xi'an Metro line brings Xi'an into the "metro era"|language=zh}}</ref> Operations began on 28 September 2011.<ref name="cnr"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.globaltimes.cn/NEWS/tabid/99/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/663836/Xian-Subway-Line-2-to-begin-trial-runs-on-September-28.aspx |newspaper=Global Times |title=Xi'an Subway Line 2 to begin trial runs on September 28 |date=June 29, 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016123545/http://www.globaltimes.cn/NEWS/tabid/99/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/663836/Xian-Subway-Line-2-to-begin-trial-runs-on-September-28.aspx |archivedate=October 16, 2012 }}</ref> This line is {{convert|19.9|km|abbr=off}} long with 17 stations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xametro.gov.cn/xwshow.asp?id=1065 |title=市政府召开西安地铁开通试运营新闻发布会 |date=2011-09-16 |accessdate=2012-10-03 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111114040547/http://www.xametro.gov.cn/xwshow.asp?id=1065 |archivedate=November 14, 2011 }}</ref> Line 1 opened on 15 September 2013. As a west-east railway, its 19 stations connect [[Houweizhai Station|Houweizhai]] and [[Fangzhicheng Station|Fangzhicheng]]. Line 3 runs from northeast ([[Baoshuiqu Station (Xi'an)|Baoshuiqu]]) to southwest (Yuhuazhai) and opened on 8 November 2016.

The rest are planned to be finished around 2020. When completed, the system will span {{convert|251.8|km|mi|abbr=on}}; it will mainly service the urban and suburban districts of Xi'an municipality and part of [[Xianyang City]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.travelchinaguide.com/news/show.asp?nid=306 |work=Travel China Guide |title=Xian: the Building of Subway to Start This Year |date=September 14, 2006 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103231053/http://www.travelchinaguide.com/news/show.asp?nid=306 |archivedate=January 3, 2014 }}</ref>

The subway line covers some of the most famous attractions, such as [[Banpo Museum]] (Banpo Station, Line 1), Bell and Drum Tower (Line 2), [[City Wall]] (Line 2) and [[Shaanxi History Museum]], etc.<ref name=xian>[http://chinatour.net/shaanxi/xian/transportation "Xi'an Transportation" ChinaTour.Net] Accessed 2014-12-4</ref>

On 30 December 2008, a fire accident occurred that was extinguished within an hour and all workers evacuated safely. Sixty six hours later, on 2 January, another fire occurred at another station on Line 2.<ref>{{cite web |title=Subway Collapse Kills Two in Xi'an |date=August 3, 2009 |work=CRIENGLISH.com |url=http://english.cri.cn/6909/2009/08/03/189s506039.htm |publisher=China Radio International}}</ref>

===Taxi===
Taxis in Xi'an are predominantly [[BYD Auto]] made in Xi'an.
Most, if not all, taxis in Xi'an run on [[compressed natural gas]]. For the taxis' fare, during the 06:00-23:00,¥9/{{convert|2|km|abbr=off}} for the fare fall and ¥2.3/Km later, at night ¥10 for the fare fall and ¥2.7/Km later.

===Rail===
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[File:CRH2.jpg|thumb|left|The Xi-Bao Express Train, CRH2]] -->
There are 6 passenger transport railway stations in Xi'an. [[Xi'an Railway Station]], located just north of Xi'an walled city, is one of the eight major national railway stations, and the main railway transportation hub of Shaanxi Province. The new [[Xi'an North Railway Station]], situated a few miles to the north, is the station for the high-speed trains of the [[Zhengzhou–Xi'an High-Speed Railway]]. With 34 platforms, it is the largest railway station in [[Northwest China]].<ref name=gazette>{{cite web |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/growth-to-continue.html |work=Railway Gazette International |title=Growth to continue |date=March 3, 2011 |publisher=DVV Media UK}}</ref> Construction of the station began on September 19, 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.railcn.net/news/railway-important/railroad70251.html |script-title=zh:郑西客运专线西安北站将建成大型综合交通枢纽中心 |work=China Railway Network |trans_title=Zhengzhou to Xi'an: Xi'an North Passenger Station will be a large-scale transport hub |date=September 20, 2008 |author=Tang Ru |publisher=www.railcn.net Corporation|language=zh}}</ref> The station was opened on January 11, 2011.<ref name=gazette /> As of May 2012, Xi'an North Station is served only by the fast (G-series and D-series) trains running on the [[Zhengzhou–Xi'an High-Speed Railway]]; one of them continues south to [[Hankou Railway Station|Hankou]].<ref>[http://qq.ip138.com/train/shanxi/xianbei.htm 西安北列车时刻表] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065809/http://qq.ip138.com/train/shanxi/xianbei.htm |date=March 4, 2016 }} - Xi'an North train schedule</ref>
The city's other stations include [[Xi'an West Railway Station|Xi'an West]], [[Xi'an East Railway Station|Xi'an East]], [[Xi'an South Railway Station|Xi'an South]], Sanmincun, and Fangzhicheng railway stations.

Xi'an Railway Station covers {{convert|597,000|m2|lk=out|abbr=off}}, has 5 passenger platforms, and 24 tracks. It provides 112 services to 80 000 people daily. Among the destinations served by direct trains from Xi'an are [[Beijing]], [[Zhengzhou]], [[Lanzhou]], [[Baoji]], and [[Mount Hua]]. [[China Railways CRH2|China Railway High-speed 2]] now run an express services from Xi'an to Baoji and Xi'an to Zhengzhou; with a total running time to Baoji of under 90 minutes, and 2 hours to Zhengzhou. The [[Zhengzhou–Xi'an High-Speed Railway]] also serves Xi'an. Construction work began on September 25, 2005, the railway opened for service on February 6, 2010.<ref>{{vcite news| url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/regional/2010-02/06/content_9439243.htm| work=China Daily| title=Zhengzhou-Xi'an high-speed train starts operation| date=February 6, 2010| accessdate=February 6, 2010| }}</ref><ref>{{vcite news| url=http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3844214| work=iStockAnalyst| title=High-speed rail linking central, western China starts operation| date=February 6, 2010| accessdate=February 6, 2010| }}</ref><ref>{{vcite news| url=http://english.cctv.com/program/newshour/20100206/102086.shtml| work=CCTV| title=High-speed train debuts in W. China| date=February 6, 2010| accessdate=February 6, 2010| }}</ref> The railway has made air service between Zhengzhou and Xi'an uncompetitive. All passenger flights between the two cities were suspended within 48 days of start of regular high-speed rail service.<ref>{{vcite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idINTOE62P04E20100326|title=China express train forces airlines to stop flights|date=03-26-2010|accessdate=03-28-2010|publisher=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

===Expressways===
Xi'an currently has three ring road systems, the Second Ring road and the Third Ring road which encircle the city. These ring roads are similar to freeways, except where there are traffic signals on the Second Ring road.

As a tourist city, Xi'an has built expressways to Lintong, Tongchuan and Baoji, with well-maintained roads to famous scenic spots in suburban counties and to the north slope of the Qin Mountains. Since its construction in September 2007, the [[Xi'an–Hanzhong Expressway]] connects [[Hanzhong]] and Xi'an through the Qinling.

*[[China National Highway 210]]
*[[China National Highway 211]]
*[[China National Highway 312]]

===Air===
[[Xi'an Xianyang International Airport]] (airport code: XIY) is the major airport serving the city and it is the largest airport in the northwestern part of China. It is {{convert|41|km}} northwest of Xi'an city centre, and {{convert|13|km}} northeast of the centre of Xianyang.<ref name="yearbook">{{cite web|url=http://lib.sxsdq.cn/bin/mse.exe?seachword=&K=b&A=1&rec=134&run=13 |title=陕西年鉴1992 |trans_title=Shaanxi Yearbook 1992 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529051806/http://lib.sxsdq.cn/bin/mse.exe?seachword=&K=b&A=1&rec=134&run=13 |archivedate=May 29, 2014 }}</ref> [[China Eastern Airlines]], Hainan Airlines and China Southern Airlines are the main airlines using the airport. Terminal 3 and the second runway were opened on 3 May 2012.<ref>[http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/xian-airport-new-terminal-building-to-support-continued-strong-growth-rates-74009 Xian Airport opens new terminal building with strong focus on retail growth]</ref>

International Routes:
There are direct flights from Xi'an to many major cities in Asia, including Bangkok, Busan, Fukuoka, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Osaka, Sapporo, Singapore and Seoul and Taipei.
First direct route between Xi'an and Europe was launched by Finnair on 14 June 2013. There are 3 three frequencies per week via Helsinki hub to many major cities in Europe during the summer season.
United Airlines begun non-stop service to San Francisco since May, 2016.

Germany's [[Fraport]], the operator of [[Frankfurt Airport]], has paid 490&nbsp;million yuan to obtain a 24.5&nbsp;percent stake in the Xianyang International Airport, offering opportunities to upgrade and expand the facility.
[[File:XiAn International Airport Statue.JPG|thumb|200px|right|Figures along the Airport Express highway leading to Xi'an Xianyang International Airport]]
* On 6 June 1994, [[China Northwest Airlines]] [[China Northwest Airlines flight 2303|Flight 2303]] broke up in mid-air and crashed near Xi'an, en route to Guangzhou from Xian.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F05EFDF143AF934A35755C0A962958260 News report from the New York Times.]</ref><ref>[http://www.newspaperarchive.com/freepdfviewer.aspx?img=10929550 News report from the Kingston Gleaner.] NewspaperArchive.com</ref> A maintenance error was responsible. All 160 people on board died. {{As of|2016}}, it remains the deadliest airplane crash ever to occur in mainland China.<ref name=ASN>{{ASN accident|id=19940606-1}}</ref>

==Culture==
{{Multiple image
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| width = 220
| image1 = Xi'ansitepic8.jpg
| caption1 = A typical Chinese pavilion located in Xi'an
| image2 = Xi'anviewpic5.jpg
| caption2 = Traditional Chinese musical performances at Xi'an
| image3 = Yangrou Paomo.JPG
| caption3 = Yangrou Paomo, a well-known Xi'an cuisine
}}
{{refimprove section|date=August 2013}}
The culture of Xi'an descends from one of the world's earliest civilizations. The [[Guanzhong|Guanzhong Ren]] ({{zh|s=关中人|t=關中人|hp=Guānzhōng rén|links=no}}) culture is considered the cultural antecedent of Xi'anese; their features are satirized as the "Ten Strangenesses of Guanzhong Ren" ({{zh|s=关中十大怪|t=關中十大怪|hp=Guānzhōng shí dà guài|links=no}}). Xi'an is also known for the "Eight Great Sights of Chang'an" ({{zh|s=长安八景|t=長安八景|hp=Cháng'ān bājǐng|links=no}}), a collection of scenic areas in the region.

Much like [[Beijing 798]] and [[Shanghai 1933]], Xi'an has an art district called Textile Town ({{zh|s=纺织城|hp=Fǎngzhī chéng|links=no}}). The district is not an actual town but derives its name from the many textile factories built there since the 1950s.<ref>http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/583711.shtml</ref> Today it is no longer a centre for the textile industry but a new art factory with 4 workshops in total. Since March 2007, more than 40 artists have taken a part in these workshops. {{Citation needed|date=February 2013}}

Xi'an is home to contemporary Chinese stars such as [[Xu Wei (musician)|Xu Wei]],<ref>{{vcite news| url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-07/05/content_457197.htm| work=Shenzhen Daily| publisher=China Daily| title=Xu Wei to rock fans in grand concert| date=2005-07-05| accessdate=2014-05-28| }}</ref> [[Zhang Chu]] and [[Zheng Jun]]. The ancient folk genre [[Xi'an guyue]] is named for Xi'an.

''[[Paomo yangrou]]'' (flat bread soaked in lamb soup; {{zh|s=羊肉泡馍|t=羊肉泡饃|hp=Yángròu pàomó|links=no}}) <ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/food/2004-05/14/content_1470562.htm |title=陕西小吃-羊肉泡馍 |publisher=News.xinhuanet.com |date= |accessdate=2014-05-28}}</ref> is well known Xi'anese dish.

===Opera===
[[Qinqiang]] (Voice of Qin) is the oldest and most extensive of the four major types of Chinese opera.<ref>{{cite news |title=China promove programas diversificados durante o Festival da Primavera |author= |newspaper=[[China Radio International]] |date=February 8, 2008 |url=http://portuguese.cri.cn/135/2008/02/08/1@83413.htm |accessdate=November 17, 2010}} ([https://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fportuguese.cri.cn%2F135%2F2008%2F02%2F08%2F1@83413.htm English])</ref> Also called "random pluck" ({{zh|s=乱弹|hp=Luàntán|links=no}}), Qinqiang is the main type of drama in Shaanxi province.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chinese opera The First Emperor transmitted live into theaters worldwide |author= |newspaper=[[People's Daily]] |date=January 14, 2007 |url=http://english.people.com.cn/200701/14/eng20070114_341080.html |accessdate=November 17, 2010}}</ref> As the earliest ancestor of [[Beijing Opera]], [[Yu Opera]], [[Chuan Opera]] and [[Hebei Opera]], Qinqiang has developed its own system of unique vocal music, spoken parts, facial makeup, posture, role, category and acting. It can be traced to [[Xi Qinqiang]] ({{zh|s=西秦腔|hp=Xi qínqiāng|l=Voice of West Qin|links=no}}) in Qin dynasty, and blossomed until [[Qing]] dynasty, with direct influences on many branches of [[Chinese Opera]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Miraculous response: doing popular religion in contemporary China |last=Yuet Chau |first=Adam |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2006 |publisher=Stanford University Press |location= |isbn= |page=53 |pages= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6puW1nI2o7EC&pg=PA53&dq=qinqiang#v=onepage&q=qinqiang&f=false |accessdate=November 17, 2010}}</ref>

===Cinema===
[[Zhang Yimou]] and [[Gu Changwei]] are directors from Xi'an. Zhang Yimou is also the only city in China to win the [[Golden Bear]] (Berlin Film Festival) twice. The first film is ''[[Red Sorghum (film)|Red Sorghum]]'' and the second one is ''[[Tuya's Marriage]]''. They are produced by Xi'an Filmmaking Factory (now called Xi'an Qujiang Filmmaking Group) and Xi'an Filmmaking Company, respectively.

==Religion==

===Chinese traditional religion and Taoism===
[[File:The Temple of the Town Deity in Xi'an 18 2013-09.jpg|thumb|150px|left|A pavilion of the [[City God Temple]] of [[Xian]].]]
The most influential religions in Xi'an are the [[Chinese traditional religion]] and [[Taoism|Taoist]] [[Taoist schools|schools]], represented by many major and minor temples. Among these there are a [[City God Temple]], completely reconstructed in the 2010s, and a [[Temple of Confucius]].

===Buddhism===
[[File:Buddhist Nuns And Laywomen Xian Shaanxi.jpeg|thumb|150px|Chinese Buddhist nuns and laywomen at a temple in Xi'an.]]
[[Buddhism]] has a large presence in the city, with temples of the [[Chinese Buddhism|Chinese]] and [[Tibetan Buddhism|Tibetan]] schools.

===Christianity===
{{see also|Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Xi'an}}
The first recorded Christian missionary in China was [[Alopen]], a [[Syriac language|Syriac]]-speaker, who arrived in Xi'an (then known as Chang'an) in 635 along the [[Silk Road]]. The [[Nestorian Stele]], now located in Xi'an's [[Stele Forest|Beilin Museum]], is a [[Tang Dynasty|Tang Chinese]] [[stele]] erected in 781 that documents the 150 years of early [[Christianity in China]] following Alopen.<ref name=hill-108>Hill, Henry, ed (1988). Light from the East: A Symposium on the Oriental Orthodox and Assyrian Churches. Toronto, Canada. pp. 108&ndash;109</ref> It is a {{convert|279|cm|inch|lk=out|adj=mid|abbr=off|-tall}} [[limestone]] block with text in both [[Chinese language|Chinese]] and [[Syriac language|Syriac]] describing the existence of Christian communities in several cities in northern China. The [[Daqin Pagoda]], a Buddhist pagoda in [[Zhouzhi County]] of Xi'an, has been suggested to have originally been a [[Nestorian]] Christian church from the [[Tang Dynasty]].<ref name="ReferenceA">Martin Palmer, The Jesus Sutras: Rediscovering the Lost Religion of Taoist Christianity, ISBN 0-7499-2250-8, 2001</ref>

