Editing Xi'an

{{Short description|Capital of Shaanxi, China}}
{{redirect|Xian|immortal beings in Chinese mythology|Xian (Taoism)|other uses|Xian (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Xi'an
| native_name        = 西安市
| native_name_lang   = zh
| other_name         = Sian, Hsi-an
| settlement_type    = [[Sub-provincial division#Sub-provincial municipalities|Sub-provincial]] and [[prefecture-level city]]
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
 | border             = infobox
 | total_width        = 300
 | perrow             = 2/2/2
 | image1             = 51216-Xian (27961738311).jpg
 | caption1           = [[Giant Wild Goose Pagoda]]
 | image2             = Xi'an, Drum Tower - panoramio.jpg
 | caption2           = [[Drum Tower of Xi'an|Drum Tower]]
 | image3             = Bell tower of xi'an of 2023 new year eve.jpg
 | caption3           = [[Bell Tower of Xi'an|Bell Tower]]
 | image4             = Xi'an Nanda Jie.JPG
 | caption4           = Nandajie
 | image5             = 紫云阁的夜晚 - panoramio.jpg
 | caption5           = [[Tang Paradise]]
 | image6             = 新城 在云峰大厦上向南望西安城 15.jpg
 | caption6           = [[Xi'an City Wall]]
}}
| image_map          = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|type=shape|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=7}}
| image_map1         = Location map of Xi'an, Shaanxi.png
| map_caption1       = Xi'an municipality within Shaanxi
| pushpin_map        = China
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in China
| coor_pinpoint      = Shaanxi provincial government
| coordinates        = {{Coord|34|15|40|N|108|56|32|E|type:adm2nd_region:CN-61_source:Gaode|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = China
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of China|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Shaanxi]]
| seat_type          = Municipal seat
| seat               = [[Weiyang District]]
| government_type    = [[Sub-provincial city]]
| governing_body     = [[Xi'an Municipal People's Congress]]
| leader_title       = [[Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary|CCP Secretary]]
| leader_name        = [[Wang Hao (politician)|Wang Hao]]
| leader_title1      = [[Xi'an Municipal People's Congress|Congress]] Chairman
| leader_name1       = Hu Runze
| leader_title2      = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name2       = Li Mingyuan
| leader_title3      = [[CPPCC]] Chairman
| leader_name3       = Yue Huafeng
| total_type         = City
| area_total_km2     = 10762
| area_urban_km2     = 5808.6
| population_urban   = 11904805
| area_metro_km2     = 4903.9
| elevation_m        = 405
| population_total   = 12952907
| population_as_of   = 2020 census
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |title=China: Shaanxi |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/china/shaanxi/admin/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103132726/https://www.citypopulation.de/en/china/shaanxi/admin/ |archive-date=January 3, 2022 |access-date=January 3, 2022}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_urban_km2 = auto
| population_metro   = 12283922
| population_density_metro_km2 = auto
| demographics_type2 = GDP<ref>The GDP figures are from the statistical bulletin on 2022 national economic and social development published by the statistical agencies of relevant cities, see {{Cite web |script-title=zh:2022年GDP100强城市榜：江苏13市均超4000亿，10强有变化 |url=https://yicai.com/news/101703850.html |publisher=yicai.com |language=zh |access-date=March 6, 2024 |archive-date=January 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131014728/https://www.yicai.com/news/101703850.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| demographics2_title1 = City
| demographics2_info1 = {{CNY|1.201 trillion|lk=yes}} {{nwr|(US$154.2 billion)}}
| demographics2_title2 = Per capita
| demographics2_info2 = {{CNY|98,205}} {{nwr|(US$15,108)}}
| postal_code_type   = [[List of postal codes in China|Postal code]]
| postal_code        = '''710'''000–'''710'''090
| area_code          = 29
| iso_code           = [[ISO 3166-2:CN|CN-SN-01]]
| website            = [http://www.xa.gov.cn/ XA.gov.cn]
| timezone           = [[Time in China|CST]]
| utc_offset         = +8
| blank3_name        = [[Vehicle registration plates of China|License plate]] prefixes
| blank3_info        = {{lang|zh|陕A、陕U}}
| blank4_name        = City Flower
| blank4_info        = [[Pomegranate]] flower
| blank5_name        = City Tree
| blank5_info        = [[Pagoda tree]]
| module = {{Infobox Chinese|order=st|child=yes
 | c = {{linktext|lang=zh|西安}}
 | p = Xī'ān
 | w = {{tonesup|Hsi1-an1}}
 | mi = {{IPAc-cmn|AUD|Zh-Xi'an.ogg|x|i|1|.|an|1}}
 | bpmf = {{bpmfsp|ㄒㄧ|ㄢ}}
 | myr = Syīān
 | j = Sai1-on1
 | y = Sāi-ōn
 | ci = {{IPAc-yue|s|ai|1|.|on|1}}
 | wuu = Si<sup>平</sup>oe<sup>平</sup>
 | tl = Se-an
 | l = Western peace
 | psp = Sianfu
 | t2 = {{linktext|長安}}
 | s2 = 长安
 | l2 = Perpetual peace
 | p2 = Cháng'ān
 | w2 = {{tonesup|Chʻang2-an1}}
 | mi2 = {{IPAc-cmn|AUD|Zh-Changan.ogg|ch|ang|2|.|an|1}}
 | bpmf2 = {{bpmfsp|ㄔㄤˊ|ㄢ}}
 | j2 = Coeng4-on1
 | y2 = Chèuhng-ōn
 | tl2 = Tn̂g-an
 | mc2 = ɖjang-an
 | tp = Si-an
 | tp2 = Cháng-an
 | ci2 = {{IPAc-yue|c|oeng|4|.|o|n|1}}
}}
}}
'''Xi'an'''{{efn|{{IPAc-en|UK|ʃ|iː|ˈ|æ|n}} {{respell|shee|AN}}, {{IPAc-en|US|ʃ|iː|ˈ|ɑː|n}} {{respell|shee|AHN}}<ref>{{multiref | {{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|Xi'an|access-date=April 14, 2019}} | {{Cite dictionary |url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/amp/english/xian |title=Xi'an |dictionary=[[Collins English Dictionary]] |access-date=April 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414100747/https://www.collinsdictionary.com/amp/english/xian |archive-date=April 14, 2019 |url-status=dead}} | {{Cite dictionary |url=https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/Xian |entry=Xian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414100748/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/Xian |date=April 14, 2019 |dictionary=Oxford Living English Dictionary |archive-date=2019-04-14 |url-status=dead}} (US) | {{Cite encyclopedia |title=Xian |encyclopedia=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Xian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322182318/https://www.lexico.com/definition/xian |archive-date=2020-03-22 |url-status=dead}} | {{Cite Merriam-Webster|Xi'an|access-date=April 14, 2019}} }}</ref>{{pb}}{{zh|c=西安|p=Xī'ān}}; {{IPAc-cmn|AUD|Zh-Xi'an.ogg|x|i|1|.|an|1}}; [[Postal romanization|alternatively romanized]] as '''Sian''' or '''Hsi-an'''}} is the [[list of capitals in China|capital]] of the Chinese province of [[Shaanxi]]. A [[sub-provincial city]] on the [[Guanzhong]] plain,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Illuminating China's Provinces, Municipalities and Autonomous Regions |url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/43599.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224074859/http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/43599.htm |archive-date=December 24, 2014 |access-date=2014-05-17 |publisher=PRC Central Government}}</ref> the city is the third-most populous city in [[Western China]] after [[Chongqing]] and [[Chengdu]], as well as the most populous city in [[Northwestern China]].<ref>{{Cite web |year=2012 |script-title=zh:最新中国城市人口数量排名（根据2010年第六次人口普查） |url=http://www.elivecity.cn/html/yijuyanjiu/yijuyanjiu1/645.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303135707/http://www.elivecity.cn/html/yijuyanjiu/yijuyanjiu1/645.html |archive-date=March 3, 2015 |access-date=2014-05-27 |publisher=www.elivecity.cn |language=zh}}</ref> Its total population was 12.95&nbsp;million as of the 2020 census, including an urban population of 9.28&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web |script-title=zh:经济社会发展统计图表：第七次全国人口普查超大、特大城市人口基本情况 |url=http://www.qstheory.cn/dukan/qs/2021-09/16/c_1127863567.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917101122/http://www.qstheory.cn/dukan/qs/2021-09/16/c_1127863567.htm |archive-date=September 17, 2021 |access-date=May 3, 2022 |website=Qiushi Online |publisher=CCP Central Committee |language=zh}}</ref>

Known as [[Chang'an]] throughout much of its history, Xi'an is one of China's [[Historical capitals of China|Four Great Ancient Capitals]], having held the position under several of the most important [[dynasties in Chinese history]],<ref name="encarta">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Xi'an |encyclopedia=Encarta |url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761572407/Xi%E2%80%99an.html |access-date=February 6, 2016 |date=September 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228105855/http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761572407/Xi%E2%80%99an.html |archive-date=February 28, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> including the [[Western Zhou]], [[Qin dynasty|Qin]], [[Western Han]], [[Sui dynasty|Sui]], [[Northern Zhou]] and [[Tang dynasty|Tang]].<ref name="encarta" /> Xi'an is now the second-most popular tourist destination in China.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Xi'an Municipal People's Government |date=15 October 2020 |title=Xi'an Makes a Top Tourist Attraction in National Day Golden Week |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xian-makes-a-top-tourist-attraction-in-national-day-golden-week-301153806.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503060304/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xian-makes-a-top-tourist-attraction-in-national-day-golden-week-301153806.html |archive-date=May 3, 2022 |access-date=3 May 2022}}</ref> The city was one of the terminal points on the [[Silk Road]] during the ancient and medieval eras, as well as the home of the 3rd-century&nbsp;BC [[Terracotta Army]] commissioned by Emperor [[Qin Shi Huang]]—both of which are listed as [[World Heritage Site]]s by [[UNESCO]].<ref name="br" />

Since the 1980s, as part of the [[China Western Development|economic growth of inland China]] especially for the central and northwest regions, Xi'an has matured into a cultural, industrial, political and educational, and [[research and development]] hub. Xi'an currently holds [[sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China|sub-provincial]] status, administering 11 districts and 2 counties.<ref>{{Cite web |script-title=zh:中央机构编制委员会印发《关于副省级市若干问题的意见》的通知. 中编发[1995]5号 |url=http://www.docin.com/p-51864614.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529084536/http://www.docin.com/p-51864614.html |archive-date=May 29, 2014 |access-date=May 28, 2014 |publisher=Docin |language=zh}}</ref> In 2020, Xi'an was ranked as a Beta- (global second tier) city by the [[Globalization and World Cities Research Network]],<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=The World According to GaWC 2020 |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2020t.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824031341/https://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2020t.html |archive-date=August 24, 2020 |access-date=2021-06-25 |website=Globalization and World Cities Research Network}}</ref> and, according to the country's own ranking, ranked 17th;<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-21 |script-title=zh:中国百强城市榜单发布，你的城市上榜了吗？ |url=https://finance.sina.com.cn/roll/2021-05-21/doc-ikmyaawc6745506.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625080732/https://finance.sina.com.cn/roll/2021-05-21/doc-ikmyaawc6745506.shtml |archive-date=June 25, 2021 |access-date=2021-06-25 |publisher=Sina |language=zh}}</ref> it is also one of the world's top 100 financial centers according to the [[Global Financial Centres Index]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=GFCI 36 Rank - Long Finance |url=https://www.longfinance.net/programmes/financial-centre-futures/global-financial-centres-index/gfci-36-explore-the-data/gfci-36-rank/ |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=www.longfinance.net}}</ref> Xi'an is ranked by the [[Nature Index]] as one of the top 20 cities globally by scientific research output,<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |year=2023 |title=Nature Index 2023 Science Cities |url=https://www.nature.com/nature-index/supplements/nature-index-2023-science-cities/tables/overall |publisher=Nature}}</ref> and is home to multiple [[List of universities and colleges in Shaanxi|prestigious educational institutions]], such as [[Xi'an Jiaotong University]], [[Northwestern Polytechnical University]], [[Xidian University]] and [[Northwest University (China)|Northwest University]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2021-10-26 |title=Best Global Universities Rankings in Xi'an |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/search?city=xian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030172035/https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/search?city=xian |archive-date=October 30, 2021 |access-date=2021-10-26 |work=U.S. News & World Report}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |year=2018 |title=Nature Index 2018 Science Cities |url=https://www.natureindex.com/supplements/nature-index-2018-science-cities/global-city-map |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105025046/https://www.natureindex.com/supplements/nature-index-2018-science-cities/global-city-map |archive-date=November 5, 2021 |access-date=2020-10-15 |publisher=Nature}}</ref>

{{anchor|Toponymy|Etymology|Names}}

== Name ==
"Xi'an" is the [[Standard Chinese phonology|atonal]] [[pinyin]] [[Romanization of Chinese|romanization]] of its Chinese name {{linktext|lang=zh|西安}}, ''Western Peace''. (The apostrophe – known in Chinese as a {{linktext|lang=zh-Hant|隔音符號}}, ''géyīn fúhào'' – should be included to distinguish its pronunciation from the single syllable ''xian''.) The name was adopted in 1369 under the early [[Ming dynasty]]. [[Jesuit China missions|Jesuit missionaries]] recorded its name as {{nowrap|"'''Si-ngan'''"}} or '''"Si-ngan-fou"'''<ref>{{harvp|Du Halde|1736|pp=[https://archive.org/stream/descriptiongog01duha#page/220/mode/2up 220–1]}}; {{harvp|Du Halde|1741|pp=[https://archive.org/stream/generalhistoryof01duha#page/226/mode/2up 227–8]}}</ref> from its status as the seat of a [[fu (administrative division)|prefecture]] ({{linktext|lang=zh|府}},{{nbsp}}''fǔ''). This form still appears in the Latin name of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Xi'an|Catholic diocese of Xi'an]], {{lang|la|archidioecesis Singanensis}}. The name was later romanized as {{nowrap|"'''Hsi-an'''"}} by [[Wade-Giles|Wade & Giles]] and as "'''Sianfu'''"<ref>{{harvp|Stanford|1917|p=[https://archive.org/stream/cu31924023258241#page/n45/mode/2up/ 13] & [https://archive.org/stream/cu31924023258241#page/n79/mode/2up Index, p. 11]}}</ref> or "'''Sian'''"<ref name="br"/> by the [[Chinese postal romanization|imperial post office]], both of which were common until the promulgation of pinyin.

The area of present-day Xi'an has been the site of several important former Chinese cities. The capital of the [[Western Zhou dynasty|Western Zhou]] were the [[twin cities]] of '''[[Fengjing (Zhou)|Feng]]''' and '''[[Haojing|Hao]]''', known collectively as '''[[Fenghao]]''', located on opposite banks of the Feng River at its confluence with the southern bank of the [[Wei River|Wei]] in the western suburbs of present-day Xi'an.<ref>{{citation|script-title=zh:《中国古今地名大词典》|trans-title=The Big Dictionary of Old and Current Chinese Placenames |date=2005 |location=Shanghai |publisher=Shanghai Cishu Chubanshe |page=1540}}</ref> The [[state of Qin|Qin]] capital [[Xianyang]] was erected north of the Wei during the [[Warring States period]] and was succeeded by the [[Western Han]] capital of '''[[Chang'an]]''' ({{linktext|lang=zh-Hant|長安}}), meaning "Perpetual Peace", which was located south of the Wei and covered the central area of present-day Xi'an. During the [[Eastern Han]], Chang'an was also known as  the "Western Capital" ({{linktext|lang=zh|西|京|p=xijing}}), named for its namesake position relative to the main capital at [[Luoyang]]. Under the [[Sui dynasty|Sui]], its name became '''Daxing''' ({{linktext|lang=zh-Hant|大|興}}, "Greatly Prosperous") in AD 581. Under the [[Tang dynasty|Tang]], the name reverted to Chang'an in 618.<ref name="br">{{Cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/542532/Xian |title=Xi'an |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]|access-date=2008-09-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204121315/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/542532/Xian|archive-date=December 4, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> Under the [[Mongol Empire|Mongolian]] [[Yuan dynasty]] (13th & 14th centuries), it held a succession of names: '''Fengyuan''' {{nowrap|({{linktext|lang=zh|奉|元}}),}} '''Anxi''' {{nowrap|({{linktext|lang=zh|安西}},}} "Peaceful West") and '''[[Jingzhao]]''' {{nowrap|({{linktext|lang=zh|京|兆}}).}} The Ming name "Xi'an" was changed back to Xijing ("Western Capital", as above) between 1930 and 1943.

==History==
{{Main|History of Xi'an|Chang'an}}

===Prehistory===
The [[Lantian Man]] was discovered in 1963 in [[Lantian County]], {{convert|50|km|abbr=on}} southeast of Xi'an, and dates back to at least 500,000 years before the present time. A 6,500-year-old [[Neolithic]] village, [[Banpo]], was discovered in 1953 on the eastern outskirts of the city proper, which contains the remains of several well organized [[Neolithic]] settlements [[radiocarbon dating|carbon dated]] to 5,600–6,700 [[Before Present|years ago]].<ref>{{Cite book |doi=10.1007/978-90-481-8716-4_8 |chapter=Climate Change and Desertification with Special Reference to the Cases in China |title=Changing Climates, Earth Systems and Society |year=2010 |last1=Yang |first1=Xiaoping |isbn=978-90-481-8715-7 |pages=177–187}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z4_bT2SJ-HUC |chapter=East Asian plant domestication |pages=77–95 |title=Archaeology of Asia |isbn=9781405153034 |last1=Stark |first1=Miriam T |date=2008-04-15 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |access-date=November 15, 2015 |archive-date=August 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813013959/https://books.google.com/books?id=z4_bT2SJ-HUC |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.homepages.ucl.ac.uk/~tcrndfu/articles/china%20overview%20pre.pdf |title=A Critical Assessment of Early Agriculture in East Asia, with emphasis on Lower Yangzte Rice Domestication |last1=Fuller |first1=Dorian Q |last2=Qin |first2=Ling |last3=Harvey |first3=Emma |journal=Pragdhara |year=2008 |pages=17–52 |access-date=May 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031215/http://www.homepages.ucl.ac.uk/~tcrndfu/articles/china%20overview%20pre.pdf |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |pmid=21592462 |year=2011 |last1=Meng |first1=Y |last2=Zhang |first2=HQ |last3=Pan |first3=F |last4=He |first4=ZD |last5=Shao |first5=JL |last6=Ding |first6=Y |title=Prevalence of dental caries and tooth wear in a Neolithic population (6700-5600 years BP) from northern China |volume=56 |issue=11 |pages=1424–35 |doi=10.1016/j.archoralbio.2011.04.003 |journal=Archives of Oral Biology}}</ref> The site is now home to the [[Xi'an Banpo Museum]], built in 1957 to preserve the archaeological collection.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chinamuseums.com/ban_po.htm |title=Banpo Museum in Xi'an |publisher=chinamuseums.com |access-date=2013-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131145303/http://www.chinamuseums.com/ban_po.htm |archive-date=January 31, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Ancient era===
[[File:Western Zhou dynasty Carriages pit2 Xi'an.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Remains of carriages and horses in [[Fenghao]] during the [[Western Zhou]] (11th–8th cent.{{nbsp}}BC)]]

Xi'an became a cultural and political center of China in the 11th century BC with the founding of the [[Zhou dynasty]]. The capital of Zhou was established in the twin settlements of Fengjing ({{lang|zh-hant|灃京}}) and [[Haojing]] ({{lang|zh-hant|鎬京}}), together known as [[Fenghao]], located southwest of contemporary Xi'an. The settlement was also known as Zōngzhōu (宗周) to indicate its role as the capital of the [[Ancient Chinese states|vassal states]].<ref>Third scroll of the ''Chang'an Annals'' (长安志) interpreted by [[Huangfu Mi]] in his ''Age of the Kings (book)'' (帝王世紀)</ref> In 738 BC, [[King Ping of Zhou]] moved the capital to [[Luoyang]] due to [[King Xie of Zhou|political unrest]].<ref>2011年上海中西书局出版《[[Tsinghua Bamboo Slips|清华大学藏战国竹简]]》（贰）：周幽王取妻于西申，生平王，王或（又）取褒人之女，是褒姒，生伯盘。褒姒嬖于王，王与伯盘逐平王，平王走西申。幽王起师，回（围）平王于西申，申人弗畀，曾人乃降西戎，以攻幽王，幽王及伯盘乃灭，周乃亡。邦君、诸正乃立幽王之弟余臣于虢，是携惠王。立廿又一年，晋文侯仇乃杀惠王于虢。周亡王九年，邦君诸侯焉始不朝于周，晋文侯乃逆平王于少鄂，立之于京师。三年，乃东徙，止于成周，晋人焉始启于京师，郑武公亦正东方之诸侯。</ref><ref>《[[Zuo Zhuan|左传]]·僖公二十二年》:初，平王之东迁也，辛有适伊川，见被发而祭于野者，曰:"不及百年，此其戎乎！其礼先亡矣。"秋，秦、晋迁陆浑之戎于伊川。</ref>

===Imperial era===
{{Multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 200
| image1            = History of Xi'an.jpg
| caption1          = A map of the [[Chinese city walls|city walls]] of settlements in Xi'an from the [[Zhou dynasty|Zhou]] to [[Qing dynasty|Qing]] [[list of Chinese dynasties|dynasties]]
| image2            = Xian guerreros terracota general.JPG
| caption2          = [[Terracotta Army]] inside the [[Qin Shi Huang]] Mausoleum, third century BC
| image3            = Map of Chang'an in Tang Dynasty.svg
| caption3          = Map of [[Chang'an]] under the [[Tang dynasty|Tang]] (7th–10th{{nbsp}}cent.)
}}

Following the [[Warring States period]], China was unified under the [[Qin dynasty]] (221–206 BC) for the first time, with the capital located at [[Xianyang]], just northwest of modern Xi'an.<ref name="diming">{{cite book |script-title=zh:中国古今地名大词典 |year=2005 |location=Shanghai |publisher=[[Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House]] |page=2134 |language=zh-hans}}</ref> The first emperor of China, [[Qin Shi Huang]] ordered the construction of the [[Terracotta Army]] and [[Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor|his mausoleum]] just to the east of Xi'an almost immediately after his ascension to the throne.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/archaeology/emperor-qin/ |title=Emperor Qin's Terracotta Army |author=O. Louis Mazzatenta |magazine=National Geographic |date=2009-10-09|access-date=May 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528231305/http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/archaeology/emperor-qin/|archive-date=May 28, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 202 BC, the founding emperor [[Emperor Gaozu of Han|Liu Bang]] of the [[Han dynasty]] established his capital in Chang'an County; his first palace, Changle Palace ({{lang|zh-hant|長樂宮}}, "Perpetual Happiness") was built across the river from the ruin of the Qin capital. This is traditionally regarded as the founding date of Chang'an. Two years later, Liu Bang built [[Weiyang Palace]] ({{lang|zh-hant|未央宮}}, "Never Ending Palace") north of modern Xi'an. Weiyang Palace was the largest palace ever built on Earth, covering {{convert|4.8|km2|acres|abbr=off|sp=us}}, which is 6.7 times the size of the current [[Forbidden City]] and 11 times the size of the Vatican City.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://history.cultural-china.com/en/52History6236.html |title=Weiyang Palace: the Largest Palace Ever Built on Earth|access-date=November 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213031/http://history.cultural-china.com/en/52History6236.html|archive-date=March 3, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The original Xi'an city wall was started in 194 BC and took 4 years to finish. Upon completion, the wall measured {{convert|25.7|km|2|abbr=on}} in length and {{convert|12|to(-)|16|m|2|abbr=on}} in thickness at the base, enclosing an area of {{convert|36|km²|2|abbr=on}}. In the year 190, amidst uprisings and rebellions just prior to the [[Three Kingdoms]] period, [[Dong Zhuo]], a powerful warlord from nearby Xiliang, moved the court from [[Luoyang]] to Chang'an in a bid to avoid a coalition of other powerful warlords against him.

In 582, shortly after the [[Sui dynasty]] was founded, the emperor of Sui ordered a new capital to be built southeast of the Han capital, called Daxing (大興, "Great prosperity"). It consisted of three sections: the Imperial City, the palace section, and the civilian section, with a total area of {{convert|84|km2|abbr=on}} within the city walls. At the time, it was the largest city in the world. The city was renamed Chang'an by the [[Tang dynasty]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.huaxia.com/gd/csdh/xa/2006/00459499.html |script-title=zh:西安历史 |language=zh-cn |access-date=2011-02-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211123827/http://www.huaxia.com/gd/csdh/xa/2006/00459499.html|url-status=live|archive-date=2011-02-11}}</ref> In the mid-7th century, after returning from his pilgrimage to India, the [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] monk [[Xuanzang]] established a translation school for [[Sanskrit]] scriptures.

Construction of the [[Giant Wild Goose Pagoda]] began in 652. This [[pagoda]] was {{convert|64|m|2|abbr=on}} in height, and was built to store the translations of Buddhist sutras obtained from India by [[Xuanzang]]. In 707, construction of the [[Small Wild Goose Pagoda]] began. This pagoda measured {{convert|45|m|2|abbr=on}} tall at the time of completion, and was built to store the translations of Buddhist sutras by [[Yijing (monk)|Yijing]]. The massive [[1556 Shaanxi earthquake]] eventually damaged the tower and reduced its height to {{convert|43.4|m|2|abbr=on}}.<ref name="kiang 12">Kiang, 12.</ref>

The [[Nestorian Stele]] is a [[Tang dynasty|Tang Chinese]] [[stele]] erected in 781 that documents 150 years of early [[Christianity in China]].<ref name=hill-108>Hill, Henry, ed (1988). Light from the East: A Symposium on the Oriental Orthodox and Assyrian Churches. Toronto, Canada. pp. 108–109</ref> It is a 279&nbsp;cm tall [[limestone]] block with text in both [[Chinese language|Chinese]] and [[Syriac language|Syriac]] describing the existence of Christian communities in several cities in northern China. It reveals that the initial [[Nestorianism|Nestorian Christian]] church had met recognition by the Tang [[Emperor Taizong of Tang|Emperor Taizong]], due to efforts of the Christian missionary [[Alopen]] in 635.<ref name="lhc">{{cite book |first=Peter |last=Jenkins |year=2008 |title=The Lost History of Christianity: the Thousand-Year Golden Age of the Church in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia – and How It Died |location=New York |publisher=Harper Collins |isbn=978-0-06-147280-0 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/losthistoryofchr00jenk/page/65 65] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/losthistoryofchr00jenk/page/65}}
</ref>

Chang'an was devastated at the end of the Tang dynasty in 904. Residents were forced to move to the new capital city in [[Luoyang]], and a small area in the city continued to be occupied thereafter.

In the era of the [[Song dynasty]], Xi'an was an important [[cultural center]] of scholarship and innovation on matters such as [[science]],<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |year=2002 |title=Xi'an: Geography & History |url=https://festival.si.edu/2002/the-silk-road/xian-geography-and-history/smithsonian |access-date=2024-02-04 |publisher=[[Smithsonian Institution]] |language=en-US}}</ref> as well as [[historiography]], religion,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Jing |first1=Feng |last2=Denyer |first2=Susan |date=October 2019 |title=Safeguarding cultural heritage along the Silk Roads |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000372195 |magazine=World Heritage: The Silk Roads |publisher=[[UNESCO]] |page=10 |issn=1020-4202}}</ref> and [[philosophy]] in China. The [[Song dynasty#Northern Song, 960–1127|Northern Song]] era saw its people, [[political culture]], and strategic location be directly utilized by the Song dynasty proper<ref name=":4" /> and its continued relevance to [[Muslims|Muslim]] travelers into China and [[Chinese Muslim]] residents.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Wood |first=Michael |title=The Story of China: The Epic History of a World Power from the Middle Kingdom to Mao and the China Dream |publisher=[[St. Martin's Press]] |year=2020 |isbn=978-1-250-20257-4 |edition=First U.S. |location=New York |page=190 |author-link=Michael Wood (historian)}}</ref>

During the [[Ming dynasty]], a new wall was constructed in 1370 which remains intact to this day. The wall measures {{convert|11.9|km|abbr=on}} in [[circumference]], {{convert|12|m|2|abbr=on}} in height, and {{convert|15|to(-)|18|m|2|abbr=on}} in thickness at the base; a moat was also built outside the walls. The new wall and moat would protect a much smaller city of {{convert|12|km2|abbr=on}}.

===Modern era===
[[File:西安 古城东门 - panoramio.jpg|thumb|East Gate of Xi'an]]
[[File:51514-Xian-Pano (27759087230).jpg|thumb|A panorama of modern Xi'an.]]
The Qing dynasty established a walled off Manchu banner quarter in northeast Xi'an, on the site of the former palace of the Ming Prince of Qin. A Han banner quarter was established in the southeast of the city.

