Xi'an

Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province with a 3,000-year history, was known as "Chang An" in ancient times. For 1,062 years the city had been capital for 13 dynasties, and a total of 73 emperors had ruled China there. During the Middle Ages, Xi'an was one of the biggest cities in the world and a center of international trade. The famous Silk Road started here, traversed the Middle East, and ended at the Mediterranean.