In Xi'an there was formerly a Baptist mission from England. The Baptist missionaries ran a hospital.<ref>[[Peter Fleming (writer)|Fleming, Peter]] (1936) ''[[News from Tartary]]''. London: Jonathan Cape; pp. 46–48</ref> In 1892, [[Arthur Gostick Shorrock]]<ref name="Shorrock1926">{{cite book | last = Shorrock | first = Arthur Gostick | title = Shensi in Sunshine and Shade |publisher = Presbyterian Mission Press | year = 1926 | location = Shanghai}}</ref> and Moir Duncan<ref name="DuncanPapers">{{cite web | title = Duncan Papers (Mundus Gateway to missionary collections in the United Kingdom) | publisher = Angus Library, Regents Park College | url =http://www.mundus.ac.uk/cats/10/1004.htm }}</ref> founded the ''Sianfu Mission'', in present-day Xi'an.<ref name="Burt1925">{{cite book | last = Burt | first = Ernest Whitby | title = Fifty Years in China: The Story of the Baptist Mission in Shantung, Shansi, and Shensi, 1875-1925 | publisher = The Carey Press | year = 1925 | location = London}}</ref><ref name="Glover1914">{{Cite book | year = 1914 | title = Herbert Stanley Jenkins, medical missionary, Shensi, China: with some notices of the work of the Baptist Missionary Society in that country (1914) | location = London | publisher= Carey Press | page=155 | url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924023085982 | author= Glover, Richard | isbn = 0-524-07100-4}}</ref><ref name="Duncan1900">{{Cite book | year=1900 | title = The missionary mail to faithful friends and candid critics (the substance of letters written from Shên His) | location = London | publisher= Elliot Stock | url=http://ia331408.us.archive.org/0/items/pts_missionarymailto_3721-1233/pts_missionarymailto_3721-1233.pdf | author= Duncan, Moir Black }}</ref>

=== Islam ===
Xi'an was the first city in China to be introduced to [[Islam]]. [[Emperor Gaozong of Tang|Emperor Gaozong]] of the [[Tang dynasty]] officially allowed the practice of Islam in 651 AD. Xi'an has a large Muslim community, the significant majority are from the Hui group, there are an estimated 50,000 Hui Muslims in Xi’an.<ref>[http://www.china.com.cn/chinese/2002/Dec/247418.htm 中国七大中心城市人口资源大调查] "Population survey of the seven central cities of China", Zhang Zhizhong, National Family Planning Commission</ref> There are seven mosques in Xi'an, the best known being the [[Great Mosque of Xi'an|Great Mosque]].<ref>[http://www.muslim2china.com/china-mosques/list-Xian.html Mosques in Xian] from www.muslim2china.com</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Xi'an erhuan southeast.JPG|thumb|right|220px|Erhuan Road of Xi'an]]
As part of the [[China Western Development]] policy, Xi’an became a major target for accelerated attention. From 1997 to 2006, the industrial output value of Xi’an’s service industry increased at an annual average rate of 13.74&nbsp;percent, compared to traditional service industries of 0.74&nbsp;percent, representing a growth from US$8.113 billion to US$25.85 billion.<ref name="chinacenter">{{cite web|url=http://www.chinacenter.net/developing-western-china-xians-maturing-economy-and-the-role-of-producer-services/ |title=Xi'an's Maturing Economy |date=April 17, 2010 |accessdate=2013-06-01 |author=Walcott, Susan |deadurl=yes }}</ref> Xi'an is the largest economy of the Shaanxi province, with a GDP of 324.1 billion Yuan in 2010. On average this value increases by 14.5&nbsp;percent annually, and accounts for approximately 41.8&nbsp;percent of [[Shaanxi]]'s total GDP.<ref name="chinacenter"/><ref name="city info">{{cite web | url=http://china-trade-research.hktdc.com/business-news/article/Fast-Facts/Xi-an-Shaanxi-City-Information/ff/en/1/1X000000/1X07322S.htm | title=Xi'an ( Shaanxi ) City Information | date=Aug 29, 2011 | accessdate=2013-06-01}}</ref> At least fifty-eight countries have established over 2,560 enterprises in Xian, including nineteen of the Fortune 500 enterprises. These include [[ABB Group]], [[Mitsubishi]], [[Panasonic]], [[Toshiba]], [[Fujitsu]], [[Coca-Cola]], and [[Boeing]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.allroadsleadtochina.com/2007/01/17/city-report-xian/ | title=City Report: Xi’an | date=January 17, 2007<!-- 2:48 -->| accessdate=2013-06-02}}</ref>

Important industries include equipment manufacturing, tourism, and service outsourcing.<ref name="official website for Shaanxi">{{cite web | url=http://english.shaanxi.gov.cn/articleNews/news/governmentnews/200801/5297_1.html | title=Xi’an Economy | publisher=The People's Government of Shaanxi | date=January 1, 2008 | accessdate=2013-06-02}}</ref> The manufacturing industry had an annual output of RMB 36.5 billion, accounting for 44.5&nbsp;percent of the city's total.<ref name="city info"/> Furthermore, as one of China's four ancient capitals,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.lehmanlaw.com/offices/xian.html | title=Xi'an | publisher=Lehman, Lee & Xu | accessdate=2013-06-02}}</ref> Xi'an's many cultural sites, including the [[Terracotta Army]], the [[City Wall of Xi'an]], and the [[Famen Temple]], make tourism an important industry as well. In 2010, 52 million domestic tourists visited Xi'an, earning a total income of RMB 40.52 billion. On average, revenue increases by 36.4&nbsp;percent per year, and foreign-exchange earnings (530 million in 2009) increase by around 35.8&nbsp;percent.<ref name="city info"/>

Xi'an is also one of the first service outsourcing cities in China, with over 800 corporations in the industry. The city's output value from this sector exceeded RMB 23 billion in 2008. Employment in the sector doubled from 1997–2006, from a base of 60,000, and computer consulting also doubled from 16,000 to 32,000.<ref name="chinacenter"/> As a result of the importance of the software-outsourcing industry, the city planned construction of a Software New Town, which is scheduled to be completed in 2015 with 30 billion RMB investment.<ref name="city info"/> Other major export goods include lighting equipment and automobile parts, while its major import goods are mechanical and electrical products. Internationally, Xi'an's largest trade partner is the United States.<ref name="city info"/>

Xi'an is part of the [[West Triangle Economic Zone]], along with [[Chengdu]] and [[Chongqing]].

