Capital of Shaanxi and, as Chang'an, capital of China under the Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang dynasties: the eastern starting point of the Silk Road. Its walled old city, Muslim Quarter and Terracotta Army make it one of China's great historic cities.
Climate
Hot summers and cold, dry winters, with most of the rain in summer and early autumn and some dust in spring.
Local language
Mandarin; the local Guanzhong (Shaanxi) dialect is common, especially among older residents.
Food to try
Photo: Gary Soup · CC BY 2.0 Roujiamo 肉夹馍
Often called the 'Chinese burger': chopped braised pork in a crisp flatbread.
Photo: N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0 Biangbiang noodles biangbiang面
Very wide hand-pulled noodles topped with chilli flakes and hot oil, named after one of the most complex characters in Chinese.
Photo: Danielinblue · CC BY-SA 3.0 Yangrou paomo 羊肉泡馍
Mutton soup poured over flatbread that diners break into small pieces themselves.
Sights
Photo: Gary Todd · CC0 Terracotta Army 兵马俑
Thousands of life-size clay soldiers guarding the tomb of the first emperor, about an hour east of the city.
Photo: Ideophagous · CC BY-SA 4.0 City Wall 西安城墙
The best-preserved Ming city wall in China; rent a bike and ride the circuit of about 14 km on top.
Photo: Alexey Komarov · CC BY-SA 4.0 Big Wild Goose Pagoda 大雁塔
A Tang dynasty Buddhist pagoda, with a large music fountain show in the square outside.
Photo: Qianeal · CC BY-SA 4.0 Muslim Quarter 回民街
Busy lanes of halal food stalls behind the Drum Tower, run by the city's Hui community.
Culture
Silk Road heritage 丝绸之路起点
As Chang'an, the city was the eastern end of the Silk Road, and traces of that trade, from mosques to markets, are still part of daily life.
Qinqiang opera 秦腔
A loud, emotional regional opera from Shaanxi and one of the oldest forms of Chinese opera.
