Xi'an History

Xi’an, home to a lot of profound Chinese civilization, has a history of more than 3,000 years. Benefiting from the fertile land and comfortable climate in ancient times, the rulers of 13 successive dynasties have set up their capitals here. Therefore, a wealth of historical heritages has been left, such as Terra Cotta Army, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, City Wall, Bell Tower, Drum Tower and so on.
 

 When was Xi’an founded/ established: About 3,000 years ago in Western Zhou Dynasty
 Used Name: Chang’an, Haojing, Daxing, Xijing
 When was Xi’an the capital of China:

1	1046 BC - 771 BC in Western Zhou	2	350 BC- 206 BC in Qin
3	200BC - 9 AD in Western Han	4	9 - 23 in Xin
5	190 -195 in Han	6	313 - 316 in Western Jin
7	319 - 328 in Former Zhao	8	352 - 385 in Former Qin
9	386 - 417 in Later Qin	10	534 - 557 in Western Wei
11	557 - 581 in Northern Zhou	12	581 - 618 in Sui
13	618 - 904 in Tang

 

As early as 1 million years ago, Lantian people inhabited in Lantian County of Xi’an. In the Yangshao Culture Period, about 7,000 years ago, the prototype of the city was already here. The Banpo site is the representative of Yangshao culture which is an important Neolithic pottery culture in the middle reaches of the Yellow River. The base of this region’s agricultural production must have started when the Banpo Man made living here about 6,000 years ago.
 

In the Western Zhou Dynasty about 3,000 years ago, the ruler Wenwang set up the city- Fengjing, which served as the religious and cultural center, to the west bank of the Fenghe River near to present Xi’an. Since then, the history of Xi’an as a city began. Later, Wuwang's heir built the political center on the east bank of the Fenghe River, namely, Haojing. Subsequently, Wuwang combined the two centers and named the capital Fenghao, which would be the first recorded dynasty founded the capital in Xi’an.
 

Coming to the end of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 BC - 256 BC), a chaotic time, namely, the Warring States Period, there were seven powerful states in China. Qin, one of the seven states, was located in the center of Shaanxi Province, including Xi’an, and in east Gansu Province.
 

Later, Ying Zheng, Emperor Qin Shi Huang, set up the first feudal dynasty in Xianyang, consisting of current Xi’an and Xianyang cites after unifying the other six states. Although this dynasty soon fell, a great number of historical relics were left, for example, Terra Cotta Army.
 

The Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-24AD), the third dynasty setting up its capital in Xi’an, constructed its capital - Chang’an on the relics of the Qin’s Xianyang. Chang’an was the then political, economic and cultural center of China, and the largest city of the whole world. Now, we can still tell the glorious history of Xi’an at that time by the ruins of Weiyang Palace. The famous ‘Silk Road’ which starts from the Chang’an City appeared during the period of Han Wudi.
 

At the beginning of the Sui Dynasty, the capital was still in Han Chang’an City. However, the Han Chang’an City was seriously destroyed owing to long years of wars from 220 to 589. Therefore, the emperor built a new city just to southeast of the old Chang’an City, called Daxing City.
 

The first emperor of Tang renamed Daxing City as Chang’an City again and carried out additional repairs and expansions. In the period of Emperor Taizong (626 - 624), the Daming Palace was constructed, and became the political center of the whole dynasty later. Chang’an was one of the largest economical, political and cultural centers in the world at that time and numerous overseas travelers and businessmen came here, enjoying the city’s glamour. Tang was the most prospersous time in the 3,000-year-long Xi’an history.

Besides, Buddhism also expanded rapidly in Chang’an with the support of the governors. The existing Giant Wild Goose Pagoda is possibly the most outstanding representation of Buddhist architecture of that time.
 

Since the end of the Tang Dynasty, Chang’an City lost its top position gradually; however, it was still one of the vital prefectures in the later dynasties. In 1369 of the Ming Dynasty, Xi’an gained its current name officially. Later, the current City Wall, Bell Tower, Drum Tower have been constructed.
 

In Qing Dynasty, two garrisons in the northeast and southeast of Xi’an City were built. When the Yihequan Movement happened, Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu once fled all the way west to Xi’an.
 

October 22, 1911: The local revolutionaries destroyed the rule of the Qing Dynasty.
1925: the national army led by Dr. Sun Yat-sun overthrew the reactionary warlord.
December 12, 1936: Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng captured the Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek in Xi’an by initiating a military exhortation, namely, the Xi'an Incident. The incident spurred the Kuomintang to unify the Communists for resisting the Japanese army.
May 20, 1949: The City was liberated by the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
May 25, 1949: The People's Government of Xi'an City was launched.

 Further Reading:

Shaanxi History Museum: Rich collections of historical relics excavated in or around Xi’an.
China History: 5,000 years long dating back to Xia Dynasty in 21st century BC.