Manchu bannermen from the Xi'an banner garrison were praised for maintaining Manchu culture by Kangxi in 1703.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_qtgoTIAiKUC&dq=The+customs+at+Xi%27an+are+very+good%2C&pg=PA280 |page=280 |title=The Manchu Way: The Eight Banners and Ethnic Identity in Late Imperial China |isbn=9780804746847 |last1=Elliott |first1=Mark C. |year=2001 |publisher=Stanford University Press |access-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412041500/https://books.google.com/books?id=_qtgoTIAiKUC&dq=The+customs+at+Xi%27an+are+very+good%2C&pg=PA280 |url-status=live }}</ref> Xi'an garrison Manchus were said to retain Manchu culture far better than all other Manchus at martial skills in the provincial garrisons and they were able to draw their bows properly and perform cavalry archery, unlike Beijing Manchus. The Qianlong emperor received a memorial staying Xi'an Manchu bannermen still had martial skills, although not up to those, in the past in a 1737 memorial from Cimbu.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_qtgoTIAiKUC&dq=Although+the+customs+are+not+the+same+as+in+bygone+days%2C+there+is+still+attention+to+skill+and+diligence&pg=PA281 |page=281 |title=The Manchu Way: The Eight Banners and Ethnic Identity in Late Imperial China |isbn=9780804746847 |last1=Elliott |first1=Mark C. |year=2001 |publisher=Stanford University Press |access-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412041501/https://books.google.com/books?id=_qtgoTIAiKUC&dq=Although+the+customs+are+not+the+same+as+in+bygone+days,+there+is+still+attention+to+skill+and+diligence&pg=PA281 |url-status=live }}</ref> By the 1780s, the military skills of Xi'an Manchu bannermen dropped enormously, and they had been regarded as the most militarily skilled provincial Manchu banner garrison.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_qtgoTIAiKUC&dq=the+last+bastion+of+Manchu+military+virtue&pg=PA282 |title=The Manchu Way: The Eight Banners and Ethnic Identity in Late Imperial China |isbn=9780804746847 |last1=Elliott |first1=Mark C. |year=2001 |publisher=Stanford University Press |access-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-date=April 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429161556/https://books.google.com/books?id=_qtgoTIAiKUC&dq=the+last+bastion+of+Manchu+military+virtue&pg=PA282 |url-status=live }}</ref> Manchu women from the Xi'an garrison often left the walled Manchu garrison and went to [[Huaqing Pool|hot springs]] outside the city, and gained bad reputations for their sexual lives. A Manchu from Beijing, Sumurji, was shocked and disgusted by this after being appointed Lieutenant general of the Manchu garrison of Xi'an and informed the Yongzheng emperor what they were doing.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_qtgoTIAiKUC&dq=Xi%27an%27s+%5B+banner%5D+women+who+go+to+the+hot+springs+are+very+numerous%2C+which+greatly+concerns+their+lives%2C+since+many+of+them+now+have+bad+reputations.+It+would+be+best+to+outlaw+this%2C+too.&pg=PA289 |page=289 |title=The Manchu Way: The Eight Banners and Ethnic Identity in Late Imperial China |isbn=9780804746847 |last1=Elliott |first1=Mark C. |year=2001 |publisher=Stanford University Press |access-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412041505/https://books.google.com/books?id=_qtgoTIAiKUC&dq=Xi%27an%27s+%5B+banner%5D+women+who+go+to+the+hot+springs+are+very+numerous%2C+which+greatly+concerns+their+lives%2C+since+many+of+them+now+have+bad+reputations.+It+would+be+best+to+outlaw+this%2C+too.&pg=PA289 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>YZMaZPZZ (Yongzheng chao Manwen zhupi zouzhe) 1 22 1, Sumurji, YZ7.R7.24.</ref> Han civilians and Manchu bannermen in Xi'an had bad relations, with the bannermen trying to steal at the markets. Manchu Lieutenant general Cimbru reported this to Yongzheng emperor in 1729, after he was assigned there. Governor Yue Rui of Shandong was then ordered by the Yongzheng to report any bannerman misbehaving and warned him not to cover it up in 1730, after Manchu bannermen were put in a quarter in Qingzhou.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_qtgoTIAiKUC&dq=Lieutenant+General+Cimbu+found+that+relations+between+bannermen+and+civilians+were+not+at+all+good.&pg=PA224 |page=224 |title=The Manchu Way: The Eight Banners and Ethnic Identity in Late Imperial China |isbn=9780804746847 |last1=Elliott |first1=Mark C. |year=2001 |publisher=Stanford University Press |access-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412041506/https://books.google.com/books?id=_qtgoTIAiKUC&dq=Lieutenant+General+Cimbu+found+that+relations+between+bannermen+and+civilians+were+not+at+all+good.&pg=PA224 |url-status=live }}</ref> Manchu bannermen from the garrisons in Xi'an and Jingzhou fought in Xinjiang in the 1770s and Manchus from Xi'an garrison fought in other campaigns against the Dzungars and Uyghurs throughout the 1690s and 18th century. In the 1720s Jingzhou, Hangzhou, and Nanjing Manchu banner garrisons fought in Tibet.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_qtgoTIAiKUC&dq=hundred+of+the+seven+thousand+mounted+banner+corps+under+his+com%C2%AD+mand+were+away+on&pg=PA177 |page=177 |title=The Manchu Way: The Eight Banners and Ethnic Identity in Late Imperial China |isbn=9780804746847 |last1=Elliott |first1=Mark C. |year=2001 |publisher=Stanford University Press |access-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-date=April 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429161625/https://books.google.com/books?id=_qtgoTIAiKUC&dq=hundred+of+the+seven+thousand+mounted+banner+corps+under+his+com%C2%AD+mand+were+away+on&pg=PA177 |url-status=live }}</ref>

For the over 200 years they lived next to each other, Han civilians and Manchu bannermen of both genders in Xi'an did not intermarry with each other at all. The Qing dynasty altered its law on intermarriage between Han civilians and Manchu bannermen several times in the dynasty. At the beginning of the Qing dynasty, the Qing allowed Han civilians to marry Manchu women. Then the Qing banned civilians from marrying women from the Eight banners later. In 1865, the Qing allowed Han civilian men to marry Manchu bannerwomen in all garrisons, except the capital garrison of Beijing. There was no formal law on marriage between people in the different banners, like the Manchu and Han banners, but it was informally regulated by social status and custom. In northeastern China, such as Heilongjiang and Liaoning, it was more common for Manchu women to marry Han men, since they were not subjected to the same laws and institutional oversight as Manchus and Han in Beijing and elsewhere.<ref>https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol38/34/38-34.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405203748/https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol38/34/38-34.pdf |date=April 5, 2023 }} Demographic Research Volume 38, Article 34, Pages 929-966 Published 9 March 2018 http://www.demographic-research.org/Volumes/Vol38/34/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416052619/https://www.demographic-research.org/Volumes/Vol38/34/ |date=April 16, 2023 }} DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2018.38.34 Research Article Interethnic marriage in Northeast China, 1866–1913 Bijia Chen Cameron Campbell Hao Dong p 937</ref>

In October 1911, during the [[Xinhai revolution]], revolutionaries stormed the Manchu fort in Xi'an. Most of the city's 20,000 Manchus were killed.<ref name="Ernest Frank Borst-Smith 1912">Ernest Frank Borst-Smith, ''Caught in the Chinese Revolution: a record of risks and rescue''. London: [[T. Fisher Unwin]], 1912.</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Crossley |first1=Pamela Kyle |title=Orphan Warriors: Three Manchu Generations and the End of the Qing World |date=1991 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=0691008779 |page=197 |edition=illustrated, reprint |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NUTE8V-WhwoC&pg=PA197 |access-date=May 10, 2019 |archive-date=August 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813014007/https://books.google.com/books?id=NUTE8V-WhwoC&pg=PA197 |url-status=live }}</ref> Hui (Muslims; then referred to as "Mohammedans") were divided in its support for the revolution. Those of Shaanxi supported the revolutionaries, while those of Gansu supported the Qing. The Hui of Xi'an (Shaanxi province) joined the Han Chinese revolutionaries in slaughtering the Manchus.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Backhouse |first1=Sir Edmund |last2=Otway |first2=John |last3=Bland |first3=Percy |title=Annals & Memoirs of the Court of Peking: (from the 16th to the 20th Century) |date=1914 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin |page=[https://archive.org/details/annalsmemoirsoft002081mbp/page/n241 209] |edition=reprint |url=https://archive.org/details/annalsmemoirsoft002081mbp}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Atlantic, Volume 112 |date=1913 |publisher=Atlantic Monthly Company |page=779 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mj4wAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA779 |access-date=May 10, 2019 |archive-date=August 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813014054/https://books.google.com/books?id=Mj4wAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA779 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 112 |date=1913 |publisher=Atlantic Monthly Company |page=779 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SGACAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA779}}</ref> Some wealthy Manchus survived by being [[ransom]]ed. Wealthy Han Chinese enslaved Manchu girls<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rhoads |first1=Edward J. M. |title=Manchus and Han: Ethnic Relations and Political Power in Late Qing and Early Republican China, 1861–1928 |date=2000 |publisher=University of Washington Press |isbn=0295980400 |page=192 |edition=illustrated, reprint |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QiM2pF5PDR8C&pg=PA192}}</ref> and poor Han Chinese troops seized young Manchu women as wives.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rhoads |first1=Edward J. M. |title=Manchus and Han: Ethnic Relations and Political Power in Late Qing and Early Republican China, 1861–1928 |date=2000 |publisher=University of Washington Press |isbn=0295980400 |page=193 |edition=illustrated, reprint |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QiM2pF5PDR8C&pg=PA193}}</ref> Hui Muslims also seized young pretty Manchu girls and raised them as Muslims.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Fitzgerald |first1=Charles Patrick |last2=Kotker |first2=Norman |editor1-last=Kotker |editor1-first=Norman |title=The Horizon history of China |date=1969 |publisher=American Heritage Pub. Co. |page=365 |isbn=9780828100052 |edition=illustrated |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vPRxAAAAMAAJ&q=manchu+girls}}</ref>

A British missionary who witnessed the massacre commented that "Old and young, men and women, children alike, were all butchered... Houses were plundered and then burnt; those who would fain have laid hidden till the storm was past, were forced to come out into the open. The revolutionaries, protected by a parapet of the wall, poured a heavy, unceasing, relentless fire into the doomed Tartar (Manchu) city, those who tried to escape thence into the Chinese city were cut down as they emerged from the gates."<ref name="Ernest Frank Borst-Smith 1912"/><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OXQkDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Old+and+young,+men+and+women,+little+children,+were+alike+butchered.%22&pg=PA191 |title=Manchus and Han: Ethnic Relations and Political Power in Late Qing and Early Republican China, 1861–1928 |author=Edward J. M. Rhoads |page=191 |publisher=University of Washington |year=2000 |isbn=9780295980409 |access-date=June 21, 2023 |archive-date=June 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621222349/https://books.google.com/books?id=OXQkDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Old+and+young,+men+and+women,+little+children,+were+alike+butchered.%22&pg=PA191 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1936, the [[Xi'an Incident|Xi'an (then "Sian") Incident]] took place in the city during the [[Chinese Civil War]]. The incident helped to bring the [[Kuomintang]] (KMT) and [[Chinese Communist Party]] to form the [[Second United Front]] in order to concentrate on fighting against the [[Imperial Japanese Army]] in the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]].<ref>Guo Rugui, {{lang|zh-hans|《中国抗日战争正面战场作战记》 ,第二部分：从"九一八"事变到西安事变 绥远抗战的巨大影响和军事上的经验}}</ref>

On March 11, 1938, an aerial battle broke out for the first time over Xi'an as [[Imperial Japanese Army Air Service|Imperial Japanese Army Air Force]] aircraft attacked the city, and was engaged by [[Development of Chinese Nationalist air force (1937–1945)|Chinese Air Force]] [[Polikarpov I-15|I-15]] fighter planes, led by Lt. [[Cen Zeliu]] of the 5th Pursuit Group, 17th Squadron.<ref>{{cite web |last=蔡 |first=乔治 |title=第五大队副队长 岑泽鎏 |url=http://flyingtiger-cacw.com/gb_902.htm |access-date=2021-04-08 |website=flyingtiger-cacw.com |quote=1938年3月8日，在山西风陵渡炸敌。11日，参加西安空战。4月26日，在湖北孝感与僚机合力击落敌机一架。29日，在武汉击伤敌机一架。5月11日，在安徽蒙城炸毁敌军阵地。20日，在河南仪封炸敌阵地，座机中弹百余发，仍勉力飞回。 |archive-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209070913/http://flyingtiger-cacw.com/gb_902.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> While repeatedly attacked by air, Shaanxi was heavily fortified by units of the [[Eighth Route Army]]; Xi'an was never taken by the Japanese forces.<ref>{{cite web |last=Yang |first=HX |date=2016-10-13 |title=Why did not the Japanese army occupied Shaanxi? |url=http://www.bestchinanews.com/History/6613.html|access-date=2021-04-08 |website=www.bestchinanews.com |quote=While Xian became one of the main targets of the Japanese bombing campaign of the 8 years of war, with Japanese aircraft bombing of Shaanxi 560 times, injuring and killing thousands of people, the Japanese basically have not been able to take Xian, nor occupy any land in Shaanxi.|archive-date=May 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513154722/http://www.bestchinanews.com/History/6613.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On May 20, 1949, the Communist-controlled [[People's Liberation Army]] captured the city of Xi'an from the [[Kuomintang]] force.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.xa.gov.cn/zwgk/content/content_zwzy1402525_1.htm|script-title=zh:西安市历史沿革 |publisher=City of Xi'an |language=zh-hans|access-date=2011-02-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707042857/http://www.xa.gov.cn/zwgk/content/content_zwzy1402525_1.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-07-07}}</ref>

During the Mao era, Xi'an was further developed as part of the [[Third Front (China)|Third Front Construction]].<ref name=":9">{{Cite book |last1=Marquis |first1=Christopher |url= |title=Mao and Markets: The Communist Roots of Chinese Enterprise |last2=Qiao |first2=Kunyuan |date=2022 |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |isbn=978-0-300-26883-6 |location=New Haven |doi=10.2307/j.ctv3006z6k |jstor=j.ctv3006z6k |oclc=1348572572 |author-link=Christopher Marquis |s2cid=253067190}}</ref>{{Rp|page=186}}

Xi'an made headlines for being one of the many cities where the [[2012 China anti-Japanese demonstrations]] occurred.<ref name=sinapatriot>{{cite news |script-title=zh:打砸抢烧不是爱国是害民 |work=[[Beijing Youth Daily]] |date=2012-09-16 |access-date=2012-09-16 |url=http://news.sina.com.cn/pl/2012-09-16/000025182748.shtml |language=zh-hans  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422190004/http://news.sina.com.cn/pl/2012-09-16/000025182748.shtml |archive-date=April 22, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://sg.news.yahoo.com/photos/demonstrators-hold-chinese-flags-banners-beside-overturned-car-photo-094258536.html |title=Xi'an Protesters Overturn Cars|access-date=2012-09-17}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/15/anti-japan-protests_n_1886427.html |title=Anti-Japan Protests In China Swell, Turn Violent |date=2012-09-15|access-date=2012-09-17 |work=Huffington Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050324/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/15/anti-japan-protests_n_1886427.html|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2022, Xi'an witnessed the largest [[COVID-19]] community outbreak since the initial months of the pandemic hit China.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taipei |first=Rhoda Kwan in |date=2021-12-27 |title=Covid cases rise in Xi'an as China battles biggest community outbreak since 2020 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/27/covid-cases-rise-in-xian-as-china-battles-biggest-community-outbreak-since-2020 |access-date=2022-01-06 |website=the Guardian |language=en |archive-date=January 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105090152/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/27/covid-cases-rise-in-xian-as-china-battles-biggest-community-outbreak-since-2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> From December 23, 2021, the city was put into strict lockdown after local authorities reported more than 250 cases,<ref>{{cite web |title=13 million people under lockdown in Xi'an, China |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211224_16 |work=NHK |access-date=December 27, 2021 |archive-date=December 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225160055/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211224_16/ |url-status=live }}</ref> traced to the [[Delta variant]] by authorities.<ref name= "cnbc_20211222">{{Cite news |title=Major Chinese city locks down to control Covid outbreak |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/23/major-chinese-city-locks-down-to-control-covid-outbreak.html |first=Evelyn |last=Cheng |work=CNBC |date=22 December 2021 |access-date=3 January 2021 |archive-date=January 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104022529/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/23/major-chinese-city-locks-down-to-control-covid-outbreak.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This led to stressed healthcare and delayed or insufficient food deliveries to some part of the city.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Tales of anguish emerge from China's locked-down Xian, as hospitals demand patients be covid-free |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/01/05/china-covid-xian-lockdown-miscarriage/ |access-date=2022-01-06 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=January 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105114103/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/01/05/china-covid-xian-lockdown-miscarriage/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Restrictions of Xi'an were lifted on January 24.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-26 |title=China is determined to make the Winter Olympics go smoothly |url=https://www.economist.com/china/china-is-determined-to-make-the-winter-olympics-go-smoothly/21807403 |access-date=2022-02-02 |website=[[Economist]] |publication-date=2022-01-29 |archive-date=February 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202150018/https://www.economist.com/china/china-is-determined-to-make-the-winter-olympics-go-smoothly/21807403 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Meibei Lake,Huyi District,Xi'an.jpg|thumb|Meibei Lake, [[Huyi District]], Xi'an]]
Xi'an lies on the [[Guanzhong|Guanzhong Plain]] in the south-central part of [[Shaanxi]] province, on a flood plain created by the eight surrounding rivers and streams.

