Ｘｉ’ａｎ――Ａ　Ｌｉｖｉｎｇ　Ｍｏｎｕｍｅｎｔ　ｔｏ　Ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ　Ｈｉｓｔｏｒｙ.docVIP

Ｘｉ’ａｎ――Ａ　Ｌｉｖｉｎｇ　Ｍｏｎｕｍｅｎｔ　ｔｏ　Ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ　Ｈｉｓｔｏｒｙ 　　CHINA’S three most visited cities each offer a distinct experience: Beijing is the central witness of the creation and growth of the People’s Republic, Shanghai is the nation’s pulsating 21st century metropolis, while Xi’an is China’s living monument to the country’s ancient past. 　　Today Xi’an is the capital of the central northwestern province of Shaanxi, but formerly it served as the nation’s capital for no less than 13 dynasties. These included the powerful Qin (221-206 BC), Han (206 BC-AD 220) and Tang (618-907) dynasties. The city’s prominent role in China’s history can largely be attributed to its central geographic location. To one side of Xi’an lies the Qinling Mountains. On the other flows the upper reaches of the Yellow River, China’s second longest watercourse. Enclosed by high mountains and broad waters, Xi’an’s superior location in ancient times was believed to be reserved for kings. 　　Xi’an achieved international fame during the Qin Dynasty. Qin people were savvy merchants and their caravans traded with the Arabic, Roman and Greek peoples of the ancient world. The name “China” originated in this period, derived from the word Qin (pronounced “Chin” in English). 　　In the 7th century Xi’an reached the zenith of its prosperity, becoming the world’s first metropolis of 1 million residents. Businesspeople from Arabia, India, Europe, Japan and Korea flocked to the city in an endless stream. As many as 4,000 foreigners a day passed through the city gate at this time. The foreign student population amounted to some 100,000 people. 　　After the fall of the Tang Dynasty Xi’an’s glory passed like leaves swept away by the wind, but its long and rich history left indelible marks on the city and its people. Thirty-odd mausoleums of Han and Tang emperors can be found in the area. These include the final resting places of the founding Han Emperor Liu Bang, and China’s first female ruler Wu Zetian. Xi’an is also the bur