2nd Halt - Xian
Trip Start
Jun 14, 2005
1
3
6
Trip End
Jun 29, 2005
Xian, China
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Xi'an was China's capital during several dynasties. Over 2,000 years ago, Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the first ruler to unify China, built his capital of Xianyang just east of modern day Xi'an. The Han Dynasty that followed also established its capital near Xian, calling it Chang'an or "Eternal Peace". During this period, Chang'an was the starting point for the great trade caravans of the Silk Road. In the 5th century, the Sui Dynasty rebuilt Chang'an on the plain where modern Xi'an now stands. By the 7th century, the Tang Dynasty reigned over the Golden Age of China, and Chang'an had become the largest and most cosmopolitan city in the world, attracting foreigners from all parts of Asia and beyond. In 1368, the ruler of the Ming Dynasty renamed the city Xian, meaning "Western Peace."
A number of important landmarks remain from Xi'an's rich history. The city wall is one of the few in China that has survived from ancient times. Other reminders of Xi'an's past include the Big Goose and Little Goose Pagodas, built as Buddhist temples in the 7th century, and Qing Zhen Si, a mosque founded in 742 that still serves as the place of worship for 30,000 Chinese Muslims.