The city borders the northern foot of the [[Qin Mountains]] (Qinling) to the south, and the banks of the [[Wei River]] to the north. [[Mount Hua|Hua Shan]], one of the five sacred Taoist mountains, is located {{convert|100|km|abbr=on}} away to the east of the city. Not far to the north is the [[Loess Plateau]].

[[File:Txu-oclc-10552568-ni49-5.jpg|left|thumb|Map including Xi'an (labeled HSI-AN (SIAN) (walled)) ([[Army Map Service|AMS]], 1955)]]
At the beginning of Han dynasty, the Chief of Staff [[Zhang Liang (Western Han)|Zhang Liang]] advised the emperor [[Liu Bang]] to choose Guanzhong as the capital of the Han dynasty: "Guanzhong Plain is located behind [[Mount Xiao]] and [[Hangu Pass]], and connects Long ([[Gansu]]) and Shu ([[Sichuan]]). The area can be called an irony castle spreads for thousands of miles, and is rich in harvest like the nation of heaven." ({{lang|zh-hans|关中左崤函，右陇蜀，沃野千里，此所谓金城千里，天府之国也}}) Since then, Guanzhong is also known as the 'Nation of the Heaven'.<ref>{{lang|zh-Hans|《史记·留侯世家》}}{{full citation needed|date=May 2020}}</ref>

==Climate==

Xi'an has a [[temperateness|temperate]] climate that is influenced by the [[East Asian monsoon]], classified under the [[Köppen climate classification]] as a borderline [[humid subtropical climate|humid subtropical]] and [[humid continental climate]] (''Cwa/Dwa''). The Wei River valley is characterized by hot, [[Humidity|humid]] summers, cold, dry winters, and dry springs and autumns. Most of the annual [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] is delivered from July to late October. Snow occasionally falls in winter but rarely settles for long. [[Dust storm]]s often occur during March and April as the city rapidly warms up. Summer months also experience frequent but short [[thunderstorm]]s. The monthly 24-hour average temperature ranges from around the freezing mark in January to {{convert|27.0|°C|1}} in July, with an annual mean of {{convert|14.08|°C|1}}. Extremes since 1951 have ranged from {{convert|−20.6|°C|0}} on January 11, 1955, to {{convert|41.8|°C|0}} on June 21, 1998 and July 24, 2017. A highest record of {{convert|42.9|°C|0}} was registered in another station on June 17, 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/dataSetLogger.do?changeFlag%3DdataLogger |title=无标题文档 |access-date=2013-02-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318113757/http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/dataSetLogger.do?changeFlag=dataLogger |archive-date=2013-03-18}}</ref><ref name = Mherrera/> An unofficial record low of {{convert|-25.0|°C|0}} was also recorded in January 1930, but at another weather station in the northern suburbs of the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=中国各地城市的历史最低气温 |url=https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404203050792315805 |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=weibo.com}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Xi'an ([[Chang'an District, Xi'an|Chang'an District]]), elevation {{convert|445|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1951–2013)

|metric first = Y
|single line  = Y
|collapsed    = Y

|Jan high C = 5.0
|Feb high C = 9.3
|Mar high C = 15.5
|Apr high C = 22.1
|May high C = 26.9
|Jun high C = 31.7
|Jul high C = 32.8
|Aug high C = 30.7
|Sep high C = 25.4
|Oct high C = 19.3
|Nov high C = 12.6
|Dec high C = 6.6
|Jan mean C = -0.5
|Feb mean C = 3.3
|Mar mean C = 9.0
|Apr mean C = 15.1
|May mean C = 20.0
|Jun mean C = 24.9
|Jul mean C = 26.9
|Aug mean C = 25.0
|Sep mean C = 19.9
|Oct mean C = 13.7
|Nov mean C = 6.9
|Dec mean C = 1.1
|year mean C = 	
|Jan low C = -4.4
|Feb low C = -1.1
|Mar low C = 3.9
|Apr low C = 9.2
|May low C = 13.9
|Jun low C = 18.7
|Jul low C = 21.7
|Aug low C = 20.5
|Sep low C = 15.8
|Oct low C = 9.8
|Nov low C = 2.8
|Dec low C = -2.7

|Jan record high C = 17.0
|Feb record high C = 24.1
|Mar record high C = 31.3
|Apr record high C = 34.9
|May record high C = 38.6
|Jun record high C = 41.8
|Jul record high C = 41.0
|Aug record high C = 40.0
|Sep record high C = 38.5
|Oct record high C = 34.1
|Nov record high C = 24.5
|Dec record high C = 21.6
|year record high C= 41.8
|Jan record low C = −20.6
|Feb record low C = −18.7
|Mar record low C =  −7.6
|Apr record low C =  −4.0
|May record low C =  3.5
|Jun record low C =  9.2
|Jul record low C =  15.1
|Aug record low C =  12.1
|Sep record low C =  4.8
|Oct record low C = −1.9
|Nov record low C = −16.8
|Dec record low C = −19.3
|year record low C= −20.6
|precipitation colour = green	
|Jan precipitation mm = 8.8
|Feb precipitation mm = 13.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 28.4
|Apr precipitation mm = 49.6
|May precipitation mm = 68.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 85.6
|Jul precipitation mm = 103.8
|Aug precipitation mm = 96.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 117.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 66.6
|Nov precipitation mm = 27.9
|Dec precipitation mm = 6.5
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm	
|Jan precipitation days = 4.0
|Feb precipitation days = 4.7
|Mar precipitation days = 7.2
|Apr precipitation days = 7.8
|May precipitation days = 9.8
|Jun precipitation days = 9.1
|Jul precipitation days = 10.8
|Aug precipitation days = 10.4
|Sep precipitation days = 12.3
|Oct precipitation days = 11.0
|Nov precipitation days = 6.1
|Dec precipitation days = 3.5
|year precipitation days = 	
|Jan humidity = 67
|Feb humidity = 67
|Mar humidity = 65
|Apr humidity = 66
|May humidity = 66
|Jun humidity = 63
|Jul humidity = 70
|Aug humidity = 76
|Sep humidity = 80
|Oct humidity = 80
|Nov humidity = 77
|Dec humidity = 69
|Jan sun = 120.2
|Feb sun = 121.4
|Mar sun = 160.2
|Apr sun = 185.1
|May sun = 200.1
|Jun sun = 201.2
|Jul sun = 209.3
|Aug sun = 176.1
|Sep sun = 135.2
|Oct sun = 119.8
|Nov sun = 120.6
|Dec sun = 121.7
|year sun = 	
| Jan percentsun = 38
| Feb percentsun = 39
| Mar percentsun = 43
| Apr percentsun = 47
| May percentsun = 46
| Jun percentsun = 47
| Jul percentsun = 48
| Aug percentsun = 43
| Sep percentsun = 37
| Oct percentsun = 35
| Nov percentsun = 39
| Dec percentsun = 40
| year percentsun =	
|Jan snow days = 4.7
|Feb snow days = 3.7
|Mar snow days = 1.3
|Apr snow days = 0.1
|May snow days = 0.1
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0
|Nov snow days = 1.3
|Dec snow days = 2.8
|year snow days = 	
|source 1 = China Meteorological Administration<ref name="cma graphical">{{cite web |url=http://data.cma.cn/data/weatherBk.html |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data |publisher=[[China Meteorological Administration]] |language=zh-hans |access-date=3 July 2023 |archive-date=September 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905194950/http://data.cma.cn/data/weatherBk.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=https://experience.arcgis.com/template/e724038fda394e9d9b7921f10fd1aa55/page/%E7%BA%AF%E8%A1%A8%E6%A0%BC%E7%BB%9F%E8%AE%A1-(%E5%AF%B9%E6%AF%948110%E5%8F%98%E5%8C%96)/?org=UQmaps
|script-title = zh:CMA台站气候标准值(1991-2020)
|publisher =  [[China Meteorological Administration]]
 | language = zh | access-date = 2023-04-11
|title = Experience Template
}}</ref><ref name=CMA>{{cite web
 |url=http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/shuju/index3.jsp?tpcat=SURF&dsid=SURF_CLI_CHN_MUL_MMON_19712000_CES&pageid=3
 |script-title=zh:中国气象局 国家气象信息中心
 | language = zh-hans
 |access-date=2009-03-17
 |publisher=[[China Meteorological Administration]]
 |date=June 2011
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090716061113/http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/shuju/index3.jsp?tpcat=SURF&dsid=SURF_CLI_CHN_MUL_MMON_19712000_CES&pageid=3
 |archive-date=2009-07-16
}}</ref> all-time extreme temperature<ref name = Mherrera>
{{cite web |url=http://www.mherrera.org/temp.htm |title=Extreme Temperatures Around the World|access-date= February 21, 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140804202145/http://www.mherrera.org/temp.htm|archive-date= August 4, 2014|url-status= live |df=mdy-all}}
</ref>
|date=August 2013}}
{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Xi'an (Jinghe Station), elevation {{convert|410|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (2015–2024 normals)

|metric first = Y
|single line  = Y
|collapsed    = Y

|Jan high C = 6.3
|Feb high C = 10.4
|Mar high C = 17.7
|Apr high C = 23.1
|May high C = 27.8
|Jun high C = 32.2
|Jul high C = 33.3
|Aug high C = 32.4
|Sep high C = 27.0
|Oct high C = 19.3
|Nov high C = 13.4
|Dec high C = 7.5
|Jan mean C = 1.6
|Feb mean C = 5.0
|Mar mean C = 12.1
|Apr mean C = 17.1
|May mean C = 21.6
|Jun mean C = 26.3
|Jul mean C = 27.9
|Aug mean C = 27.2
|Sep mean C = 22.1
|Oct mean C = 14.7
|Nov mean C = 8.8
|Dec mean C = 2.8
|year mean C = 	
|Jan low C = -2.0
|Feb low C = 0.9
|Mar low C = 7.6
|Apr low C = 12.1
|May low C = 16.5
|Jun low C = 21.2
|Jul low C = 23.6
|Aug low C = 23.3
|Sep low C = 18.4
|Oct low C = 11.4
|Nov low C = 5.4
|Dec low C = -0.8
|precipitation colour = green	
|Jan precipitation mm = 8.8
|Feb precipitation mm = 13.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 28.4
|Apr precipitation mm = 49.6
|May precipitation mm = 68.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 85.6
|Jul precipitation mm = 103.8
|Aug precipitation mm = 96.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 117.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 66.6
|Nov precipitation mm = 27.9
|Dec precipitation mm = 6.5
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm	
|Jan precipitation days = 4.0
|Feb precipitation days = 4.7
|Mar precipitation days = 7.2
|Apr precipitation days = 7.8
|May precipitation days = 9.8
|Jun precipitation days = 9.1
|Jul precipitation days = 10.8
|Aug precipitation days = 10.4
|Sep precipitation days = 12.3
|Oct precipitation days = 11.0
|Nov precipitation days = 6.1
|Dec precipitation days = 3.5
|year precipitation days = 	
|Jan humidity = 67
|Feb humidity = 67
|Mar humidity = 65
|Apr humidity = 66
|May humidity = 66
|Jun humidity = 63
|Jul humidity = 70
|Aug humidity = 76
|Sep humidity = 80
|Oct humidity = 80
|Nov humidity = 77
|Dec humidity = 69
|Jan sun = 120.2
|Feb sun = 121.4
|Mar sun = 160.2
|Apr sun = 185.1
|May sun = 200.1
|Jun sun = 201.2
|Jul sun = 209.3
|Aug sun = 176.1
|Sep sun = 135.2
|Oct sun = 119.8
|Nov sun = 120.6
|Dec sun = 121.7
|year sun = 	
| Jan percentsun = 38
| Feb percentsun = 39
| Mar percentsun = 43
| Apr percentsun = 47
| May percentsun = 46
| Jun percentsun = 47
| Jul percentsun = 48
| Aug percentsun = 43
| Sep percentsun = 37
| Oct percentsun = 35
| Nov percentsun = 39
| Dec percentsun = 40
| year percentsun =	
|Jan snow days = 4.7
|Feb snow days = 3.7
|Mar snow days = 1.3
|Apr snow days = 0.1
|May snow days = 0.1
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0
|Nov snow days = 1.3
|Dec snow days = 2.8
|year snow days = 	
|source 1 = China Meteorological Administration<ref name="cma graphical">{{cite web |url=http://data.cma.cn/data/weatherBk.html |script-title=zh:中国气象数据网 – WeatherBk Data |publisher=[[China Meteorological Administration]] |language=zh-hans |access-date=3 July 2023 |archive-date=September 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905194950/http://data.cma.cn/data/weatherBk.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=https://experience.arcgis.com/template/e724038fda394e9d9b7921f10fd1aa55/page/%E7%BA%AF%E8%A1%A8%E6%A0%BC%E7%BB%9F%E8%AE%A1-(%E5%AF%B9%E6%AF%948110%E5%8F%98%E5%8C%96)/?org=UQmaps
|script-title = zh:CMA台站气候标准值(1991-2020)
|publisher =  [[China Meteorological Administration]]
 | language = zh | access-date = 2023-04-11
|title = Experience Template
}}</ref><ref name=CMA>{{cite web
 |url=http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/shuju/index3.jsp?tpcat=SURF&dsid=SURF_CLI_CHN_MUL_MMON_19712000_CES&pageid=3
 |script-title=zh:中国气象局 国家气象信息中心
 | language = zh-hans
 |access-date=2009-03-17
 |publisher=[[China Meteorological Administration]]
 |date=June 2011
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090716061113/http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/shuju/index3.jsp?tpcat=SURF&dsid=SURF_CLI_CHN_MUL_MMON_19712000_CES&pageid=3
 |archive-date=2009-07-16
}}</ref> all-time extreme temperature<ref name = Mherrera>
{{cite web |url=http://www.mherrera.org/temp.htm |title=Extreme Temperatures Around the World|access-date= February 21, 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140804202145/http://www.mherrera.org/temp.htm|archive-date= August 4, 2014|url-status= live |df=mdy-all}}
</ref>
|date=August 2013}}

