Xi'an
 The
city of Xi'an (population 6 million) was
the first Chinese city to open up its doors
to the Ancient world, not in 1980 under
the "Open Door" policy, but in
fact during the Tang dynasty when Xi'an
blossomed as the first stop on the Silk
Road. Over a period of more than 2000 years,
Xi'an was the capital for eleven dynasties.
Along with Rome and Constantinople, this
city was a world leader in culture and trade
and played a vital role in bridging the
gap between east and west.
Among the many dynasties Xi'an
was capital to, Qin, the first empire of
China, and Tang, the peak of China's ancient
history, have left the city with the most
abundant legacy. The Terracotta Warriors
of the Qin Dynasty, an attached defending
army to the first emperor of China, is regarded
as "the eighth wonder of the world".
The Tang Dynasty has endowed Xi'an even
more relics,including the Tomb of Concubine
Yang, Huaqing Pool and Dufu Memorial Temple
all date back to that period.
 Xi'an
was the first stop of Indian Buddhism preached
in China; The sophisticated system of philosophy
first coming to Xi'an 2000 years ago and
later being developed into the dominant
religion here. The Famen Temple in Xi'an
is the only temple in mainland China to
have true relics of Buddha Sykyamuni.
Aside from being a major
tourist destination and historical city,
today Xi'an is an important industrial and
manufacturing center. Despite the incredible
history that Xi'an carries, it is a modern
and prosperous area. The nightlife here
is pretty up to date and Xi'an's University
is considered to be one of the best in China.
As a result, the city has a large student
population who contribute to the cultural
life of the city, making Xi'an one of the
most pleasant cities in China and an ideal
place to break the journey between Beijing
and Shanghai.
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