Xi'an

Xian [formerly called Chang'an] is the capital of Shaanxi [Shensi] Province, and a major center for the military-industrial complex, focusing on aircraft and electronics. Major industrial centers in Xi'an include the Electric Town in the west suburbs, the Textile Town in the east suburbs, the Electronic Town in the southwest suburbs, the Aircraft Town in Yanliang District, and the Engineering Industry Area in Hansenzhai.

In an ancient land, old people in history have engraved countless glories; in a young city, the god of the times is weaving beautiful dreams. Xi'an, a place full of magic and vitality, approaching it, you will be amazed by the perfect vastness of historical relics, and will be impressed by the vitality of modern construction! Xi'an, known as Chang'an in ancient times, was the starting point of the famous ancient Silk Road in "Marco Polo's Travels" written by Italian explorer Marco Polo. The Roman philosopher Augustus said that "the history of a city is the history of a nation". Xi'an, this eternal city, is like a living history book, with scenes and pages recording the vicissitudes of the Chinese nation.

The Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses Museum is a ruins museum built on the original site of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses. It is located at the northern foot of Lishan Mountain, 7.5 kilometers east of Lintong District, Xi'an, and 37.5 kilometers west of Xi’an. It is the most majestic ancient underground military museum in my country. The Terracotta Warriors and Horses are known as "the eighth wonder of the world" and "one of the great discoveries in the history of archaeology in the 20th century". Its reputation has long been known overseas and has become a precious cultural treasure of all mankind. It is less than 10 kilometers away from the Huaqing Pond, the Mausoleum of the First Emperor of Qin, and Mount Hua, which are also east of Xi’an, constitute golden tourist attractions on the eastern route of Xi’an.

The Site Museum was established in 1975 and opened on October 1, 1979. The pavilion area is mainly based on the relics and relics of Terracotta Warriors and Horses Pit No.1 and No.3, showing the colorful terracotta warriors and horses pit excavation site and the tall Qin terracotta warriors and horses unearthed in the pit. Also on display are the bronze carts and horses unearthed on the west side of the mound of the Mausoleum of Qin Shihuang and various precious cultural relics unearthed within the cemetery.

As early as the Paleolithic age more than 1 million years ago, the Lantian ape-man in Xi'an opened a page in human civilization. In the Neolithic period six to seven thousand years ago, the ancestors built a village here-Banpo Village, which became a typical representative of the prosperity of Chinese matriarchal clan communes. Xi'an has a history of over 3100 years. Twelve dynasties including Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang established their capitals here for more than 1,100 years. China means the country of the center. The center of China or the origin of the earth is in Xi'an. No wonder "Qinzhong has been an emperor since ancient times"! Qin Shihuang built Afang Palace, a masterpiece in the history of Chinese architecture, and built a large-scale and extremely rich buried historical treasure of Qin Shihuang Mausoleum in Lishan. During the Han and Tang Dynasties, Xi'an was the center of Chinese politics, economy, culture and foreign exchanges The first international metropolis with a population of over one million. "Rome in the west and Chang'an in the east" is a portrayal of Xi'an's place in world history. So far, Xi'an is as famous as Athens, Cairo and Rome, and is also known as the world's four ancient civilizations. Xi'an is worthy of being the birthplace of Chinese civilization.

Xi'an cultural relics are among the best in the world. The profound historical and cultural accumulation and vast cultural relics and historical sites make Xi'an enjoy the reputation of "Natural History Museum". There are 554 key cultural relics under protection in the province, including 89 national key cultural relics under Shaanxi Province, 8,822 tombs, more than 5,700 ancient sites, and more than 21,100 cultural relic sites. The Terracotta Warriors and Horses Pit of Qin Shihuang is known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". The Mausoleum of Qin Shihuang is the first Chinese relic to be included in the World Heritage List. The ancient city wall of the Ming Dynasty is the most complete and largest ancient city wall site in the world. In recent years, the development of Hanyang Tomb has once again caused a sensation in the world, and the nude colored figurines unearthed are known as "Oriental Venus".

There are Banpo sites with a history of more than 6000 years in the city; the Stele Forest Museum, known as the stone history library, with more than 3,000 stone steles built in the Ming Dynasty; the Shaanxi History Museum with the largest cultural relic storage in the country; the famous Tang Dynasty monk Xuan Zang The Great Wild Goose Pagoda, the place where the scriptures are translated; the Mosque in Huajue Alley, the longest mosque in the northwest, and the Huangdi Mausoleum, the mausoleum of the ancestor of China, Xuanyuan, Huangdi; the tomb of Han Wudi Liu Che, the Mausoleum of Han; the joint burial of Empress Wu Zetian of Tang Dynasty and Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi of Tang Dynasty Tomb of the Qian Tomb of Tang Dynasty; Famen Temple, where the relics of Sakyamuni Buddha's finger are stored, are famous Chinese and foreign scenic spots.