===National Time Service Center===
The [[National Time Service Center|Shaanxi Astronomical Observatory]] was established in 1966. In 1975, according to the Geodetic Origin Report of the People's Republic of China, 'in order to avoid bias in the mensuration as much as possible, the Geodetic Origin would be in central mainland China.' Lintong ({{lang|zh-hans|临潼}}), a town near Xi'an was chosen. Since 1986, Chinese Standard Time (CST) was set from NTSC. The National Time Service Center (NTSC), the Chinese Academy of Sciences is an institute which is mainly engaged in the service and research on time and frequency. NTSC takes charge of generating and maintaining the national standard time scale, disseminating the time and frequency signals. The autonomous standard time scales of universal time and atomic time and the dissemination techniques with LF radio and HF radio were established successively during the 1970s and 1980s, which meet all the requirements for different applications on the whole, such as the scientific researches, national economy, etc.<ref>[http://www.time.ac.cn/jianjie/1.htm NTSC] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001755/http://www.time.ac.cn/jianjie/1.htm |date=March 4, 2016 }} 国家授时中心简介</ref>

==Demographics==
According to the [[2020 Chinese census|Seventh National Census]] in 2020, the city’s Permanent Population ([[hukou]]) was 12,952,907. The proportion of males is 51.07% and that of females is 48.93%. In terms of age structure, the proportion of 0-14 years old is 15.65%, that of 15-59 years old is 68.33%, that of over 60 years old is 16.02%, and that of over 65 years old is 10.9%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=西安市第七次全国人口普查主要数据公报[1]（第二号）-西安市统计局 |url=https://tjj.xa.gov.cn/tjsj/tjgb/pcgb/60b47aa1f8fd1c0bdc2d59b3.html |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=tjj.xa.gov.cn}}</ref>

The Xi'an [[metropolitan area]] was estimated by the [[OECD]] (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) to have, {{As of|2010|lc=y}}, a population of 12.9 million,<ref name="oecd2015">{{cite book |url=http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/urban-rural-and-regional-development/oecd-urban-policy-reviews-china-2015_9789264230040-en#page39 |title=OECD Urban Policy Reviews: China 2015, OECD READ edition |date=April 18, 2015 |publisher=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]] |isbn=9789264230033 |page=37 |language=en |doi=10.1787/9789264230040-en |issn=2306-9341 |access-date=December 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327210032/http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/urban-rural-and-regional-development/oecd-urban-policy-reviews-china-2015_9789264230040-en#page39 |archive-date=March 27, 2017 |url-status=live}}Linked from the OECD here [http://www.oecd.org/china/oecd-urban-policy-reviews-china-2015-9789264230040-en.htm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209044027/http://www.oecd.org/china/oecd-urban-policy-reviews-china-2015-9789264230040-en.htm|date=December 9, 2017}}</ref>  of which 5,740,000 is urban.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf |title=World urban areas |access-date=November 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503021711/http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf |archive-date=May 3, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

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|HeadStyle    = background-color:#1e6653;color:#ffffff
|ContentStyle = background-color:#c0d9cf;padding:5px;text-align:center;
|Breakdown of Xi'an population by district and county (2010 census)
}}
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{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto;"
|+ Breakdown of Xi'an population by district and county
! scope="col" class="unsortable" rowspan=2 | Division
!! scope="col" colspan=3 | Permanent residents<ref name="Xi'an 2010 permanent">{{cite web|script-title=zh:西安市2010年第六次全国人口普查主要数据公报 |url=http://epaper.xiancn.com/xawb/html/2011-05/25/content_37285.htm |publisher=Xi'an Evening News ({{zh |s=西安晚报 |labels=no}})|access-date=2014-07-03|date=May 25, 2011|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220070842/http://epaper.xiancn.com/xawb/html/2011-05/25/content_37285.htm|archive-date=February 20, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | [[Hukou system|Hukou]] residents<ref>People's Republic of China County-level Division Population Statistics ({{zh|s=《中华人民共和国全国分县市人口统计资料2010》|labels=no}}).</ref>
|-
!! scope="col" style="width:70px;"| Total
!! scope="col" style="width:70px;"| Percentage
!! scope="col" style="width:70px;"| Population density (persons/km<sup>2</sup>)
|-  style="text-align:right; font-weight:bold;"
! style="width:200px;"|'''Xi'an City'''
| style="width:100px;"|12,952,907 || style="width:100px;" |100 || style="width:100px;"|838.66 || style="width:100px;"|7,827,260
|- style="text-align:right;"
! [[Xincheng District, Xi'an|Xincheng District]]
| 644,702 || 4.98 || 19,574.51 || 503,641
|- style="text-align:right;"
! [[Beilin District, Xi'an|Beilin District]]
| 756,840 || 5.84 || 26,298.54 || 732,494
|- style="text-align:right;"
! [[Lianhu District]]
| 1,019,102 || 7.87 || 18,226.61 || 640,911
|- style="text-align:right;"
! [[Baqiao District]]
| 593,962 || 4.59 || 1,833.97 || 508,535
|- style="text-align:right;"
! [[Weiyang District]]
| 833,403 || 5.66 || 3,051.39 || 516,968
|- style="text-align:right;"
! [[Yanta District]]
| 1,202,038 || 9.28 || 7,782.38 || 793,103
|- style="text-align:right;"
! [[Yanliang District]]
| 281,536 || 2.17 || 1,139.26 || 252,449
|- style="text-align:right;"
! [[Lintong District]]
| 675,961 || 5.22 || 716.04 || 697,586
|- style="text-align:right;"
! [[Chang'an District, Xi'an|Chang'an District]]
| 1,090,600 || 8.42 || 681.94 || 980,803
|- style="text-align:right;"
! [[Gaoling District]]
| 416,996 || 3.22 || 1,169.98 || 294,507
|- style="text-align:right;"
! [[Huyi District]]
| 459,417 || 3.55 || 434.87 || 597,071
|- style="text-align:right;"
! [[Lantian County]]
| 491,975 || 3.80 || 256.25 || 643,605
|- style="text-align:right;"
! [[Zhouzhi County]]
| 504,144 || 3.89 || 191.08 || 665,587
|-
!Xixian New District
|1,304,618
|10.07
|
|
|-
!High-tech Industrial Development District
|958,333
|7.40
|
|
|-
!Economic and Technological Development District
|550,411
|4.25
|
|
|-
!Qujiang New District
|399,872
|3.09
|
|
|-
!Aviation industry base District
|21,748
|0.17
|
|
|-
!Aerospace industry base District
|161,304
|1.25
|
|
|-
!Chanba Ecological District
|550,015
|4.25
|
|
|-
!International Port Area
|135,930
|1.05
|
|
|}
<!--{{HideF}}-->

==Administrative divisions==
Xi'an has direct jurisdiction over 11 [[District of China|districts]] and 2 [[County (People's Republic of China)|counties]]:

{| class="wikitable"  style="margin:auto; width:90%; font-size:smaller;"
|-
! colspan="12"| Map
|-
| colspan="12"  style="text-align:center; font-size:normal;"|
<div style="position: relative" class="center">
{{Image label begin|image=Administrative Division Xi'an.png|width=735}}
{{Image label|x=895|y=385|scale=735/1470|text=[[Xincheng District, Xi'an|{{small|'''Xincheng'''}}]]}}
{{Image label|x=865|y=405|scale=735/1470|text=[[Beilin District, Xi'an|{{small|'''Beilin'''}}]]}}
{{Image label|x=820|y=385|scale=735/1470|text=[[Lianhu District|{{small|'''Lianhu'''}}]]}}
{{Image label|x=940|y=350|scale=735/1470|text=[[Baqiao District|'''Baqiao''']]}}
{{Image label|x=815|y=330|scale=735/1470|text=[[Weiyang District, Xi'an|'''Weiyang''']]}}
{{Image label|x=845|y=440|scale=735/1470|text=[[Yanta District|'''Yanta''']]}}
{{Image label|x=1060|y=70|scale=735/1470|text=[[Yanliang District|'''Yanliang''']]}}
{{Image label|x=1070|y=230|scale=735/1470|text=[[Lintong District|'''Lintong''']]}}
{{Image label|x=840|y=560|scale=735/1470|text=[[Chang'an District, Xi'an|'''Chang'an''']]}}
{{Image label|x=1140|y=520|scale=735/1470|text=[[Lantian County|'''Lantian<br />County''']]}}
{{Image label|x=290|y=640|scale=735/1470|text=[[Zhouzhi County|'''Zhouzhi<br />County''']]}}
{{Image label|x=610|y=600|scale=735/1470|text=[[Huyi District|'''Huyi''']]}}
{{Image label|x=925|y=190|scale=735/1470|text=[[Gaoling District|'''Gaoling''']]}}
{{Image label end}}
</div>
|-
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | [[Administrative division codes of the People's Republic of China|Division code]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjbz/cxfldm/2011/index.html |script-title=zh:国家统计局统计用区划代码 |publisher=[[National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China]] |year=2012 |access-date=January 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407065847/http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjbz/cxfldm/2011/index.html |archive-date=April 7, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | English
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Chinese
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Pinyin
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Area in km2<ref>{{cite book |editor=Cáo Yùzhēn 曹玉珍 |title=Guìyáng tǒngjì niánjiàn 2011 |date=2011 |publisher=Zhōngguó tǒngjì chūbǎn shè |trans-title=Guiyang Statistical Yearbook 2011 |script-title=zh:贵阳统计年鉴2011 |language=zh |isbn=978-7-5037-6310-6}}{{pages needed|date=July 2020}}</ref>
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Seat
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Postal code
!! scope="col" colspan=6 | Subdivisions<ref>{{cite book |editor=Chén Yuèliáng 陈越良|script-title=zh:中国民政统计年鉴2011 |title=Zhōngguó Mínzhèng Tǒngjì Niánjiàn 2011 |location=Beijing |publisher=Zhōngguó tǒngjì chūbǎn shè |date=2011 |trans-title=China Civil Affairs' Statistical Yearbook 2011 |isbn=978-7-5037-6306-9}}{{pages needed|date=July 2020}}</ref>
|-
!! scope="col" style="width:45px;"| [[Subdistrict (China)|Subdistricts]]
!! scope="col" style="width:45px;"| [[Town (China)|Towns]]
!! scope="col" style="width:45px;"| Residential communities
!! scope="col" style="width:45px;"| Villages
|-  style="text-align:center; font-weight:bold;"
! 610100 !! Xi'an
| {{lang|zh|西安市}} || {{transliteration|zh|Xī'ān Shì}} || 10,096.81 || [[Weiyang District, Xi'an|Weiyang District]] || 710000 || 113 || 55 || 766 || 2984
|- style="text-align:center;"
! 610102 !! [[Xincheng District, Xi'an|Xincheng District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|新城区}} || {{transliteration|zh|Xīnchéng Qū}} || 30.13 || Xiyi Road Subdistrict<br />({{lang|zh-hans|西一路街道}}) || 710000 || 9 ||  || 105 || 
|- style="text-align:center;"
! 610103 !! [[Beilin District, Xi'an|Beilin District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|碑林区}} || {{transliteration|zh|Bēilín Qū}} || 23.37 || Zhangjiacun Subdistrict<br />({{lang|zh-hans|张家村街道}}) || 710000 || 8 ||  || 100 ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
! 610104 !! [[Lianhu District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|莲湖区}} || {{transliteration|zh|Liánhú Qū}} || 38.32 || Beiyuanmen Subdistrict<br />({{lang|zh-hans|北院门街道}}) || 710000 || 9 ||  || 127 || 5
|- style="text-align:center;"
! 610111 !! [[Baqiao District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|灞桥区}} || {{transliteration|zh|Bàqiáo Qū}} || 324.50 || Fangzhicheng Subdistrict<br />({{lang|zh-hans|纺织城街道}}) || 710000 || 9 ||  || 40 || 223
|- style="text-align:center;"
! 610112 !! [[Weiyang District, Xi'an|Weiyang District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|未央区}} || {{transliteration|zh|Wèiyāng Qū}} || 264.41 || Zhangjiabao Subdistrict<br />({{lang|zh-hans|张家堡街道}}) || 710000 || 12 ||  || 114 || 147
|- style="text-align:center;"
! 610113 !! [[Yanta District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|雁塔区}} || {{transliteration|zh|Yàntǎ Qū}} || 151.45 || Xiaozhai Road Subdistrict<br />({{lang|zh-hans|小寨路街道}}) || 710000 || 8 ||  || 123 || 84
|- style="text-align:center;"
! 610114 !! [[Yanliang District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|阎良区}} || {{transliteration|zh|Yánliáng Qū}} || 244.55 || Fenghuang Road Subdistrict<br />({{lang|zh-hans|凤凰路街道}}) || 710089 || 5 || 2 || 23 || 80
|- style="text-align:center;"
! 610115 !! [[Lintong District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|临潼区}} || {{transliteration|zh|Líntóng Qū}} || 915.97 || Lishan Subdistrict<br />({{lang|zh-hans|骊山街道}}) || 710600 || 23 ||  || 36 || 284
|- style="text-align:center;"
! 610116 !! [[Chang'an District, Xi'an|Chang'an District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|长安区}} || {{transliteration|zh|Cháng'ān Qū}} || 1,588.53 || Weiqu Subdistrict<br />({{lang|zh-hans|韦曲街道}}) || 710100 || 25 ||  || 47 || 659
|- style="text-align:center;"
! 610117 !! [[Gaoling District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|高陵区}} || {{transliteration|zh|Gāolíng Qū}} || 285.03 || Luyuan Subdistrict<br />({{lang|zh-hans|鹿苑街道}}) || 710200 || 3 || 3 || 8 || 88
|- style="text-align:center;"
! 610118 !! [[Huyi District]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|鄠邑区}} || {{transliteration|zh|Hùyì Qū}} || 1,279.42 || Ganting Subdistrict<br />({{lang|zh-hans|甘亭街道}}) || 710300 || 1 || 13 || 21 || 518
|- style="text-align:center;"
! 610122 !! [[Lantian County]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|蓝田县}} || {{transliteration|zh|Lántián Xiàn}} || 2,005.95 || Languan Subdistrict<br />({{lang|zh-hans|蓝关街道}}) || 710500 || 1 || 18 || 8 || 520
|- style="text-align:center;"
! 610124 !! [[Zhouzhi County]]
| {{lang|zh-hans|周至县}} || {{transliteration|zh|Zhōuzhì Xiàn}} || 2,945.20 || Erqu Subdistrict<br />({{lang|zh-hans|二曲街道}}) || 710400 || 1 || 19 || 14 || 376
|}

==Transportation==
Xi'an has many areas that are easily accessible on foot. In many commercial, residential, educational zones in the city, especially in the shopping and entertainment districts around the Bell Tower, underpasses and overpasses have been built for the safety and convenience of pedestrians.

