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XI'AN INFORMATION
Some of China's earliest inhabitants lived in the Xi'an area over a million years ago, migrating along the Yellow River, which today forms the eastern border of Shaanxi. At least 500,000 years ago, proto-human Lantian Man was living in the vicinity of modern Xi'an; you can see the fossil evidence at the Shaanxi History Museum. The Banpo Museum presents finding from a Stone Age village dating back to 4500 BC.
Xi'an became a key city in the effort to development western China, and continues to play the role of economic gateway to China's west. A discovery made in the last years of the Cultural Revolution would lay the ground for Xi'an's ascent to the top tier of China's tourist cities: In 1974, farmers digging in a field discovered the Qin Terracotta Army. Two years later, Mao, who found much to admire in Qin Shi Huang's ability to unite China centuries before, died, and during the 1980s Xi'an was opened to tourism. It hasn't looked back since.Back when Beijing was still a small-time barbarian-plagued northern outpost, the area around Xi'an was the site of successive dynastic capitals, including the first to unite China, the Qin, whose legendary founder, Qin Shi Huang, ordered the creation and burial of the astonishing Terracotta Army, now one of China's top historical attractions.
Xi'an is situated in the Guanzhong Plain, bordered by the Qinling Mountains to the south and the Weihe River to the north. The geographic location helps define the city's four distinct seasons. Summers are usually warm and humid with occasional heavy rains, though the average temperature rarely rises above 85 ˚F (30 ˚C). Winters tend to be dry and windy with average temperatures around 35 ˚F (2 ˚C). Spring (May) and Fall (September) have the most pleasant weather.
Today Xi'an is a modern Chinese city, though the impressive Ming-era Xi'an City Walls, the Tang-era Wild Goose Pagodas and numerous other ancient relics constantly remind one of China's vast history. When you've had your fill of the past, the city offers excellent modern dining, arts & entertainment and shopping. Xi'an hotels make a great base for further exploration of historical Wei River valley sites like the Terracotta Army, Imperial Tombs, pagodas, temples, museums, and the sacred mountain Hua Shan.
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