Xian, te Showcase of Chinese History(999 views)

Release date:2011-04-22 02:02:28

Xi’an, a sub-provincial city in the People’s Republic of China, attracts attention from all over the world for its historical importance and cultural heritage. With a history of more than 3,100 years, Xi’an is one of the oldest cities in China. The ancient Chinese civilization is believed to have marked its beginning in Xi’an. It is the capital of the Shaanxi province and is also known as Chang’an, which means the eternal city. Xi’an remained as a capital city for some of the most important dynasties including Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui and Tang.

As part of the economic revival, Xi’an re-emerged as an industrial, educational and cultural centre. Quick and easy transportation facilities such as airways, railways, expressways and roadways are available in Xi’an. First metro system, designed with 6 lines, is under construction and is expected to be completed by 2020. Apart from these, many tourist spots in the city are easily accessible on foot.

The fact that Xi’an is home to the famous Qin Terra-cotta Army makes it the most visited site by tourists. People from around the world come to see the famous tomb of the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty. Manmade terracotta replicas of warriors and horses arranged in battle formations symbolically guard the museum of the emperor Qin Shi Huang. More than 7,000 terracotta warriors, horses, chariots and weapons are extracted from the site and exhibited in the museum. The Terracotta Army is the most important archaeological excavations of the 20th century.

The City Wall is the first landmark that tourists come across while entering Xi’an. The ancient City Wall stretches around the capital city separating it in to inner and outer parts. It is a massive wall having two entrance points, the South Gate and the North Gate. The wall is 12 metres tall and 13.7 kilometres long. The City Wall was built in the 14th century by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang in order to protect the city from enemies.

Another main attraction is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the emblem of the city of Xi’an. Built in 652 AD by Emperor Gaozong, the pagoda is more than 1,000 years old and survived major earthquakes. It was built for the study for Buddhist scriptures and is one of the most popular Buddhist Pagodas in the country. The Big Goose Pagoda is situated in the backdrop of the largest fountain in Asia. Another important Buddhist Pagoda is the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, which was built by the Emperor of the Tang dynasty, Zhongzong.

The Bell and Drum Towers, also another symbol of Xi’an are very popular among tourists. Both the Bell and Drum Towers were erected in 1384 during the Ming Dynasty. Visitors come in thousands to catch night view of the illuminated Bell Tower. It covers an area of 1,377 square meters and has a height of 40 meters. The Bell Tower also showcases several large bronze-cast bells used by the Tang Dynasty. The Drum Tower is located in the heart of the city and offers a great view of Xi’an.

Shaanxi province is considered as the cradle of ancient Chinese civilization and the Shaanxi History Museum showcases objects referring to this civilization. The museum exhibits more than 3, 70,000 objects of great historic value used millions of years ago. Banpo Museum is quite popular among tourists. The Museum exhibits artefacts from the Neolithic Village, located in the Yellow River Valley.

Shaanxi Cuisine, otherwise known as Qin Cuisine, is one of the best cuisines of China. Three things that make Qin Cuisine the best are the range of items used for cooking, the special cooking skills of the local chefs and the frequent use of items like salt, vinegar, capsicum and garlic while cooking. Qin Cuisine gets its current form from various ancient civilizations and still holds some characteristics of the Qin, Han and Tang Dynasties. On the basis of the geographical locations, the Qin Cuisine is divided in to three types: the Guanzhong (Central Shaanxi), Shannan (South Shaanxi) and Shanbei (North Shaanxi). The Guanzhong Cuisine is mostly preferred and widely used by the local people. Yang Rou Pao Mo is the most popular and widely recommended dish in Xi’an. Another popular dish is the Xi’an Dumplings.

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