Xi'an is the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties and the gateway for you to understand ancient Chinese civilization. In the recorded 3100 year development process, Xi'an was the location of thirteen dynasties including Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang, spanning from the 11th century BC to the early 10th century AD. As one of the most important birthplaces of Chinese civilization, Xi'an marks the starting point of the famous Silk Road, which connects China with Central Asia and the Roman Empire.

Xi'an, formerly known as Chang'an, is known as the "City of Chang'an". Xi'an is the capital of Shaanxi Province, located between rivers and mountains in the fertile central part of the Guanzhong Plain, and is a natural place that nurtures ethnic civilization.

Visiting Xi'an, you can breathe the breath of history from all the must see attractions. The main attractions of Xi'an include the Terra Cotta Warriors of the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty - "the eighth wonder of the world", the Big Wild Goose Pagoda - the most outstanding landmark of Xi'an, Banpo Neolithic Village Museum - a 6000 year old village site, which was once a matriarchal clan community, and the Xi'an city wall surrounding the ancient city.

Nowadays, Xi'an is a vibrant modern city, but its surroundings are full of history, and even history can be found beneath our feet! Therefore, due to the obligation to protect the vast amount of ancient treasures that still need to be discovered, an underground railway cannot be built here.

essential information

• Chinese name: Xi'an

Location: Located in the southern part of the Guanzhong Plain

• Dialing code: (+86) 029

• Postal Code: seven hundred and ten thousand

• Area: Xi'an has an area of 9983 square kilometers

• Main attractions in Xi'an: Terra Cotta Warriors, Xi'an City Wall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Little Wild Goose Pagoda, Bell Tower, etc.

Population: Xi'an has a population of 7.16 million, with half of the population living in the suburbs.

Administrative distribution

Administrative divisions: Xi'an City is officially divided into 9 districts with an area of nearly 3600 square kilometers and 4 counties, including many famous scenic spots.

Population: Xi'an has a population of 7.16 million, with half of the population living in the suburbs.

Geography

Xi'an is located at 33 degrees 39 minutes north latitude and 107 degrees 40 minutes east longitude. It is the capital of Shaanxi Province and is situated in the southern part of the Guanzhong Plain. Xi'an is the transportation and communication center of northwest China, playing a role in connecting east and west, north and south. Xi'an is bordered by the Qinling Mountains to the south and the Wei River to the north, with mountains and waters as its strategic location

history

As early as one million years ago, the Lantian people had already multiplied and thrived here; Over 7000 years ago (during the Yangshao Culture period), the embryonic form of city walls had already appeared here; In 2008, the Yangguanzhai site in Gaoling, Xi'an, unearthed a late Neolithic city site dating back over 6000 years, ranking as the first archaeological discovery in China. This is the earliest city site discovered in China so far.

In the Neolithic Age about 6000 years ago, excavations showed that the Banpo villages in the region had already formed a matrilineal clan society. Thousands of years later, the king of the Zhou Dynasty established the capital city in a settlement just a few miles away from the city center. In 231 BC, the first emperor to unify China, Qin Shi Huang, began expanding the Xiangyang settlement, located about 15 miles northwest of the city center. This town was the capital city established by the rulers of the Qin Dynasty, with a dense population. Therefore, in 213 BC, Emperor Qin Shi Huang decided to relocate his court to the south bank of the Wei River. A huge palace began to be built. However, the project was never completed during his lifetime. A few years later, when the Qin Dynasty was overthrown by the Han Dynasty (206 BC), this palace and most other palaces were destroyed. Conqueror and the first emperor of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bang, also established his capital just a few miles north of modern Xi'an.

climate

Xi'an is located in the center of the Guanzhong Plain, surrounded by mountains in the south and the Wei River in the north. Xi'an is also a city with pleasant climate for most of the year, and you can enjoy visiting this city almost anytime of the year.

The coldest month here is January, with an average temperature of 0 ° C, although there is only a very small amount of snow in Xi'an. The hottest and most uncomfortable month is June, with an average temperature of 26 ° C.

The summer here is also very dry, so be sure to bring enough drinking water when sightseeing! The annual average temperature is 13 ° C.

• Best travel time

♦  Spring (March to May): The temperature rises rapidly, but the temperature is unstable, and there are often "sudden warm and cold" weather phenomena. The average temperature in Xi'an is 7.9 ℃ in March, 14.1 ℃ in April, and can reach 19.4 ℃ in May. Spring rainfall accounts for about a quarter of the annual rainfall, with an average of 7 to 9 rainy days. Spring is a pleasant season for outdoor activities and tourism, with pleasant temperatures and sunny weather.

♦  Summer (June August): Hot and rainy weather is a prominent feature of summer. Xi'an is one of the four major "furnace cities" in China, with the hottest month of the year being July, with an average temperature of 26.3 ℃. The average temperatures in June and August are 24.8 ℃ and 15.3 ℃, respectively.

♦  Autumn (September to October): In September, due to the influence of the Pacific subtropical high pressure, Xi'an receives more precipitation and the weather is sunny. The monthly average rainfall is 99.5 millimeters, accounting for 19% of the annual rainfall, and the average number of rainy days in many years is 12 days. The temperature difference in autumn is suitable, and the cooling rate is fast, with an average temperature of 19.6 ℃, 13.8 ℃, and 13.8 ℃. The average wind speed is 1.5 meters per second, which is the season with the lowest wind speed in a year.

♦  Winter (November to February of the following year): There is less rain and snow in winter, and the climate is cold. The average temperature in January drops to -0.5 ℃. Due to the strong cold wave in winter, the extreme minimum temperature can drop below 10 ℃. The precipitation is low and the climate is dry. The precipitation in three months is only 24 millimeters, accounting for only 4% of the annual precipitation.

• Dressing advice

♦  Spring (March to May): Moderate temperature, but with rain, slightly cool, thin coat is sufficient.

♦  Summer (June to August): The temperature in summer is usually above 30 degrees Celsius, with strong sunlight and the need for sun protection, such as sunglasses, hats, umbrellas, etc. In summer, with high temperatures, T-shirts paired with skirts, shorts, or casual pants are the best choice. Summer is the rainy season, especially in May and June.

♦  Autumn (September to October): Autumn is windy and cool, with a large temperature difference, so it is necessary to wear a thick coat.

♦  Winter (November to February): The lowest temperature in winter is between 5-20 degrees Celsius. Winter is cold and humid, especially in January, but it is still very pleasant when the sun is bright. So a jacket is necessary. Girls should wear long boots.

Travel

Xi'an is one of the first excellent tourist cities in China. Xi'an's cultural heritage has the characteristics of concentrated distribution, well preserved, and high cultural relic level. Among the 155 basic types of tourism resources surveyed in China, Xi'an's tourism resources account for 89 of them. There are 72 imperial tombs around Xi'an, including the the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang.