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Xi’an’s Marvelous History Takes the Lead

Xi’an is a city that is close to Beijing. This city has a history that is more than 3000 years old. It has been the capital city for some of the biggest dynasties in China for more than 1100 years and has been the eastern end of the great silk route which connected it to the ancient world. It has seen a revival in the past two decades and has once again become one of the most important cities in the country. Xi’an today is the seat of very important activities including research and development, national security and the Chinese space program--among others.

The Attractions of Xi’an:

Most of the student internship and summer programs have been designed to include places on the itinerary that have a direct bearing on the visitors’ minds and help them learn about the culture of a country. This is true for all forms of study abroad programs whose destination is Europe or Asia.

When it comes to Asia, gap year programs are becoming immensely popular in China. More and more students are learning Mandarin and hence China has become a hot destination for all programs including summer internship and summer programs for highs school students. Such programs invariably take one to Beijing, which is a perfect place to witness the rise of a nation shrouded in mystery. The city comprises of buildings and high-rises that are at par with the tallest buildings in the world. At the same time, there is the presence of the rich Chinese heritage and culture in the form of historical monuments.

Beijing gives access to the Great Wall of China which is one of the best known historical artifacts in the world and one of the few manmade structures that are visible from the Earth’s orbit. But there are a lot of interesting historical places in the vicinity of this great city - Xian.

Xi’an is the birthplace of the Chinese civilization in bygone eras. This city was a place of great importance in the ancient world. For one, it marks the eastern end of the silk route which connected the country to the world. The city was called Chang’an in the ancient times. The name, when translated in Chinese meant ‘eternal city’. Even though the name has changed since, Xi’an has indeed become eternal in Chinese history, bearing a legacy that is more than three thousand years old. It has been the capital city of various dynasties for over a period of one thousand one hundred years.

As a historical site, Xi’an is best known for the legendary Terracotta Warriors. The Terracotta Warriors are a part of an assemblage that includes both warriors and horses made out of clay. These sculptures depict the army of the first king of China, Qin Shi Huang and are a form of a funerary art that was buried along with the emperor who ruled the country more than two thousand years ago. This was buried with the emperor in the years 210-209 BC. Then there is the Big Wild Goo s e Pagoda and the Shaanxi Provincial History Museum.

Pit 1: Terra-cotta Warriors in the largest of the three pits on exhibition in a huge hangar vault

Part of the Pit 1 is still under restoration.

Terra cotta Warriors are stuck together from hundreds of broken pieces.

So restoration wok is still going on in Pit 1

The unearthed color-painted Bronze Chariots and horses

Making of replica statues of the Terra Cotta Army soldiers

A big shop for selling replica statues of the Terra Cotta Army soldiers

Buy a terra-cotta soldier to protect yourself?

Buy a terra cotta soldier to pretect yourself

But Xi’an is not only historically important. Since the 1990s the city has been at the helm of the development drive in the western part of the country. It has re-emerged as one of the most important cities in the country, reliving its historical glory. It has, in the past two decades, become a hub of cultural, industrial and educational development of the country. Some of the most important facilities for development located here include areas of research, national security and the Chinese space program.