===Industrial zones===
{{cleanup section| reason=Inadequate English|date=April 2014}}
[[File:Xi'ancbd2.jpg|220px|thumb|Xi'an Hi-Tech Industries Development Zone]]
Major industrial zones in Xi'an include:
*[[Xi'an Economic and Technological Development Zone]]
*[[Xi'an Hi-Tech Industries Development Zone]]
a daily average of 3.7 technology enterprises established in Xi'an Hi-Tech Industries Development Zone in the year of 2005,from XINHUANET.com 7/28/2005<ref>http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2005-07/28/content_3280013.htm</ref>
Xi'an Hi-Tech Industries Development Zone has more than 16,000 enterprises which ranked second place in all the 88 hi-tech ZONES in China, achieved a total revenue of 522.223 billion yuan.
It is worth mentioning that 13 enterprise's annual income is over a hundred billion yuan, 19 enterprise's annual income more than 50 billion, more than 265 enterprise earns over billion yuan each year, Listed companies at home and abroad have accumulated 50, of which the domestic A-share market issued 21 of them, accounting for more than 60% of the province; 4 GEM listed companies, ranking first in the Midwest high-tech zones.

===Software and outsourcing industries===
The growing economy of Xi'an supports the development of a software industry, and the city is a pioneer in software industry in China. {{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}

A Silicon.com article describes Xi'an: "But Xi'an is selling on its own merits—with a large pool of cheap human resources from the 100 universities in the area, it hoovers up around 3,000 computer graduates every year, each earning approximately $120 a month—half the wages for the equivalent job in Beijing."<ref>
[http://english.people.com.cn/200609/13/eng20060913_302413.html People's Daily]</ref><ref>
[http://www.xianonlineinvest.org/doce/main.asp Bureau of Commerce of Xi'an Municipal Government] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016232033/http://www.xianonlineinvest.org/doce/main.asp |date=October 16, 2012 }}</ref>

===Aerospace industry===
{{unreferenced section|date=July 2012}}
In November 2006, Xi'an and the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation jointly set up Xi'an Aerospace Science and Technology Industrial Base. From its establishment, the base has focused on the development of the civil space industry, including equipment manufacturing, [[software]] and service [[outsourcing]], new materials and solar [[photovoltaics]].

Apart from the core area, the base will cover Xi'an and the [[Guanzhong]] area and the expansion zone will reach other parts of [[Northwest China]] and [[Southwest China]]. It is expected that by 2012 the total industry output can reach 2.8&nbsp;billion us dollars with about 10 to 20 brand products with intellectual property rights and 5 to 8 products with global competitiveness.

In 2008, after the launch of the initial aerospace centre in Shanghai, the PRC is constructing another civil aerospace centre in the Shaanxi province. The State Development and Reform Commission approved the planning of Xi'an National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base on December 26, 2007. The National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base of Xi'an, set to cover {{convert|23|km2|abbr=on}}, will focus on developing satellites, new materials, energies, IT and other technologies for civil applications.

=== Notable businessmen ===
Zhang Chaoyang ({{lang|zh-hans|张朝阳}}), the CEO of SOHU (Nasdaq), born and raised in Xi'an, is a prominent leader in the Chinese Internet industry. [[Liu Chuanzhi]], the founder and president of [[Lenovo|Lenovo Group Limited]], completed his tertiary degree from [[Xidian University]] in the 1960s.

==Education==
{{Further information|List of universities in China}}

===Public===
[[File:XJTU campus.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Xi'an Jiaotong University]]
*[[Xi'an Jiaotong University]] ({{lang|zh-hans|西安交通大学}})
*[[Northwestern Polytechnical University]] ({{lang|zh-hans|西北工业大学}})
*[[Xidian University]] ({{lang|zh-hans|西安电子科技大学}})
*[[Chang'an University]] ({{lang|zh-hans|长安大学}})
*[[Northwest University, China|Northwest University]]（西北大学）
*[[Northwest University of Political Science and Law]] ({{lang|zh-hans|西北政法大学}})
*[[Shaanxi Pre-school Normal University]] ({{lang|zh-hans|陕西学前师范学院}})
*[[Shaanxi Normal University]] (陕西师范大学)
*[[Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts]] ({{lang|zh-hans|西安美术学院}})
*[[Xi'an Conservatory of Music]] (西安音乐学院)
*[[Xi'an Institute of Post & Telecommunications]] ({{lang|zh-hans|西安邮电大学}})
*[[Xi'an International Studies University]](西安外国语大学)
*[[Xi'an Physical Education Institute]] ({{lang|zh-hans|西安体育学院}})
*[[Xi'an Polytechnic University]](西安理工大学)
*[[Xi'an Petroleum University]](西安石油大学)
*[[Xi'an Technological University]] ({{lang|zh-hans|西安工业大学}})
*[[Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology]](西安建筑科技大学)
*[[Xi'an University of Arts and Science（Xi‘an University）]] ({{lang|zh-hans|西安文理学院}})
*[[Xi'an University of Finance and Economics]] ({{lang|zh-hans|西安财经学院}})
*[[Xi'an University of Science and Technology]](西安科技大学)
*[[Xi'an University of Technology]] ({{lang|zh-hans|西安理工大学}})

