XI'AN,the Eternal City

Xi'an(historically known as Chang'an),is the capital of the Shaanxi province in China and a sub-provincial city.The city borders the northern foot of the Qinling Mountains to the south,and the banks of the Wei River to the north.Hua Shan,one of the five sacred Taoist mountains,is located 100 km away to the east ofthe city.As one of the oldest cities in Chinese history,Xi'an is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China because it has been the capital(under various names)of some of the most important dynasties in Chinese history,including the Zhou,Qin,Han,the Sui,and Tang dynasties.Xi'an is the eastern terminus of the Silk Road and known as the site of the Terracotta Army,made during the Qin Dynasty.