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Xian
Xi'an,
the ancient capital of China, is situated in the central part of the
country, between the Weihe River in the north and the Qinling Mountains in
the south. The city lies on a major rail route which runs from Lianyungang
on the Yellow Sea via Urumqi in the autonomous region of Xinjiang and on to
Kazakhstan. There are direct rail links with Beijing and Shanghai as well as
flights to most large Chinese cities, including Hong Kong.
Xi'an is one of northwest China's chief textile centers, where cotton grown
in the artificially irrigated paddy fields in the neighboring countryside is
treated and processed. Other major industries are chemicals pharmaceutical
manufacturing and civil engineering. (There are several major universities
as well as art and trade schools.) Xian probably possesses more items of
archaeological interest than any other town or city in China--the most
important, of course, being the world-famous Terra-Cotta Warriors.
Xian is an ancient site, and there are layers of cities of
different names beneath and around it. The land is fertile, renewed yearly
by the silt from the Yellow River. Both nomadic and farming people enjoyed
the relatively flat landscape, ready water, and ease of travel. Long ago,
traders’ camps were erected outside the city walls--a mixture of colorful
tents, utensils, bags, and bundles. The traders’ wares were cottons and
exotic spices from India, metals and ceramics, scrolls of paintings, and
seeds--most of it to be bartered for cascades of silk in all colors and
textures to take on the return journey west.
Today's city is smaller than Beijing, the present capital of
China, and moves at a slower pace. Trees lend color and softness to most
streets. It retains an almost mystical charm.
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