===Military===
*[[Air Force Engineering University]] ({{lang|zh-hans|空军工程大学}})
*[[The Fourth Military Medical University]]({{lang|zh-hans|第四军医大学}})
*[[PLA Rocket Force University of Engineering]] ({{lang|zh-hans|解放军火箭军工程大学}})
*[[(PLA) Xi'an Telecommunication College]] ({{lang|zh-hans|西安通信学院}})

===Private===
*[[Xi'an Innovation College of Yan'an University]] ({{lang|zh-hans|延安大学西安创新学院}})
*[[Shaanxi Institute of International Commerce]] ({{lang|zh-hans|陕西国际学院}})
*[[Xi'an Eurasia University]] ({{lang|zh-hans|西安欧亚学院}})
*[[Xi'an Fanyi University]] ({{lang|zh-hans|西安翻译学院}})
*[[Xi'an International University]] ({{lang|zh-hans|西安外事学院}})
*[[Xi'an Peihua University]] ({{lang|zh-hans|西安培华学院}})
*[[Xi'an Siyuan University]] ({{lang|zh-hans|西安思源学院}})
Note: Institutions without full-time bachelor programs are not listed.

{{See also|List of universities in China}}

==International events==

===World Horticultural Expo 2011===
Xi’an was chosen to host the 2011 World Horticultural Exposition by the [[AIPH|Association of International Producers of Horticulture]] (AIPH) at its 59th congress, held in [[Brighton]], United Kingdom on September 4, 2007. The 2011 World Horti-Expo was held from April 28 to October 28, 2011. The exhibition was located in a new district of the city, Chanba district, and was expected to bring some 10&nbsp;million visitors to Xi’an.<ref>[http://www.china.org.cn/english/environment/223460.htm "Xi'an to Host World Horticultural Expo"] China.org.cn</ref>

==Tourism==
{{Multiple image
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| width = 220
| image1 = ChinaTrip2005-110.jpg
| caption1 = Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
| image2 = Bell tower xi'an 2013.JPG
| caption2 = Bell Tower
| image3 = Drum Tower Xian.JPG
| caption3 = Drum Tower
| image4 = XiAn CityWall DiLou.jpg
| caption4 = Ming dynasty city wall
| image5 = 1 great mosque xian 2011.JPG
| caption5 = The Great Mosque of Xi'an
| image6 = Reconstructed_Danfeng_Men.jpg
| caption6 = Reconstructed Danfeng Gate in [[Daming Palace]] National Heritage Park
| image7 = Shaanxi History Museum 2.JPG
| caption7 = Shaanxi History Museum
| image8 = Han Yang Ling 16.JPG
| caption8 = Pit in underground museum of Han Yang Ling, Mausoleum of Han Emperor Jingdi
| image9 = TaibaiShanNFP.JPG
| caption9 = Mount Taibai National Forest Park
}}
The number of travelers is often greater during Summer (May–August), although the most pleasant season for visiting Xi'an is Autumn. {{citation needed|date=March 2012}}

===Sites===
Because of the city's many historical monuments and a plethora of ancient ruins and tombs in the vicinity,<ref name="br"/> tourism has been an important component of the local economy, and the Xi'an region is one of the most popular tourist destinations in China.<ref name="br"/>

The city has many important historical sites, and some are ongoing archaeological projects, such as the [[Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor|Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang]] and his [[Terracotta Army]]. There are several burial mounds, tombs of the [[Zhou dynasty]] kings located in the city.<ref name="encarta"/> Xi'an also contains some 800 royal [[mausoleum]]s and tombs from the [[Han dynasty]],<ref name="columbia">{{Cite web|url=http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/Xian;_ylt=At3nAwvWC5EERYXlnVrZdC9Vt8wF |title=Xi'an |publisher=The ''[[Columbia Encyclopedia]]'', Sixth Edition. |accessdate=2008-09-03 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606102855/http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/Xian;_ylt=At3nAwvWC5EERYXlnVrZdC9Vt8wF |archivedate=June 6, 2011 }}</ref> with some of them yielding hundreds of sculpted clay soldiers, and remains of sacrificial temples from the Han era.<ref name="columbia"/> The city has numerous [[Tang dynasty]] pagodas and is noted for its history museum and its stele forest, which is housed in an 11th-century Confucian temple containing large stone tablets from various dynasties.<ref name="columbia"/>

Some of the most well-known sites in Xi'an are:

*The city is surrounded by a well-preserved [[City wall of Xi'an|city wall]] which was re-constructed in the 14th century during the early [[Ming dynasty]] and was based on the inner imperial palace of [[Tang dynasty]].
*The Mausoleum of [[Qin Shi Huang]] and his [[Terracotta Army]] are located {{convert|40|km|abbr=on}} to the east of the city centre, in the city's suburbs.
*The [[Bell Tower of Xi'an|Bell Tower]] and [[Drum Tower of Xi'an|Drum Tower]], both are located at the city's central axis.
*The city's Muslim quarter, which is home to the [[Great Mosque of Xi'an]].
*The [[Giant Wild Goose Pagoda]] and [[Small Wild Goose Pagoda]] are both spectacular towers and both are well over 1,000 years old and have survived great earthquakes. The former is next to a large square with the largest fountain in Asia which projects water high into the air, rising and falling in time to music during one of the daily performances (usually at noon and soon after sunset). They protected Buddhist writings in the past.
*The [[Stele Forest]] is famous for its numerous historic inscriptions and stoneworks
*The [[Famen Temple]] and its towering pagoda located {{convert|120|km|abbr=off}} west of Xi'an
*[[Xi Ming Temple]]
*[[Wolong Temple]] at Kaitong lane
*[[Xingjiao Temple]] at Shaolin Yuan (where [[Xuanzang]]'s Tomb lies)
*[[Jianfu Temple]]
*Blue Dragon Temple
*Wangji Temple
*The [[Banpo]] Neolithic village is located on the outskirt of the city proper
*The [[Shaanxi History Museum]] has a large collection of artifacts both modern and ancient.
*Mount Zhongnan ({{lang|zh-hans-CN|终南山}})
*[[Mount Li]]
*[[Huaqing Pool|Huaqing Hot Springs]], at the foot of Mt. Li, have a history of 6,000 years, the adjacent Huaqing Palace has a history of 3,000 years. Ranked among the Hundred Famous Gardens in China, it also has the status as a [[Major Site to Be Protected for Its Historical and Cultural Value at the National Level|National Cultural Relic Protection Unit and a National Key Scenic Area]].
* [[Daming Palace National Heritage Park]], site of the former royal residence of the [[Tang dynasty]] emperors

