Xi'an (pronounced She-ahn) is one of the most ancient cities in China. Over the course of 1,100 years, beginning from the eleventh century BC, eleven dynasties from the Western Zhou through the Tang successively built their national capital here. During the Han (206 BC to 200 AD) and Tang (618 to 907 AD) dynasties Xi'an was called Chang'an; it was not only the political, economic and cultural center of the country, but also an important international metropolis carrying on the economic and cultural exchange between China and many foreign countries. At that time, the world famous "Silk Road", which played the role of an important thoroughfare connecting the eastern and the western parts of the world, started from the Chang'an.
The pictures are hazy not only because of the weather, but also because Xi'an is very polluted, as is much of China. Our guides assured us that that the Chinese government is working on solving the pollution problem as China moves into a more modern life.
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