The natural landscape is steep and steep, with unique characteristics. There are Xiyue Huashan, Zhongnanshan, Taibai Mountain, Wangshun Mountain, Lishan, Louguantai, Wangchuan Cave and other scenic spots in and nearby, and there are more than ten surrounding forest parks. The cultural landscape and the new posture of the ancient city complement each other, forming the unique charm of ancient Xi'an.

Today's Xi'an is another modern city with more than 500 scientific research institutions, more than 40 colleges and universities, with a prosperous economy, a beautiful environment, and a clean and civilized environment, dominated by machinery, electronics, electrical engineering, aerospace, and light industry. These constitute tourism resources and products that reflect the development achievements of Xi'an modern society, making Xi'an tourism more attractive.

In recent years, the tourism industry in Xi’an has developed rapidly, with the continuous improvement of tourism facilities, the development of supporting facilities for food, lodging, travel, shopping, and entertainment. The structure of tourism products has become more reasonable and the grades have been continuously improved; the tourism environment has improved day by day, and modern tourism functions have been further strengthened; industry management has been on track. The market order has improved significantly; the quality of tourism services has continued to improve, and the comprehensive reception capacity and economic benefits have increased significantly year after year. The city's total tourism revenue accounts for 15.7% of the city's gross domestic product (GDP), and tourism has become a real pillar industry and leading industry in Xi'an.

Xi'an also won the title of "China's Outstanding Tourist City" among the first batch. At present, Xi’an has 200,000 beds for tourists, including 83 tourist-star hotels and restaurants, with more than 15,000 guest rooms and nearly 30,000 beds, including 4 five-star hotels and four-star hotels. There are 16, including 50 three-star hotels, 12 two-star hotels, and one one-star hotels. The annual accommodation capacity of overseas tourists reaches more than 3 million. In terms of quantity and quality, it basically meets the accommodation needs of tourists in Xi'an. At present, there are 29 international travel agencies and 259 domestic travel agencies in Xi'an. The types of group groups range from simple tourism to sightseeing, business, study, conference, individual travel, and special tourism. Many travel agencies have won praise from Chinese and foreign tourists due to their good service and performance.

In order to enrich the cultural and entertainment life of tourists and meet the needs of leisure and vacation, Xi’an has built various forms of entertainment such as Tang Le Palace, Ancient Capital Theater, Tanghua Opera and Dance Theater, Shaanxi Opera Theater, Ginza Nightclub, Huaqing Pool, Taoyuan Lake Bowling Club, etc. More than 3,700 cultural and entertainment facilities; launched "Tang Changan Music and Dance", "Imitated Tang Music and Dance", "Qin Warriors Soul", "Song of Everlasting Regret", "Northern Shaanxi Folk Music and Dance" and other cultural programs. Praise.

The production of tourist products in Xi’an has strong local characteristics, such as imitations of Qin warriors, antique bronzes, Qin embroidery, jade, silk, craft porcelain, Huxian farmers paintings, Tang Sancai, porcelain plate paintings, landscape tables, straw paintings, Guanzhong paper-cuts, etc. Folk crafts are very rich. There are 26 foreign-related tourism designated stores in the city, which can better meet the shopping needs of tourists at different levels. At the same time, the catering industry in Xi’an can provide eight major cuisines in the country, as well as European, American, Western, Japanese, Korean barbecue, Southeast Asian flavors, halal and other delicious dishes. More than 120 kinds of imitation Chinese dishes can be discovered to form traditional Chinese dishes and traditional Chinese dishes. Modern dishes based on Shaanxi cuisine. In the selection of high-quality products of the national catering industry, eight varieties of Xi'an's dumpling banquet and lamb bun won the Golden Tripod Award, especially the unique local snacks in Xi'an attracting guests from all directions.

Xi'an has been an important traffic road since ancient times, and the throat of eastern China to the northwest, southwest, and countries in West Asia. Nowadays, railways, highways, and aviation are intertwined into a network, extending in all directions, connecting Xi'an with the whole country. Xi’an Xianyang International Airport, one of China’s four major international airports, has already achieved direct flights with international metropolises such as Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Niigata, Seoul, Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, etc., 2005 In September of 2009, direct flights from Xi’an to Vancouver, Los Angeles, London, Frankfurt, Paris, New York, San Francisco and other cities were opened. This year, Xi’an was opened via Shanghai to Paris, London, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok. , Delhi’s 8 Europe, America and Asia routes, and 25 international routes.

There are currently 25 international air routes and more than 90 domestic air routes, further consolidating Xi’an’s status as an international aviation hub. Xi'an Railway Station is a national special passenger and freight railway station. In 2005, the passenger volume reached 26.4 million passengers and the freight volume was 42.41 million tons. Moreover, it is an important site of the Eurasian Continental Bridge in China; Xi'an is also the hub and gateway between the east and the middle to the west, and is the largest node city in the national trunk road network. There are 9 national highways and western major corridors radiating from Xi'an as the center.

There are 8250 kilometers of existing roads, including 345 kilometers of expressways. Xi'an has a total of more than 3850 kilometers of roads of all levels and types, and 4 national highways and 2 provincial highways pass through; the city has more than 40 roads from the urban area to various tourist attractions, including 9 special tourist lines. The city has more than 10,000 taxis and nearly 1,000 large and medium-sized luxury cars used to receive overseas tourists. Xi'an has one of the five major microwave communication trunk lines and hub terminal stations in the country, which can directly dial up to more than 190 countries and regions abroad, and all cities and counties in China. The construction of post and telecommunications and other urban public facilities is in line with the standards of modern international tourist centers. Xi’an is an open city. It has established sister city relations with 16 cities in 14 countries. More than 100 heads of state and government have visited Xi’an. Since 1978, Xi’an has received 1,000 overseas tourists.

Xi'an food represents the flavor of Shaanxi, permeated with strong northwestern characteristics. When traveling to Xi’an, it’s indispensable to taste the local delicacies of Xi’an. Come to a bowl of mutton soak that the northwestern guys can’t forget for a long time, taste the memorable meat sandwiches, and eat a plate of spicy and fragrant Liangpi. There have been different opinions about the origin of the beef and mutton steamed bun. The beef and mutton steamed bun is related to Zhao Kuangyin, the founder of the Song Dynasty. It is said that Zhao Kuangyin was trapped in Chang'an before he was proclaimed the emperor and starved all day long. One day I came outside a beef and mutton shop, staring at delicious food. Seeing his pitifulness, the owner broke the dried bun in Zhao Kuangyin's hands into a bowl, and then poured hot beef and mutton soup. After Zhao Kuangyin devoured the food, he immediately felt that the whole world is not so delicious. Later, when Zhao Kuangyin added his yellow robe, he still couldn't forget the steamed bun, so he made a special trip to Chang'an to taste it again, still feeling very delicious. Therefore, he greatly rewarded the restaurant. Since then, the reputation of beef and mutton bubble bun has spread far and wide.

Production at a number of factories in Xi'an, which houses industrial parks for carmakers including BYD and Geely as well as manufacturers of aircraft and aero-engines such as Xi'an Aircraft Industry Group Company (AVIC), was partly suspended in late December 2021 amid a COVID-19 epidemic flare-up that prompted local authorities to issue lockdown orders for at the city's more than 10 million residents.

While China has reduced cases to a minimum -- thanks to a zero-COVID strategy of tight border restrictions, lengthy quarantines and targeted lockdowns -- cases had been bubbling up in recent weeks. Footage from state broadcaster CCTV 25 December 2021 showed long queues outside Xi’an testing centers as officials rushed to stamp out the latest flareup. Under strict lockdown rules, since 23 December 2021 all households in Xi’an have only been permitted to send one member outside every two days to purchase necessities. Residents need special permission from their employer or local authorities to leave the city.

Xi’an has recorded 330 locally transmitted symptomatic cases since the first case was reported on December 9, 2021, few compared to outbreaks elsewhere in the world. But some 26 Xi’an government officials have been punished for lapses in virus prevention, China’s disciplinary body said.

Some manufacturers have announced work-from-home policies and imposed closed-loop management on frontline workers, among other anti-epidemic measures, to keep production lines running, sourcing raw materials and shipping products from out of the city has grown to become another headache undercutting local firms' efforts to stabilize supply.

Xi'an is one of the most important production bases for new energy vehicle—maker BYD, manufacturing popular NEV models including Qin DM-i and Song DM-i series, according to media reports. In November, the Xi'an plant manufactured 55,000 units, accounting for over half of its output that month based on the Global Times' calculation.

Some buyers of BYD NEVs said that they were informed by a local salesperson that the delivery of popular models could be delayed due to the outbreak. A Wuhan-based consumer surnamed Gu told the Global Times that he placed order for BYD's Song DM-i series in May and has been waiting for seven months for its delivery. "I was listed among the next batch of customers to receive new cars, but now I was told to wait more as delivery will be postponed following the outbreak," Gu said.

A Xi'an-based clothes-maker told the Global Times that some local big firms have maintained partial production. "But transportation now remains a hurdle, as most cross-provincial logistics services have also stopped and there are no drivers. Our company will only be able to ship clothes outside the province once the lockdown is lifted."