Xi’an(Chang’an)

Xi’an, previously known as Chang’an has a significant history as a capital city in China. It served as the capital for several important dynasties.

• Western Zhou Dynasty: Xi’an was the capital of the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046–771 BC). During this time, it was known as Fenghao or Haojing. The Western Zhou Dynasty was one of the earliest dynasties in China.

• Qin Dynasty: Xi’an became the capital under the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC) when the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, unified the country. He built the famous Terracotta Army near Xi’an to guard his tomb.

• Han Dynasty: The Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD) also choose Xi’an as its capital. It was a centre of culture, trade, and politics during this time.

• Tang Dynasty: Xi’an reached its peak as a capital during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD). Chang’an, as it was known then, was one of the largest and most cosmopolitan cities in the world. It served as the starting point for the famous Silk Road, connecting China to the rest of the world.

Major Landmarks and Historical Sites in Xi’an

The Terracotta Army and Horses Museum: This place is protected by the UN and it is the resting place of a huge army made of clay soldiers. They were built to guard the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang, way back in the 200s BC.

In this museum, thousands of life-sized soldier statues are placed each with their unique face, hairstyle and armour, just like real soldiers. They are placed in different pits and it shows the different parts of the army like foot soldiers, archers, cavalry and even chariot drivers.

Apart from this, there are many other historical sites as well following:

• The City Wall: This old wall was built by the Ming Dynasty emperors and it is still strong and shows how they used to protect their cities.

• Big Wild Goose Pagoda: This beautiful tower was built by the emperors of the Tang Dynasty and it is famous for its design and its role in spreading Buddhism.

• Shaanxi History Museum: This museum is jam-packed with things from China’s long history and culture, especially from the Qin and Tang dynasties.

• Huaqing Pool: This is earlier a garden complex for emperors, with hot springs and a rich history from the Tang Dynasty.

Ancient Capitals of China: China has a long history each part is like a different era when one family ruled the country. Throughout history, different capitals have been chosen for various reasons.

In this article, we will discuss the four major ancient capitals that are Beijing, Nanjing, Xi’an, and Luoyang. These cities saw many big events and had lots of different rulers.

In this article, You will get to know about the List of Ancient Capitals of China.