===Museums===
*[[Terracotta Army|Terracotta Army Museum]]
*[[Shaanxi History Museum]]
*[[Stele Forest]]
*Xi'an Museum (located next to the Small Wild Goose Pagoda). On October 20, 2006, international council of monuments sites (ICOMOS) international protection centre (IICC) was formally established here.

===National parks===
*[[Mount Cuihua]] National Geological Park ({{lang|zh-hans|翠华山国家地质公园}})
*[[Chanba]] National Wetland Park ({{lang|zh-hans|浐灞国家湿地公园}})
*[[Daming Palace]] National Heritage Park
*[[Mount Li]] National Forest Park
*[[Mount Wangshun]] National Forest Park ({{lang|zh-hans|王顺山国家森林公园}})
*[[Mount Zhongnan]] National Forest Park
*[[Hei He]] National Forest Park ({{lang|zh-hans|黑河国家森林公园}})
*[[Louguantai National Forest Park]] ({{lang|zh-hans|楼观台国家森林公园}})
*[[Taiping Yu|Taiping]] National Forest Park ({{lang|zh-hans|太平国家森林公园}})
*[[Zhuque National Forest Park]] ({{lang|zh-hans|朱雀国家森林公园}})

==Sports==
[[Cuju]] is a very old football game:
<blockquote>
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[File:Cuju.jpg|thumb|right|Polo was once popular in China]] -->
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[File:DragonboatinXi'an.jpg|thumb|right|Dragon Boat Festival, Ba River, Xi'an]] -->
It was improved during the Tang dynasty (618–907). First of all, the feather-stuffed ball was replaced by an air-filled ball with a two-layered hull. Also, two different types of goalposts emerged: One was made by setting up posts with a net between them and the other consisted of just one goal post in the middle of the field. Chang'an was filled with cuju football fields, in the backyards of large mansions, and some were even established in the grounds of the [[palace]]s. The level of female cuju teams also improved. Records indicate that once a 17-year-old girl beat a team of army soldiers. Cuju football became popular among the scholars and intellectuals, and if a courtier lacked skill in the game, he could pardon himself by acting as a scorekeeper.
</blockquote>
Professional sports teams in Xi'an include:
* [[Chinese Pingpong Association Super League]]
** Shaanxi Galaxy ({{lang|zh-hans|陕西银河}})
Former Professional sports teams in Xi'an:
* [[Chinese Jia-A League]]
** [[Shaanxi Guoli F.C.]] ({{lang|zh-hans|陕西国力}})
***Team dissolved in 2005
* [[Chinese Football Association Super League]]
** [[Shaanxi Renhe Commercial Chanba F.C.]] ({{lang|zh-hans|陕西人和商业浐灞}})
*** Team moved to [[Guizhou]] for the [[2012 Chinese Super League]] season.
* [[Chinese Basketball Association]]
** [[Shaanxi Dongsheng]] ({{lang|zh-hans|陕西东盛}})
*** Team moved to [[Foshan]] and renamed themselves [[Foshan Dralions]] in 2010.

Xi'an is also the Chinese Boxing training base for the national team.

==Media==

===Television and radio===
* [[China Central Television]]'s channel 1 through 12 is broadcast nationwide.
* [[Shaanxi Television]] (SXTV) provincial station, broadcasts on eight channels as well as a satellite channel for other provinces.
* [[Xi'an Television]] (XATV) municipal station, has six channels for specialized programming.
* [[Shaanxi Radio]] broadcasts music, news.
* [[Xi'an Music Radio]]: FM 93.1, broadcasts music, news and talkshows.
* [[Shaanxi Music Radio]]: Fm 98.8, broadcasts music, news and talkshows.

===Printed media===
* [[Chinese Business View]] ({{lang|zh-hans|华商报}}) is a popular daily newspaper.
* [[Xi'an Evening News]] (Xi'an Wanbao) ({{lang|zh-hans|西安晚报}}), with a history of more than 50 years, is one of the oldest newspapers.
* [[Sanqin Daily]] ({{lang|zh-hans|三秦都市报}}) covers the news of Shaanxi Province.
* [[Shaanxi Daily]] ({{lang|zh-hans|陕西日报}}) covers the news of Shaanxi Province and Xi'an.

===Online media===
* Xianease is a popular online and print magazine in Xi'an.

