Guangzhou

	Guangzhou
	Xi'an
	Guilin
	Tibet
	Beijing
	Shanghai
	Hainan

General introduction
Xi'an is the champion among the six ancient Chinese capitals and has the longest history in China. Xian is the connecting point between the western Region of China and the Middle Region of China both geographically and socially. She is the gateway and communication axis for western provinces. Xian is the biggest central city in the second European- Asia Continental Bridge-LongHai and LanXin Road, its economic strategic importance is naturally indicated. Because of its geographic and historic priority, Xian has become the number one commodise distribution center and goods exchange place in the whole Northwest Region of China. Besides, the rich historical culture treasure and advance arts and science resources have helped Xian seats top of the Six Ancient Capitals in China, as well as one of the four World Ancient Civilization Capitals.
Geographic Information
Xian locates at 33° N and 107°E, in the sourthern part of GuanZhong Plain in Shaanxi province. Look to North, Xian faces an alluvial plain; turn to South, it links to a denudation hilly area. The topography shows that it is a sloping shape from Southeast down to Northeast and Southwest. In 1998, there are 8 districts and 5 country towns under Xian municipal's goverment.

THE MUSEUM OF THE FIRST EMPEROR'S TERRA-COTTA WARRIORS AND HORSES

HUAQING POOL

THE CITY WALL

THE BIG WILD GOOSE PAGODA

BANPO MUSEUM

The Forest of steles in Xi'an

THE MUSEUM OF THE FIRST EMPEROR'S TERRA-COTTA WARRIORS AND HORSES :
The museum is located in Lintong District,35 kilometers away from the urban area. In march,1974 when several farmers were sinking a well ,they came upon many fragments of terra-cotta figures.The results of archaeological excavation showed that it was an oblong pits with terra-cotta warriors and horses.Again in 1976 ,two pits were discovered 20meters and 25meters north of the former one respectively . They were named pit1, pit2,and pit3 by order of discovery . The three pits cover a total area of 22,780 square meters. The museum of first Qin emperor ,one of the top ten places of historical interest in China ,was listed as the world heritage by the UNESCO about a decade ago. Pit 1 takes an oblong shape.It is 230 meters long ,62 meters wide and 5meters deep, it covers an area of 14,260 square meters.The terra-cotta warriors horse in pit 1 are arrayed in battle formation .According to the density of the formation in each trial ,it is assumed that more than 6,000 terra-cotta warriors and horses could be unearthed from pit 1,most of which are infantrymen . pit 2 is measureed 6,000square meters ,L-shaped and consists of four different mixed military forces in four arrayas .It is estimated that there are over 1,000 terra-cotta figsure , 500horse-drawn chariots and saddled horses. Pit 3 is concave shape ,totaling about 520square meters .One chariot ,four terra-cotta horses and 68 clay armored warriors were unearthed from it.Unerathed in this pit were a remaining deer-horn and animal bones .This is probably the place where sacrificial offerings and war prayer were pratised .Judgeing by the layout of pit 3 ,this is most likely the headquarters directing the mighty underground army.
HUAQING POOL :
Huaqing pool is located about 35kilometers east of the city of xi'an .Historically ,during the Western Zhou Dynasty,a stone pool was built and was given the name Lishan Tang (Lishan Hot Springs) . The site was enlarged into a bigger palace during the Han Dynasty ,and renamed Li Palace (the Resort Palace). During the Tang Dynasty ,Emperor Tai Zong ordered the construction of Hot Springs Palace,and Emperor XuanZong had walled palace built around the Lishan Mountain in the year 747. It was known as Huaqing Palace .It also had the name "HuaqingPool " because of its location over the hot springs.Huaqing pool was destoryed during An Lushan and Shi Siming Rebellion at the end of the Tang Dynasty .The present-day site is only a small part of the original Huaqing Palace .Huaqing pool which we see today was rebuilt on the site of the Qing Dynasty structure .The palace cdvers an area of 85,560square meters
THE CITY WALL:
The city wall of xi'an is an extension of the old Tang Dynasty structure. The city wall ,after its extension in Ming Dynasty, stands 12meters high, it is12-14 meters wide on the top , 15-18meters thick at the bottom and 13kilometers in length. The city wall was first built of earth ,rammed layer upon layer.The base layer was made of earth ,quicklime ,and glutinous rice extract ,tempered together.It made the wall strong and firm . Thus ,the Ming Dynasty city wall formed a complex and welll-organized system of defense. It is also the most complete city wall that has survived through China's long history. The city wall itself is a true display of ability and wisdom of the working people in ancient times. It privides invaluable and substantial material for study of the history ,military science, and architecture of the Ming Dynasty.
THE BIG WILD GOOSE PAGODA :
Situated in Da Ci'en Temple,about 4kilometers from the urban center ,the Big Wild Goose Pagoda is one of the famous Buddhist pagodas in China.Originally built in 589 A.Din the Sui Dynasty ,the temple was named Wulou temple .In 648A.D, Emperor Li Zhi , then still a crown prince ,sponsored a repair project on the temple in memory of his mother ,Empress Wende .It then assumed the present name Da Ci'en Temple (the Temple of Thanksgiving ). The temple consisted of 1,879 magnificient rooms and was a place of grand extent in tang dynasty. The Tang Regime gave orders to build a chamber for the translation of Buddist scriptures and appointed the widely renowned Master Xuan Zang(Monk Tripitaka) the head of temple.Xuan Zang was both a great translator and traveler .He spent 17 years doing research into Buddhism in Indian ,he returned to Chaang'an in 645A.D with 657 volumes of Buddhist scriptures.Xuan Zang stayed in temple for 12 years and translated 1,335 volumes of buddhist scriptures. In Tang Dynasty ,every successful candidate who passed the imperial examination would climb up the pogoda and write poems and inscriptoins to indicate that he would have soaring career in the future
BANPO MUSEUM :
Banpo Museum is located in the eastern suburb of xi'an ,9kilometers from the center of the city .It houses the site of a 6,000-year-old village ,belongs to a Neolithic matriarchal clan community. The site was discovered by chance in 1953.It extends over an area of 50,000square meters .excavations were conducted in five phases between 1954 and 1957 ,opening upan area of 10,000 square meters, one fifth of total .Banpo museum was set up at the site in 1958,the first of its kind in China . This village is divided into three parts : the living section , the pottery-making section and the burial section .By means of scientific excavation ,archaeologists have discovered nearly 10,000 production tools or daily utensils , 46houses ,2 pigsties ,200 cellars ,174burial pits for adults and 73burial jars for children .The discovery of so many artifacts is indeed unprecedented
The Forest of steles in Xi'an
The Forest of Steles has the best steles of ancient dynasties of this province and is a treasure house of the Chinese calligraphic art. The Forest of Steles founded in 1090 A.D. (fifth year of Yuanyou of the Northern Song Dynasty) houses over 2300 steles of the Han, Wei, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. Among the well-known steles of many dynasties are "the Stele of Caoquan" of the Han, "the Stele of Si Mafang" of the Jing, "the Stele of the Canons of Filial Piety on Stone Terraces", "the Stele of the Stone Classics of Kaichen" "the Popular Stele of Daqin Nestorianism" of the Tang. Exhibited here are also stone tablets on which are engraved the handwritings of such Tang calligraphical masters as Ouyang Xun, Chu Suiliang, Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan.