Site Selection: Augmenting Culture in Xi’an

“Xi'an, known as Chang'an in ancient times, is an important birthplace of the history and culture of the Chinese nation. It has a history of more than 3,100 years as a city and 1,100 years as a capital. It was the earliest and longest-lasting ancient capital in China and also spanned the most dynasties.”--Reuters, 2020

Xi’an is a place that many Chinese people feel attached to. It symbolizes the glory and nostalgia of Chinese age-old history, culture, and traditional values. When people think of Xi’an’s ancient name, Chang’an, people think of peace and prosperity (as the word “长Chang” means lasting and “安An” means safety in Chinese). This city witnessed the transformation of China’s history and grew and thrived under difficult conditions. By 2022, its culture and tourism industry will take up about 15% of its GDP. The city is the starting point of the Silk Road and home to the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, both of which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

We chose this place because Xi’an incorporates meaningful elements of Chinese culture. It is a segway to study China but is definitely not conclusive of what Chinese culture is about. The history behind this city is reflected in the details of the different little corners of the place. The food, the TV drama named after this city, and the night market along the world-renowned historical sites are all evidence of how this place is full of authentic Chinese stories.