== International relations ==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in China}}

Xi'an's [[twin towns and sister cities]] are:
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Nara, Nara|Nara]], [[Kansai region|Kansai]], Japan (1974)
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kyoto]], [[Kansai region|Kansai]], Japan (1974)<ref name="Kyoto twinnings">{{cite web | url = http://www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/sogo/page/0000083407.html|title=Sister Cities of Kyoto City|accessdate=2014-01-21|publisher=City of Kyoto|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121151906/http://www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/sogo/page/0000083407.html|archivedate=2014-01-21}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Edinburgh]], Scotland, United Kingdom(1985)<ref name="Edinburgh">{{cite web|url=http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/city_living/CEC_twin_and_partner_cities |title=''Edinburgh – Twin and Partner Cities''|accessdate=21 December 2008 |publisher=2008 The City of Edinburgh Council, City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1YJ Scotland |archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20080328001653/http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/city_living/CEC_twin_and_partner_cities|archivedate= 28 March 2008}}</ref><ref name="Edinburgh twinning">{{cite web|url=http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/695/council_information_performance_and_statistics/685/european_international_and_parliamentary_relations/3 |title=Twin and Partner Cities |publisher=City of Edinburgh Council |accessdate=16 January 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614133841/http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/695/council_information_performance_and_statistics/685/european_international_and_parliamentary_relations/3 |archivedate=June 14, 2012 }}</ref>
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques|Pau]], Pyrénées-Atlantiques, [[Aquitaine]], France (1986)
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]], Missouri, United States (1989)
*{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Esfahan]], Iran (1989)
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Dortmund]], North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (1991)<ref name="RuhrTwins2010">{{Cite web|url=http://www.twins2010.com/fileadmin/user_upload/pic/Dokumente/List_of_Twin_Towns_01.pdf?PHPSESSID=2edd34819db21e450d3bb625549ce4fd |title=List of Twin Towns in the Ruhr District |publisher=2009 [http://www.twins2010.com/index.php?id=home&L=1 Twins2010.com] |accessdate=2009-10-28 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5lctsW5KG |archivedate=November 28, 2009 }}</ref>
*{{flagicon|PAK}} [[Lahore]], Pakistan (1992)
||
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Funabashi, Chiba|Funabashi]], [[Chiba Prefecture|Chiba]], Japan (1994)
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Gyeongju]], South Korea (1994)
*{{flagicon|ROM}} [[Iaşi]], Romania (1994)
*{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Dnipropetrovsk]], Ukraine (1995)
*{{flagicon|TUR}} [[Istanbul]], Turkey (1996)
*{{flagicon|NEP}} [[Kathmandu]], Nepal (1996)
*{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Brasília]], Brazil (1997)
*{{flagicon|EGY}} [[Cairo]], Egypt (1997)
||
*{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Quebec City]], Quebec, Canada (2001)
*{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Córdoba, Argentina|Córdoba]], Argentina (2006)
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Pompei]], Italy (2007)
*{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Athens]], Greece
*{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Kalamata]], Greece (2009)
*{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Birmingham]], England, United KIngdom
*{{flagicon|PER}} [[Cusco]], Peru
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Hobart]], Tasmania, Australia (2015)
*{{flagicon|ARM}} [[Gyumri]], Armenia (2013)
*{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Taupo]], New Zealand
*{{flagicon|NED}} [[Groningen]], The Netherlands (2011)
*{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Bury St Edmunds]], England, United Kingdom
*{{flagicon|Malaysia}} [[George Town, Penang|George Town]], [[Penang]], Malaysia (2014)<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.asiaseia.org/portfolio/sister-cities-officially-formalized-between-penang-malaysia-and-xian-shaanxi-china/|title=SISTER CITY PARTNERSHIP OFFICIALLY FORMALIZED BETWEEN PENANG, MALAYSIA AND XI’AN, SHAANXI PROVINCE, CHINA|date=2014-10-27|work=SEIA|access-date=2017-03-06|language=en}}</ref>
|}

== See also ==
* [[Historical capitals of China]]
* [[Chang'an]]

== Notes and references ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
*Heng Chye Kiang. (1999). ''Cities of Aristocrats and Bureaucrats: The Development of Medieval Chinese Cityscapes''. Singapore: Singapore University Press. ISBN 9971-69-223-6.
*{{cite journal |last=Woo |first=J. K. |authorlink= |year=1964 |title=A newly discovered mandible of the Sinanthropus type – Sinanthropus lantianensis |journal=Scientia Sinica |volume=13 |issue= |pages=801–811 |pmid=14170540 |url= |accessdate= |quote= }}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Xi'an}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* [http://www.xa.gov.cn/ Xi'an Government official website]
* [http://www.xdz.com.cn/ Xi'an National Hi-tech Development Zone]
* [http://www.ancientchina.org.uk/xian Xian in history]

{{S-start}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Yin (city)|Yin]]|row=1}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Historical capitals of China|Capital of China]] (as Hao)
|years=1046 BC-771 BC|row=1}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Luoyang]]|row=1}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Xianyang]]|row=2}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Historical capitals of China|Capital of China]] (as [[Chang'an]])
|years=206 BC-25|row=2}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Luoyang]]|row=2}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Luoyang]]|row=2}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Historical capitals of China|Capital of China]] (as [[Chang'an]])
|years=190-196|row=2}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Xuchang]]|row=2}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Jiankang]]|row=3}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Historical capitals of China|Capital of China]] (as [[Daxing]])
|years=581-618|row=3}}
{{S-aft|after=itself, as [[Chang'an]]|row=3}}
{{S-bef|before=itself, as [[Daxing]]|row=4}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Historical capitals of China|Capital of China]] (as [[Chang'an]])
|years=618-907|row=4}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Kaifeng]]|row=4}}
{{S-end}}

{{Xi'an}}
{{Shaanxi}}
{{Metropolitan cities of the People's Republic of China}}
{{Most populous cities in the People's Republic of China}}
{{Provincial capitals of China}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Xi'an| ]]<!--empty space as standard for catmain-->
[[Category:Populated places along the Silk Road]]
[[Category:Sub-provincial cities in the People's Republic of China]]
[[Category:11th-century BC establishments in China]]
[[Category:202 BC]]
[[Category:200s BC establishments]]
[[Category:Provincial capitals in China]]

Revision as of 07:20, 18 June 2017

PRINSIPE YBARRO IS DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xi%27an&oldid=786251880"