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Xi'an

General Information about Xi'an

Meaning 'Western Peace' in English, Xi'an is one of the most popular tourist destinations in China. The city is capital of the Shaangxi Province and has a population of over 2.6 million people. Xi'an is located in the central east of China, about 1220 kilometres north west of Shanghai and 915 kilometres south wast of China's capital city Beijing. Xi'an has a 6,000 year history and has been capital of 13 dynasties and ruled by 73 Emperors. In ancient times Xi'an was known as Chang'an.

There are numerous attractions both inside and outside the city of Xi'an, including City Wall of Xi'an, Wolong Temple, Grand Mosque, Eight Immortals Temple, Army of Terracotta Warriors, Banpo Village Ruins, Xi'an History Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Small Wild Goose Pagoda.

The Army of Terracotta Warriors is often regarded as one of the must see historical sites of China and is the most popular attraction of Xi'an. The Terracotta Army has survived here for more than two thousand years and has been well preserved since it's discovery in 1974. The Army was found by accident by peasants who were digging a well. Two years after the original discovery, two more vaults were found nearby containing more of the Terracotta Army. The army consists of over 6,000 warriors and horses that have been placed in battle positions, facing east. Archeaologists believe that the figures uncovered so far are only a small percentage of the total Terracotta Army buried around the Tomb of Qin Shihuang.

Located just east of Xi'an is the Neolithic Banpo Village which dates back 6,000 years. Archeaologists excavated the area in the 1950's and discovered that the village had run on a matriarchal system and was occupied by about 500 people. The village was surrounded by a moat which measured 6 metres deep and 6 metres wide. The houses inside were arranged around one large house in the centre, all of them facing south. The remains of Banpo Village which can be seen today are 45 houses, 2 stables, 6 kilns, more than 200 cellars and some 250 graves. Tools and artifacts found on the site were made of stone, bone and terracotta and have been associated with the Yangshao culture from 5,000 BC.

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