A [[Bicycle-sharing system|bicycle sharing]] network started operating in Xi'an from the year 2013 and today has 52,000 bikes, used by over 200,000 people per day.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://www.bus-info.cn/index.php?c=article&id=2946|script-title=zh:-中国公交信息网 |website=www.bus-info.cn |language=en|access-date=2017-07-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801124240/http://www.bus-info.cn/index.php?c=article&id=2946|archive-date=August 1, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Taxi services are numerous, but many citizens of Xi'an still commute to work using the city's 270 official municipal bus routes serviced by a fleet of over 7,800 buses, with an average system-wide ridership of over 4 million people per day.<ref name=":0" /> The bus network is complemented by a rapidly expanding subway system that carries over 1.5 million commuters per day.<ref name=":0" /> There are more than 2 million registered automobiles<ref>{{cite news |last1=小雪 |first1=翟|script-title=zh:西安机动车数量突破200万辆 |url=http://epaper.xiancn.com/xawb/html/2014-07/04/content_308336.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912162652/http://epaper.xiancn.com/xawb/html/2014-07/04/content_308336.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-09-12 |publisher=西安晚报 |date=2014-07-04}}</ref> in Xi'an; the growing number of personal automobiles also means traffic jams are a common urban issue.

===Metro===
[[File:Train of Line 14 in Xi'an Metro, May 3 2023 (New JC).jpg|thumb|Xi'an Metro [[Line 14 (Xi'an Metro)|Line 14]]]]
[[File:Platform of FENGHUANGCHI Station, Xi'an Metro (Jul 25, 2023).jpg|thumb|Fenghuangchi station]]
{{Main|Xi'an Metro}}

Line 2, running through the city from north (North Railway Station) to south (Weiqu Nan), was the first line opened to the public on September 16, 2011.<ref name="cnr">{{cite web |language=zh-hans |url=http://www.cnr.cn/newscenter/gnxw/201109/t20110916_508511548.shtml |script-title=zh:西安地铁二号线开通 西安迈入"地铁时代" |date=September 16, 2006 |work=China National Radio |location=Beijing |trans-title=Xi'an Metro line brings Xi'an into the "metro era"  |access-date=May 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008133817/http://www.cnr.cn/newscenter/gnxw/201109/t20110916_508511548.shtml |archive-date=October 8, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Operations began on September 28, 2011.<ref name="cnr" /> This line is {{convert|19.9|km|abbr=off|sp=us}} long with 17 stations.<ref>{{cite web |language=zh-hans |url=http://www.xametro.gov.cn/xwshow.asp?id=1065 |script-title=zh:市政府召开西安地铁开通试运营新闻发布会 |date=2011-09-16 |access-date=2012-10-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111114040547/http://www.xametro.gov.cn/xwshow.asp?id=1065 |archive-date=2011-11-14}}</ref> Line 1 opened on September 15, 2013. As a west–east railway, its 19 stations connect [[Houweizhai Station|Houweizhai]] and [[Fangzhicheng Station|Fangzhicheng]]. Line 3 runs from northeast ([[Baoshuiqu Station (Xi'an)|Baoshuiqu]]) to southwest (Yuhuazhai) and opened on November 8, 2016. Line 4, which is basically parallel to Line 2 on its east except for the northern parts, runs from the North Square of the North Railway Station [Beikezhan (Beiguangchang)] to south (Hangtianxincheng) and was available publicly on December 26, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.travelchinaguide.com/news/show.asp?nid=306 |work=Travel China Guide |title=Xian: the Building of Subway to Start This Year |date=September 14, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103231053/http://www.travelchinaguide.com/news/show.asp?nid=306 |archive-date=2014-01-03}}</ref> Line 5 opened on December 28, 2020. This line is 41.6 kilometers long, with 31 stations from Matengkong to Chuangxingang.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-11-29 |title=西安地铁5号线6号线一期9号线开通运营 王浩胡润泽韩松出席仪式 李明远宣布通车 |work=Xi'an Government |url=http://www.xa.gov.cn/xw/xayw/5fea8612f8fd1c5966581a21.html |access-date=2021-11-23 |archive-date=November 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123155515/http://www.xa.gov.cn/xw/xayw/5fea8612f8fd1c5966581a21.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Line 16 opened on June 27, 2023, and is 15.03 kilometers long, and runs from [[Qinchuangyuanzhongxin station|Qinchuangyuanzhongxin]] to [[Shijingli station|Shijingli]] with 9 stations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CCD5066动车组 - 动车组列车 - 记录动车组列车发展历程——慧伊创新科技（北京）有限公司 |url=https://china-emu.cn/EMUs/Metro/Model/?M-609-T.html |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=china-emu.cn}}</ref> Four more lines are currently under construction, including an extension of Line 1.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sxdaily.com.cn/2020-06/12/content_8572085.html | title=西安地铁1号线三期工程建设有序推进 线路长10.61公里设7座车站 }}</ref>

The subway system covers some of the most famous attractions, such as [[Banpo Museum]] (Banpo Station, Line 1), Bell and Drum Tower (Line 2), [[Fortifications of Xi'an]] (Line 2), the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (Line 3 and Line 4), the Daminggong National Heritage Park (Line 4) and [[Shaanxi History Museum]] (Line 2, 3 and 4), etc.<ref name="xian">[http://chinatour.net/shaanxi/xian/transportation "Xi'an Transportation" ChinaTour.Net] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402170737/http://chinatour.net/shaanxi/xian/transportation/ |date=April 2, 2015 }} Accessed December 4, 2014</ref>

The first metro departure time for Line 1, 2, 3 and 4 is 6:00, the last metro departure time for Line 3 and 4 is 23:00, for Line 1 is 23:30, and for Line 2 is 23:50.<ref>{{cite web |script-title=zh:一、二、三、四号线首末班车时刻表 |url=http://www.xametro.gov.cn/html/yunyingshikebiao/20181225/3907.html |publisher=Xi'an Metro |access-date=February 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103161219/http://www.xametro.gov.cn/html/yunyingshikebiao/20181225/3907.html |archive-date=January 3, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On December 30, 2008, a fire accident occurred that was extinguished within an hour and all workers evacuated safely. Sixty-six hours later, on January 2, another fire occurred at another station on Line 2.<ref>{{cite web |title=Subway Collapse Kills Two in Xi'an |date=August 3, 2009 |work=CRIENGLISH.com |url=http://english.cri.cn/6909/2009/08/03/189s506039.htm |publisher=China Radio International |access-date=May 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529052422/http://english.cri.cn/6909/2009/08/03/189s506039.htm |archive-date=May 29, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Rail===
[[File:South facade of Xi'anbei Railway Station 20200429.jpg|thumb|[[Xi'an North railway station]]]]
[[Xi'an North railway station]], situated a few miles to the north of the city centre, is the station for the high-speed trains of the [[Zhengzhou–Xi'an High-Speed Railway]], part of the [[Xuzhou–Lanzhou high-speed railway]]. Construction work on the Zhengzhou–Xi'an High-Speed Railway began on September 25, 2005, the railway opened for service on February 6, 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/regional/2010-02/06/content_9439243.htm |work=China Daily |title=Zhengzhou-Xi'an high-speed train starts operation |date=February 6, 2010 |access-date=2010-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203162244/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/regional/2010-02/06/content_9439243.htm |archive-date=February 3, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3844214 |work=iStockAnalyst |title=High-speed rail linking central, western China starts operation |date=February 6, 2010 |access-date=2010-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208233344/http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3844214 |archive-date=February 8, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The railway made air service between Zhengzhou and Xi'an uncompetitive. All passenger flights between the two cities were suspended within 48 days of start of regular high-speed rail service.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idINTOE62P04E20100326 |title=China express train forces airlines to stop flights |date=2010-03-26|access-date=2010-03-28 |publisher=Reuters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330090345/http://in.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idINTOE62P04E20100326|archive-date=March 30, 2010}}</ref> With 34 platforms, Xi'an North was the largest railway station in [[Northwest China]] when it was opened.<ref name=gazette>{{cite web |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/growth-to-continue.html |work=Railway Gazette International |title=Growth to continue |date=March 3, 2011 |publisher=DVV Media UK |access-date=May 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309040730/http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/growth-to-continue.html |archive-date=March 9, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Construction of the station began on September 19, 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.railcn.net/news/railway-important/railroad70251.html |script-title=zh:郑西客运专线西安北站将建成大型综合交通枢纽中心 |work=China Railway Network |trans-title=Zhengzhou to Xi'an: Xi'an North Passenger Station will be a large-scale transport hub |date=September 20, 2008 |author=Tang Ru |publisher=www.railcn.net Corporation |language=zh  |access-date=February 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031726/http://www.railcn.net/news/railway-important/railroad70251.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The station was opened on January 11, 2011.<ref name=gazette />  It is also served by the [[Datong–Xi'an high-speed railway]], which connects to {{rws|Beijing North}}, the [[Xi'an–Chengdu high-speed railway]] and the [[Yinchuan–Xi'an high-speed railway]].

[[Xi'an railway station]] is located just north of Xi'an's walled city and is the main hub of conventional rail services in Shaanxi Province. It covers {{convert|597,000|m2|lk=out|abbr=off|sp=us}}, has 6 passenger platforms and 11 passenger tracks. It provides 112 services to 80 000 people daily. Among the destinations served by direct trains from Xi'an are [[Beijing]], [[Zhengzhou]], [[Lanzhou]], [[Baoji]], and [[Mount Hua]].
[[File:Airport, Terminal JP7562176.jpg|thumb|[[Xi'an Xianyang International Airport]]]]

{{rws|Xi'an East}} and {{rws|Xi'an South}} are large stations now under construction to serve new high-speed lines being built, such as the [[Xi'an–Chongqing high speed railway|Xi'an–Chongqing HSR]] and the [[Wuhan–Shiyan high-speed railway|Wuhan–Xi'an HSR]].

The city's other stations include {{rws|Xi'an West}}, {{rws|Yinzhen}}, Sanmincun, and Fangzhicheng.

===Air===
[[Xi'an Xianyang International Airport]] (airport code: XIY) is the major airport serving the city and it is the largest airport in the northwestern part of China. It is 25 miles northwest of Xi'an city center, and 8 miles northeast of the center of Xianyang.<ref name="yearbook">{{cite web |url=http://lib.sxsdq.cn/bin/mse.exe?seachword=&K=b&A=1&rec=134&run=13 |script-title=zh:陕西年鉴1992 |trans-title=Shaanxi Yearbook 1992 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529051806/http://lib.sxsdq.cn/bin/mse.exe?seachword=&K=b&A=1&rec=134&run=13 |archive-date=2014-05-29}}</ref> [[China Eastern Airlines]], [[Hainan Airlines]] and [[China Southern Airlines]] are the main airlines using the airport. Terminal 3 and the second runway were opened on May 3, 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/xian-airport-new-terminal-building-to-support-continued-strong-growth-rates-74009 |title=Xian Airport opens new terminal building with strong focus on retail growth |access-date=May 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523225658/http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/xian-airport-new-terminal-building-to-support-continued-strong-growth-rates-74009 |archive-date=May 23, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Construction of Terminal 5 began in 2022 and was completed in September 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Xi'an Xianyang International Airport Terminal 5 set to open-en.xa.gov.cn |url=https://en.xa.gov.cn/CultureTravel/Transportation/1873656097505083393.html |access-date=2025-03-02 |website=en.xa.gov.cn}}</ref>

Other than linking to most Chinese cities, the airport also has flights to several major international destinations, including Tokyo, Seoul, Lhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xi%27an&action=editondon, Paris and Sydney. 

==Culture and religion==
{{Multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 220
| image1            = Xian-Grosse Moschee-08-2012-gje.jpg
| caption1          = A typical Chinese pavilion located in Xi'an
| image2            = Xi'anviewpic5.jpg
| caption2          = Traditional Chinese musical performances at Xi'an
| image3            = Biang Biang Noodles at Qintangyizhan, Tianzhu, Beijing (20200412133323).jpg
| caption3          = [[Biangbiang noodles|Biang Biang Noodles]]
}}

===Resident artists===
Xi'an is home to contemporary Chinese stars such as [[Xu Wei (musician)|Xu Wei]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-07/05/content_457197.htm |work=Shenzhen Daily |publisher=China Daily |title=Xu Wei to rock fans in grand concert |date=2005-07-05 |access-date=2014-05-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924065658/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-07/05/content_457197.htm |archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref> [[Zhang Chu (singer)|Zhang Chu]] and [[Zheng Jun]].

===Xi'an cuisine===
{{Main|Shaanxi cuisine}}
''[[Paomo|Yangrou paomo]]'' (flat bread soaked in lamb soup; {{zh|s=羊肉泡馍|t=羊肉泡饃|hp=Yángròu pàomó|links=no}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/food/2004-05/14/content_1470562.htm |script-title=zh:陕西小吃-羊肉泡馍 |publisher=News.xinhuanet.com |access-date=2014-05-28  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126214304/http://news.xinhuanet.com/food/2004-05/14/content_1470562.htm |archive-date=November 26, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> is a well known Xi'anese dish.

''[[Liangpi|Liang pi]]'' (cold rice noodles; {{zh|links=no|s=凉皮|t=涼皮|p=liángpí}}) are wheat or rice noodles served cold with vinegar and chili oil.

''[[Biangbiang noodles|Biangbiang mian]]'', also known as ''youpo chemian'' ({{zh|s=油泼扯面|t=油潑扯麵|hp=Yóupō chěmiàn|links=no}}), are thick and long hand-pulled noodles, typically served with red hot pepper.

''[[Roujiamo]]'' (meat buns; {{zh|s=肉夾馍|t=肉夾饃|hp=Ròujiāmó|links=no}}) is a bun filled with pork.

=== Qinqiang ===
[[Qinqiang]] (Voice of Qin) is the oldest and most extensive of the four major types of Chinese opera.<ref>{{cite news |title=China promove programas diversificados durante o Festival da Primavera |newspaper=[[China Radio International]] |date=February 8, 2008 |url=http://portuguese.cri.cn/135/2008/02/08/1@83413.htm |access-date=2010-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001047/http://portuguese.cri.cn/135/2008/02/08/1@83413.htm |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead}} ([https://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fportuguese.cri.cn%2F135%2F2008%2F02%2F08%2F1@83413.htm English] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117034335/http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fportuguese.cri.cn%2F135%2F2008%2F02%2F08%2F1@83413.htm |date=November 17, 2015 }})</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Chinese opera The First Emperor transmitted live into theaters worldwide |newspaper=[[People's Daily]] |date=January 14, 2007 |url=http://english.people.com.cn/200701/14/eng20070114_341080.html |access-date=2010-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529052153/http://english.people.com.cn/200701/14/eng20070114_341080.html |archive-date=May 29, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Miraculous response: doing popular religion in contemporary China |last=Yuet Chau |first=Adam |year=2006 |publisher=Stanford University Press |isbn=9780804767651 |page=53 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6puW1nI2o7EC&q=qinqiang&pg=PA53 |access-date=2010-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102151857/https://books.google.com/books?id=6puW1nI2o7EC&pg=PA53&dq=qinqiang#v=onepage&q=qinqiang&f=false |archive-date=January 2, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Another one would be the Empress of the Great Tang is China's first Tang dynasty dance and music show. The story is based on the life of the famous Chinese historical figure [[Wu Zetian|Empress Wu Zetian]] of the [[Tang dynasty]]. Through live performances by a classical Chinese orchestra and state-of-the-art stage design, this show will take you back to the glory of the legendary Empress Wu Zetian and the Great Tang Empire.

===Chinese traditional religion and Taoism===
[[File:The Temple of the Town Deity in Xi'an 13 2013-09.jpg|left|thumb|A pavilion of the City God Temple of Xi'an]]
The most influential religions in Xi'an are the [[Chinese folk religion|Chinese traditional religion]] and [[Taoism|Taoist]] [[Taoist schools|schools]], represented by many major and minor temples. Among these there are a [[City God (China)|City God Temple]], completely reconstructed in the 2010s, and a [[Temple of Confucius]].

===Christianity===
{{see also|Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Xi'an}}
The first recorded Christian missionary in China was [[Alopen]], a [[Syriac language|Syriac]]-speaker, who arrived in Xi'an (then known as Chang'an) in 635 along the [[Silk Road]]. The [[Nestorian Stele]], now located in Xi'an's [[Stele Forest|Beilin Museum]], is a [[Tang dynasty|Tang Chinese]] [[stele]] erected in 781 that documents the 150 years of early [[Christianity in China]] following Alopen.<ref name="hill-108"/> It is a {{convert|279|cm|inch|lk=out|adj=mid|abbr=off|-tall|sp=us}} [[limestone]] block with text in both [[Chinese language|Chinese]] and [[Syriac language|Syriac]] describing the existence of Christian communities in several cities in northern China. The [[Daqin Pagoda]], a Buddhist pagoda in [[Zhouzhi County]] of Xi'an, has been suggested to have originally been a [[Nestorian]] Christian church from the [[Tang dynasty]].<ref name="ReferenceA">Martin Palmer, The Jesus Sutras: Rediscovering the Lost Religion of Taoist Christianity, {{ISBN|0-7499-2250-8}}, 2001</ref>

Baptist missionaries from England ran a hospital in Xi'an.<ref>[[Peter Fleming (writer)|Fleming, Peter]] (1936) ''[[News from Tartary]]''. London: Jonathan Cape; pp. 46–48</ref> In 1892, [[Arthur Gostick Shorrock]]<ref name="Shorrock1926">{{cite book |last=Shorrock |first=Arthur Gostick |title=Shensi in Sunshine and Shade |publisher=Presbyterian Mission Press |year=1926 |location=Shanghai}}</ref> and Moir Duncan<ref name="DuncanPapers">{{cite web |title=Duncan Papers (Mundus Gateway to missionary collections in the United Kingdom) |publisher=Angus Library, Regents Park College |url=http://www.mundus.ac.uk/cats/10/1004.htm  |access-date = August 14, 2013  |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131011225707/http://www.mundus.ac.uk/cats/10/1004.htm  |archive-date = October 11, 2013  |url-status = dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref> founded the ''Sianfu Mission'', in present-day Xi'an.<ref name="Burt1925">{{cite book |last=Burt |first=Ernest Whitby |title=Fifty Years in China: The Story of the Baptist Mission in Shantung, Shansi, and Shensi, 1875–1925 |publisher=The Carey Press |year=1925 |location=London}}</ref><ref name="Glover1914">{{Cite book |year=1914 |title=Herbert Stanley Jenkins, medical missionary, Shensi, China: with some notices of the work of the Baptist Missionary Society in that country (1914) |location=London |publisher=Carey Press |page=155 |url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924023085982 |author=Glover, Richard |isbn=978-0-524-07100-7  |access-date = November 15, 2015  |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160307011738/https://archive.org/details/cu31924023085982  |archive-date = March 7, 2016  |url-status = live |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="Duncan1900">{{Cite book |year=1900 |title=The missionary mail to faithful friends and candid critics (the substance of letters written from Shên His) |location=London |publisher=Elliot Stock |url=https://archive.org/details/pts_missionarymailto_3721-1233 |author=Duncan, Moir Black |isbn=9780524102336}}</ref>

===Islam===
Xi'an has a minority Muslim community, most of these Muslims are from the [[Hui people|Hui]] group, there are an estimated 50,000 Hui Muslims in Xi'an.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.china.com.cn/chinese/2002/Dec/247418.htm |script-title=zh:中国七大中心城市人口资源大调查 |trans-title=Population survey of the seven central cities of China |last1=Zhang |first1=Zhizhong |publisher=National Family Planning Commission  |access-date=August 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923221934/http://www.china.com.cn/chinese/2002/Dec/247418.htm |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> There are seven mosques in Xi'an, the best known being the [[Great Mosque of Xi'an|Great Mosque]].<ref>[http://www.muslim2china.com/china-mosques/list-Xian.html Mosques in Xian] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430042345/http://www.muslim2china.com/china-mosques/list-xian.html |date=April 30, 2017 }} from www.muslim2china.com</ref> The Great Mosque, located in the city center, is one of the oldest and most significant mosques in China. It was built during the Tang Dynasty and has been renovated and expanded over the centuries. The mosque reflects a unique blend of Islamic and traditional Chinese architectural styles.

==Economy==
[[File:长安 沣东大道沣河桥上东望市区.jpg|thumb|220x220px|Fenghe Bridge]]
As part of the [[China Western Development]] policy, Xi'an became a major target for accelerated attention. From 1997 to 2006, the industrial output value of Xi'an's service industry increased at an annual average rate of 13 percent, compared to traditional service industries of 0.74&nbsp;percent, representing a growth from US$8.113 billion to US$25.85 billion.<ref name="chinacenter">{{cite web |url=http://www.chinacenter.net/developing-western-china-xians-maturing-economy-and-the-role-of-producer-services/ |title=Xi'an's Maturing Economy |date=April 17, 2010 |access-date=2013-06-01 |author=Walcott, Susan |archive-date=February 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206191326/https://www.chinacenter.net/2010/china_currents/9-1/developing-western-china-xians-maturing-economy-and-the-role-of-producer-services/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Xi'an is the largest economy of the Shaanxi province, with a GDP of 1.148 trillion Yuan in 2022. On average this value increases by 14.5&nbsp;percent annually, and accounts for approximately 35 percent of [[Shaanxi]]'s total GDP.<ref>{{Cite web |title=China: Xi'an GDP 2022 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/1390382/china-gross-domestic-product-gdp-of-xian/ |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=Statista |language=en}}</ref> At least fifty-eight countries have established over 2,560 enterprises in Xi'an, including nineteen of the Fortune 500 enterprises. These include [[ABB]], [[Mitsubishi]], [[Panasonic]], [[Toshiba]], [[Fujitsu]], [[Coca-Cola Company]] and [[Boeing]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allroadsleadtochina.com/2007/01/17/city-report-xian/ |title=City Report: Xi'an |date=January 17, 2007<!-- 2:48 -->  |access-date=2013-06-02  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003150916/http://www.allroadsleadtochina.com/2007/01/17/city-report-xian/  |archive-date=October 3, 2014  |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Xi'an's capacity in information technology, advanced materials, aerospace, energy, and chemical engineering was highlighted in the western development policies in the ''Guiding Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Development of the West in the New Era and Forming a New Pattern''.<ref name=":9" />{{Rp|page=186}}

In 2020, Xi'an was ranked as a Beta- (global second tier) city by the [[Globalization and World Cities Research Network]].<ref name=":1" /> Xi'an is also one of the world's top 100 financial centers, according to the [[Global Financial Centres Index]].<ref name="GFCI">{{Cite web |date=September 2020 |title=The Global Financial Centres Index 28 |url=https://www.longfinance.net/media/documents/GFCI_28_Full_Report_2020.09.25_v1.1.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.longfinance.net/media/documents/GFCI_28_Full_Report_2020.09.25_v1.1.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |access-date=26 September 2020 |publisher=Long Finance}}</ref>

Important industries include equipment manufacturing, tourism, and service outsourcing.<ref name="official website for Shaanxi">{{cite web |url=http://english.shaanxi.gov.cn/articleNews/news/governmentnews/200801/5297_1.html |title=Xi'an Economy |publisher=The People's Government of Shaanxi |date=January 1, 2008  |access-date=2013-06-02  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223235/http://english.shaanxi.gov.cn/articleNews/news/governmentnews/200801/5297_1.html  |archive-date=March 3, 2016  |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The manufacturing industry had an annual output of RMB 36.5 billion, accounting for 44.5&nbsp;percent of the city's total.<ref name="city info">{{cite web |date=August 29, 2011 |title=Xi'an ( Shaanxi ) City Information |url=http://china-trade-research.hktdc.com/business-news/article/Fast-Facts/Xi-an-Shaanxi-City-Information/ff/en/1/1X000000/1X07322S.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505065139/http://china-trade-research.hktdc.com/business-news/article/Fast-Facts/Xi-an-Shaanxi-City-Information/ff/en/1/1X000000/1X07322S.htm |archive-date=May 5, 2015 |access-date=2013-06-01 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Furthermore, as one of China's four ancient capitals,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lehmanlaw.com/offices/xian.html |title=Xi'an |publisher=Lehman, Lee & Xu |access-date=2013-06-02 |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629160356/http://www.lehmanlaw.com/offices/xian.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Xi'an's many cultural sites, including the [[Terracotta Army]], the [[City Wall of Xi'an]], and the [[Famen Temple]], make tourism an important industry as well. In 2019, tourists visiting Xi'an exceeded 300 million, earning a total income of RMB 314.6 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Online |first=Global News |date=2020-06-17 |title=China's Thousand-Year-Old Ancient Capital Xi 'An Became A Tourist Hot Spot |url=https://www.accesswire.com/594172/chinas-thousand-year-old-ancient-capital-xi-an-became-a-tourist-hot-spot |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=Accesswire |language=en}}</ref> On average, revenue increases by 36.4&nbsp;percent per year, and foreign-exchange earnings (530 million in 2009) increase by around 35.8&nbsp;percent.<ref name="city info"/>

Xi'an is also one of the first service outsourcing cities in China, with over 800 corporations in the industry. The city's output value from this sector exceeded RMB 23 billion in 2008. Employment in the sector doubled from 1997 to 2006, from a base of 60,000, and computer consulting also doubled from 16,000 to 32,000.<ref name="chinacenter"/> As a result of the importance of the software-outsourcing industry, the city planned construction of a Software New Town, which is scheduled to be completed in 2015 with 30 billion RMB investment.<ref name="city info"/> Other major export goods include lighting equipment and automobile parts, while its major import goods are mechanical and electrical products. Internationally, Xi'an's largest trade partner is the United States.<ref name="city info"/>

The [[Xi'an International Trade & Logistics Park|Xi'an International Trade and Logistics Park]] covers about thirty-five square miles and was conceived of as model for logistics-based [[Urbanization in China|urbanization]].<ref name=":Curtis&Klaus">{{Cite book |last1=Curtis |first1=Simon |title=The Belt and Road City: Geopolitics, Urbanization, and China's Search for a New International Order |last2=Klaus |first2=Ian |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |isbn=9780300266900 |location=New Haven and London |publication-date=2024 |doi=10.2307/jj.11589102 |jstor=jj.11589102}}</ref>{{Rp|page=120}} The park is a major [[dry port]] and rail container center.<ref name=":Curtis&Klaus" />{{Rp|page=120}} More China-Europe Freight Train (CEFT) rails depart from or return to Xi'an than any other city.<ref name=":Curtis&Klaus" />{{Rp|pages=120–121}}

===Software and technological industries===
[[File:雁塔 在锦业路上看高新商务区 01.jpg|thumb|293x293px|Xi'an Hi-Tech Industries Development Zone]]
The major industrial zone in Xi'an is the [[Xi'an Economic and Technological Development Zone]]. The [[Jiangcungou landfill]] in Xi'an was China's largest landfill site before its closure in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=China's mega-dump already full – 25 years early |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-50429119 |access-date=15 November 2019 |date=15 November 2019 |work=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203013213/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-50429119 |archive-date=December 3, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The growing economy of the city also supports the development of a software industry, and the city is a pioneer in software industry in China. The Xi'an Software Park within the Xi'an Hi-Tech Industries Development Zone (XDZ) has attracted over 1,085 corporations and 106,000 employees as of 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.xdz.com/about/parks/software%20park/2013-08-14/85.html |title=Xi'an software park |website=www.xdz.com|access-date=2018-02-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211071559/http://www.xdz.com/about/parks/software%20park/2013-08-14/85.html|archive-date=February 11, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Xi'an is described as having" large pool of cheap human resources from the 100 universities in the area, it hoovers up around 3,000 computer graduates every year, each earning approximately $120 a month—half the wages for the equivalent job in Beijing."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.people.com.cn/200609/13/eng20060913_302413.html |title=People's Daily |access-date=October 1, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080904215721/http://english.people.com.cn/200609/13/eng20060913_302413.html |archive-date=September 4, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>
[http://www.xianonlineinvest.org/doce/main.asp Bureau of Commerce of Xi'an Municipal Government] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016232033/http://www.xianonlineinvest.org/doce/main.asp |date=October 16, 2012 }}</ref>

===Aerospace industry===
In November 2006, Xi'an and the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation jointly set up Xi'an Aerospace Science and Technology Industrial Base. From its establishment, the base has focused on the development of the civil space industry, including equipment manufacturing, [[software]] and service [[outsourcing]], new materials and solar [[photovoltaics]].

Apart from the core area, the base will cover Xi'an and the [[Guanzhong]] area and the expansion zone will reach other parts of [[Northwest China]] and [[Southwest China]]. It is expected that by 2012 the total industry output can reach 2.8&nbsp;billion us dollars with about 10 to 20 brand products with intellectual property rights and 5 to 8 products with global competitiveness.

In 2008, after the launch of the initial aerospace center in Shanghai, the PRC is constructing another civil aerospace center in the Shaanxi province. The State Development and Reform Commission approved the planning of Xi'an National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base on December 26, 2007. The National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base of Xi'an, set to cover {{convert|23|km2|abbr=on}}, will focus on developing satellites, new materials, energies, IT and other technologies for civil applications.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-03-11 |title=China military aircraft to see tech "breakthroughs" this year -Xinhua |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/china-military-technology-idUSL4N0WD3VK20150311 |access-date=2021-06-24 |archive-date=June 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630091143/https://www.reuters.com/article/china-military-technology-idUSL4N0WD3VK20150311 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Education and research==
{{Further|List of universities in China}}

[[File:XJTU campus.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Xi'an Jiaotong University]]Xi'an has many [[Rankings of universities in China|highly ranked educational institutions]], with the seven universities listed in 147 [[National Key Universities]] under the [[Double First-Class Construction]] ranking fourth nationwide (tie) with [[Guangzhou]], [[Wuhan]] and [[Chengdu]] (only after [[Beijing]], [[Shanghai]] and [[Nanjing]]). There are a total of 60 universities in the city,<ref>{{cite web|title=Xi'an {{!}} Dynasty, Population, & Facts|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Xian-China|access-date=2021-06-25|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|archive-date=December 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225195124/https://www.britannica.com/place/Xian-China|url-status=live}}</ref> with the two famous ones being the [[Xi'an Jiaotong University]] ({{lang|zh-hans|西安交通大学}}) and the [[Northwestern Polytechnical University]] ({{lang|zh-hans|西北工业大学}}), which were ranked 95 and 101-150 worldwide, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ShanghaiRanking's Academic Ranking of World Universities |url=https://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings/arwu/2024 |access-date=2024-10-27 |website=www.shanghairanking.com}}</ref> Other ones also include [[Xidian University]] ({{lang|zh-hans|西安电子科技大学}}), [[Chang'an University]] ({{lang|zh-hans|长安大学}}), [[Northwest University, China|Northwest University]] ({{lang|zh-Hans|西北大学}}), [[Northwest University of Political Science and Law]] ({{lang|zh-hans|西北政法大学}}) and; [[Shaanxi Normal University]] ({{lang|zh-hans|陕西师范大学}}).<ref name=":2" />

The city was ranked 138th globally by the QS Best Student Cities Rankings in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=QS Best Student Cities Rankings 2023 |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/city-rankings/2023 |access-date=2023-07-20 |website=Top Universities |language=en |archive-date=July 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707082508/https://www.topuniversities.com/city-rankings/2023 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Xi'an is a world leading city for scientific research and as of 2023, it ranked among the world's top 20 cities and China's top 10 cities by scientific research output by the [[Nature Index]].<ref name=":3" /> It ranked first in [[Western China|West China]] region, with a combined population of almost 300 million. The city also hosted the 2011 World Horticultural Exposition.<ref>[http://www.china.org.cn/english/environment/223460.htm "Xi'an to Host World Horticultural Expo"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017152049/http://china.org.cn/english/environment/223460.htm|date=October 17, 2007}} China.org.cn</ref>

==Tourism==
{{Multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 220
| image1            = 2023-10-10 Giant Wild Goose Pagoda 大雁塔 02.jpg
| caption1          = Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
| image2            = Bell Tower of Xi'an1.jpg
| caption2          = Bell Tower
| image3            = 2023-10-09 Drum Tower of Xi'an (西安鼓樓) 03.jpg
| caption3          = Drum Tower
| image6            = 大明宫—丹凤门遗址.JPG
| caption6          = Reconstructed Danfeng Gate in [[Daming Palace]] National Heritage Park
| image7            = 2023-10-10 Shaanxi History Museum 陝西歷史博物館 02.jpg
| caption7          = Shaanxi History Museum
| image8            = Han Yang Ling 16.JPG
| caption8          = Pit in underground museum of Han Yang Ling, Mausoleum of Han Emperor Jingdi
| image9            = TaibaiShanNFP.JPG
| caption9          = Mount Taibai National Forest Park
| image10           = Grand Hyatt Xi'an.jpg
| caption10         = The Grand Hyatt Xi'an hotel in the CBD
}}

===Sites===
Because of the city's many historical monuments and a plethora of ancient ruins and tombs in the vicinity,<ref name="br"/> tourism has been an important component of the local economy, and the Xi'an region is one of the most popular tourist destinations in China.<ref name="br"/>

The city has many important historical sites, and some are ongoing archaeological projects, such as the [[Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor|Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang]] and his [[Terracotta Army]]. There are several burial mounds, tombs of the [[Zhou dynasty]] kings located in the city.<ref name="encarta"/> Xi'an also contains some 800 royal [[mausoleum]]s and tombs from the [[Han dynasty]],<ref name="columbia">{{cite web |url=http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/Xian;_ylt=At3nAwvWC5EERYXlnVrZdC9Vt8wF |title=Xi'an |publisher=The [[Columbia Encyclopedia]], Sixth Edition. |access-date=2008-09-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606102855/http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/Xian;_ylt=At3nAwvWC5EERYXlnVrZdC9Vt8wF |archive-date=2011-06-06}}</ref> with some of them yielding hundreds of sculpted clay soldiers, and remains of sacrificial temples from the Han era.<ref name="columbia"/> The city has numerous [[Tang dynasty]] pagodas and is noted for its history museum and its stele forest, which is housed in an 11th-century Confucian temple containing large stone tablets from various dynasties.<ref name="columbia"/>

Some of the most well-known sites in Xi'an are:

*The city is surrounded by a well-preserved [[City wall of Xi'an|city wall]] which was reconstructed in the 14th century during the early [[Ming dynasty]] and was based on the inner imperial palace of [[Tang dynasty]].
*The Mausoleum of [[Qin Shi Huang]] and his [[Terracotta Army]] are located {{convert|40|km|abbr=on}} to the east of the city center, in the city's suburbs.
*The [[Bell Tower of Xi'an|Bell Tower]] and [[Drum Tower of Xi'an|Drum Tower]], both are located at the city's central axis
*The city's [[Xi'an Muslim Quarter|Muslim Quarter]], which is home to the [[Great Mosque of Xi'an]]
*The [[Giant Wild Goose Pagoda]] and [[Small Wild Goose Pagoda]] are both spectacular towers and both are well over 1,000 years old and have survived great earthquakes. 
*The [[Stele Forest]] is famous for its numerous historic inscriptions and stoneworks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.com/travel/bespoke/specials/xian-through-the-senses/must-see-sights.html |website=www.bbc.com|access-date=2019-04-12 |title=Six must-see sights of Xi'an &#124; BBC Travel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412030615/http://www.bbc.com/travel/bespoke/specials/xian-through-the-senses/must-see-sights.html|archive-date=April 12, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
*The [[Famen Temple]] and its towering pagoda located {{convert|120|km|abbr=off|sp=us}} west of Xi'an.
*[[Xi Ming Temple]], a historic Buddhist temple
*[[Wolong Temple]], a Buddhist temple at Kaitong lane near the [[Stele Forest]]
*[[Xingjiao Temple]] at Shaolin Yuan
*[[Jianfu Temple]], which is associated with the [[Small Wild Goose Pagoda]]
*The [[Banpo]] Neolithic village
*The [[Shaanxi History Museum]], which has a large collection of historical artifacts
* The [[Xi'an Museum]], located near the [[Small Wild Goose Pagoda]]
*[[Huaqing Pool|Huaqing Hot Springs]], at the foot of Mt. Li, have a history of 6,000 years, the adjacent Huaqing Palace has a history of 3,000 years. Ranked among the Hundred Famous Gardens in China, it also has the status as a [[Major Site to Be Protected for Its Historical and Cultural Value at the National Level|National Cultural Relic Protection Unit and a National Key Scenic Area]].
* [[Daming Palace National Heritage Park]], site of the former royal residence of the [[Tang dynasty]] emperors
*[[Mount Li]] National Forest Park
*[[Mount Zhongnan]] National Forest Park
*Datang Everbright City

==Sports==
Famous former professional sports teams in Xi'an include:
* [[Chinese Jia-A League]]
** [[Shaanxi National Power]] (moved to [[Ningbo]] and renamed themselves Ningbo National Power in 2004)
* [[Chinese Football Association Super League]]
** [[Shaanxi Baorong Chanba]] (moved to [[Guiyang]] and renamed themselves Guizhou Renhe in 2012)
* [[Chinese Basketball Association]]
** [[Shaanxi Dongsheng]] (moved to [[Foshan]] and renamed themselves Foshan Dralions in 2010).

==Media==
===Television and radio===
* [[China Central Television]]'s channel 1 through 12 is broadcast nationwide.
* [[Shaanxi Television]] (SXTV), provincial station, broadcasts on eight channels as well as a satellite channel for other provinces.
* [[Jin Hao|Shaanxi Radio]] broadcasts music and news.

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in China}}

Xi'an's [[twin towns and sister cities]] are:
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
*{{flagdeco|JPN}} [[Nara, Nara|Nara]], [[Nara Prefecture]], Japan (1974)
*{{flagdeco|JPN}} [[Kyoto]], Japan (1974)<ref name="Kyoto twinnings">{{cite web |url=http://www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/sogo/page/0000083407.html |title=Sister Cities of Kyoto City|access-date=2014-01-21 |publisher=City of Kyoto|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121151906/http://www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/sogo/page/0000083407.html|archive-date=2014-01-21}}</ref>
*{{flagdeco|GB}} [[Edinburgh]], United Kingdom (1985)<ref name="Edinburgh">{{cite web |url=http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/city_living/CEC_twin_and_partner_cities |title=''Edinburgh – Twin and Partner Cities'' |access-date=2008-12-21 |publisher=2008 The City of Edinburgh Council, City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1YJ Scotland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080328001653/http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/city_living/CEC_twin_and_partner_cities |archive-date=March 28, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Edinburgh twinning">{{cite web |url=http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/695/council_information_performance_and_statistics/685/european_international_and_parliamentary_relations/3 |title=Twin and Partner Cities |publisher=City of Edinburgh Council |access-date=2009-01-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614133841/http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/695/council_information_performance_and_statistics/685/european_international_and_parliamentary_relations/3 |archive-date=2012-06-14}}</ref>
*{{flagdeco|FRA}} [[Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques|Pau]], Pyrénées-Atlantiques, [[Aquitaine]], France (1986)
*{{flagdeco|US}} [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]], [[Missouri]], United States (1989)
*{{flagdeco|IRN}} [[Esfahan]], Iran (1989)
*{{flagdeco|DEU}} [[Dortmund]], [[North Rhine-Westphalia]], Germany (1991)<ref name="RuhrTwins2010">{{cite web |url=http://www.twins2010.com/fileadmin/user_upload/pic/Dokumente/List_of_Twin_Towns_01.pdf?PHPSESSID=2edd34819db21e450d3bb625549ce4fd |title=List of Twin Towns in the Ruhr District |publisher=Twins2010.com|access-date=2009-10-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225064042/http://www.twins2010.com/fileadmin/user_upload/pic/Dokumente/List_of_Twin_Towns_01.pdf?PHPSESSID=2edd34819db21e450d3bb625549ce4fd |archive-date=2021-02-25}}</ref>
*{{flagdeco|PAK}} [[Lahore]], Pakistan (1992)
*{{flagdeco|JPN}} [[Funabashi, Chiba|Funabashi]], [[Chiba Prefecture|Chiba]], Japan (1994)
*{{flagdeco|ROM}} [[Iași]], Romania (1994)
||
*{{flagdeco|UKR}} [[Dnipro]], Ukraine (1995)
*{{flagdeco|TUR}} [[Istanbul]], Turkey (1996)
*{{flagdeco|NEP}} [[Kathmandu]], Nepal (1996)
*{{flagdeco|BRA}} [[Brasília]], Brazil (1997)
*{{flagdeco|EGY}} [[Cairo]], Egypt (1997)
*{{flagdeco|AUS}} [[Canberra]], Australia
*{{flagdeco|CAN}} [[Quebec City]], [[Quebec]], Canada (2001)
*{{flagdeco|ARG}} [[Córdoba, Argentina|Córdoba]], Argentina (2006)
*{{flagdeco|ITA}} [[Pompei]], [[Campania]], Italy (2007)
*{{flagdeco|GRC}} [[Athens]], Greece
*{{flagdeco|GRC}} [[Kalamata]], Greece (2009)
||
*{{flagdeco|UK}} [[Birmingham]], United Kingdom
*{{flagdeco|PER}} [[Cusco]], Peru
*{{flagicon|UZB}} [[Samarkand]], Uzbekistan
** {{flagdeco|TKM}} [[Mary, Turkmenistan|Mary]], [[Türkmenistan]] (2014)<ref>{{cite web |title=Города побратимы для Туркменистана - Общество |website=Гундогар |url=http://gundogar-news.com/index.php?category_id=3&news_id=2915 |language=ru |access-date=2021-09-21 |archive-date=November 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120174951/http://www.gundogar-news.com/index.php?category_id=3 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*{{flagdeco|AUS}} [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]], Australia (2015)
*{{flagdeco|SRB}} [[Kragujevac]], Serbia (2016)
*{{flagdeco|ARM}} [[Gyumri]], Armenia (2013)
*{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Taupō]], New Zealand
*{{flagdeco|NED}} [[Groningen]], The Netherlands (2011)
*{{flagdeco|MYS}} [[George Town, Penang|George Town]], [[Penang]], Malaysia (2014)<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.asiaseia.org/portfolio/sister-cities-officially-formalized-between-penang-malaysia-and-xian-shaanxi-china/ |title=Sister City Partnership Officially Formalized Between Penang, Malaysia, and Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China |date=2014-10-27 |work=SEIA|access-date=2017-03-06 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306213846/http://www.asiaseia.org/portfolio/sister-cities-officially-formalized-between-penang-malaysia-and-xian-shaanxi-china/|archive-date=March 6, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*{{flagdeco|MYS}} [[Kota Kinabalu]], [[Sabah]], Malaysia (2019)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sabahnewstoday.com/proposed-twinning-of-kota-kinabalu-and-xian-as-sister-cities/?lang=en |title=Proposed Twinning of Kota Kinabalu and Xi'an as Sister Cities |publisher=Sabah News Today |date=4 June 2019|access-date=26 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926020611/https://www.sabahnewstoday.com/proposed-twinning-of-kota-kinabalu-and-xian-as-sister-cities/?lang=en|archive-date=26 September 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theborneopost.com/2019/07/23/dbkk-xian-association-to-sign-mou/ |title=DBKK, X'ian association to sign MoU |newspaper=The Borneo Post |date=23 July 2019|access-date=26 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926020828/https://www.theborneopost.com/2019/07/23/dbkk-xian-association-to-sign-mou/|archive-date=September 26, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*{{Flagdeco|SPA}} [[Valencia|València]], [[Valencian Community|Land of Valencia]], Spain (2020)
|}
*

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{citation |last=Du Halde |first=Jean-Baptiste |author-link = Jean-Baptiste Du Halde |url=https://archive.org/details/descriptiongog01duha |title=Description Géographique, Historique, Chronologique, Politique, et Physique de l'Empire de la Chine et de la Tartarie Chinoise |trans-title = A Geographical, Historical, Chronological, Political, and Physical Description of the Empire of China and Chinese Tartary |location=The Hague |publisher=H. Scheurleer |year=1736 |language=fr}}.
* {{citation |last=Du Halde |first=Jean-Baptiste |author-link = Jean-Baptiste Du Halde |url=https://archive.org/stream/generalhistoryof01duha#page/n5/mode/2up |title=The General History of China |edition=3rd |publisher=J. Watts |location=London |year=1741 |editor-last=Brookes |editor-first=Richard}}.
* {{citation |last=Heng |first=Chye Kiang |author-mask = Heng Chye Kiang |date=1999 |title=Cities of Aristocrats and Bureaucrats: The Development of Medieval Chinese Cityscapes |location=Singapore |publisher=Singapore University Press |isbn=978-9971-69-223-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BIgS4p8NykYC}}.
* {{citation |last=Stanford |first=Edward |author-link = Edward Stanford |url=https://archive.org/stream/cu31924023258241#page/n3/mode/2up |title=Complete Atlas of China |edition=2nd |year=1917 |publisher=[[China Inland Mission]] |location=London}}.
* {{citation |last=Woo |first=J.K. |year=1964 |title=A Newly Discovered Mandible of the Sinanthropus Type: Sinanthropus Lantianensis |journal=Scientia Sinica |volume=13 |pages=801–811 |pmid=14170540}}.
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Wiktionary|Xi'an|Hsi-an|Sian|Xian}}
* [http://www.xa.gov.cn/ Xi'an City Government official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407005021/http://www.xa.gov.cn/ |date=April 7, 2019 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160122100314/http://www.xdz.com.cn/ Xi'an National Hi-tech Development Zone]
* [http://www.ancientchina.org.uk/xian Xi'an in Chinese history] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010010612/http://www.ancientchina.org.uk/xian/ |date=October 10, 2014 }}

{{Sister bar|auto=y}}
{{S-start}}
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{{S-ttl|title=[[Historical capitals of China|Capital of China]] (as Hao)
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|years=618–907|row=4}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Kaifeng]]|row=4}}
{{S-end}}

{{Navboxes
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