Xian (西安)

1. Introduction

Xi'an, historically known as Haojing, Chang'an, Jingzhao, Xijing, and Yongzhou, is the capital city of Shaanxi Province in the People's Republic of China. Located in the central part of China, it sits in the south-central region of Shaanxi Province, at the heart of the Wei River Plain. It is a megacity, a National Central City, and the core city of the Guanzhong urban cluster. Xi'an holds sub-provincial administrative status and serves as the political, economic, cultural, transportation, healthcare, and educational center for Shaanxi Province and the broader Northwest China region. Its permanent resident population is 12,995,900. The Municipal People's Government is located at Weiyang Square, Fengcheng 8th Road, Weiyang District.

Xi'an is a renowned cultural and tourist city both within China and globally, celebrated for its profound historical and cultural heritage and high international recognition. It was the first city in Chinese history to be designated as a capital ("Jing"). With a history of over 3,100 years as a city and more than 1,070 years as a capital, it has served as the seat of power for several prosperous dynasties, including the Zhou, Western Han, Sui, and Tang. Consequently, Xi'an witnessed the pinnacle of China's historical periods characterized by openness, outward orientation, martial prowess, and prosperity, leaving behind a vast legacy. The city currently boasts two World Heritage Sites comprising six locations and is recognized as the starting point of the overland Silk Road. Xi'an's main urban area retains a complete set of Ming Dynasty city walls, gates, moats, bridges, watchtowers, barbicans, and archery towers. Within the city and its surroundings are scattered numerous ancient cultural relics, such as the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, the Han Yangling Mausoleum, the ruins of Han Chang'an City, and the ruins of the Daming Palace of the Tang Dynasty, all holding immense archaeological research value.

Geographically and in terms of transportation, Xi'an is situated in the central part of the Wei River Plain in Guanzhong. The Wei River, the largest tributary of the Yellow River, flows from southwest to northeast along the northern edge of the urban area. The northern and western areas also feature rivers like the Chan, Ba, and Jing, giving rise to the saying "eight rivers encircling Chang'an," all of which are ecological conservation areas. To the south, it borders the northern slopes of the Qinling Mountains and is near the climatic boundary between northern and southern China. Due to its central national location, Xi'an serves as a gateway city and a crucial transportation hub connecting the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region to Northwest and Southwest China. It is also a vital passage for travel from Northwest China to the eastern and southern parts of the country. Xi'an Railway Station, located on the Longhai Railway, is a major high-capacity hub station. The city currently operates the 4F-class Xi'an Xianyang International Airport and domestic high-speed rail hubs like Xi'an North Railway Station. For urban transportation, Xi'an has eight operational metro lines and historically operated trolleybuses.

Xi'an is one of China's National Central Cities, a key city along the Silk Road Economic Belt, the New Eurasian Land Bridge, and the Yellow River Basin. It is the economic, technological, educational, energy, financial, cultural, and commercial center of the Guanzhong urban cluster. Its Yanliang District is a significant national aviation industry base. In 2009, the State Council approved the "Development Plan for the Guanzhong–Tianshui Economic Zone," proposing to develop Xi'an into a nationally important center for scientific and technological research and development; a regional hub for commerce, logistics, and exhibitions; a regional financial center; a world-class tourist destination; and a major national base for high-tech industries and advanced manufacturing, aiming to build Xi'an into an international metropolis. In 2013, the State Council approved the establishment of the Xixian New Area, China's seventh national-level new area. Most zones under the China (Shaanxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone, established in 2017, are located within Xi'an. In February 2018, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development issued the "Development Plan for the Guanzhong Plain Urban Agglomeration," supporting Xi'an's development as a National Central City, an international comprehensive transportation hub, and an international metropolis with distinctive historical and cultural features.

Administratively, Xi'an currently governs 11 districts and 2 counties, covering a total area of approximately 10,100 square kilometers. It also includes several officially designated economic management zones, such as the High-tech Zone, Qujiang New District, and Economic and Technological Development Zone. The Party and government institutions of Xi'an, including the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, are located in the Administrative Center of Weiyang District.

2. Historical Names of Xi'an

"Xi'an City": Fengyi (Shang Dynasty) - Haojing (Western Zhou) - Chang'an (Western Han) - Chang'an (Xin Dynasty) - Chang'an (Eastern Han) - Chang'an (Cao Wei) - Chang'an (Western Jin) - Chang'an (Former Qin) - Chang'an (Later Qin) - Chang'an (Northern Zhou) - Daxing (Sui Dynasty) - Chang'an (Tang Dynasty) - Da'an (Later Liang) - Chang'an (Later Tang) - Yongxing (Song Dynasty) - Fengyuan (Yuan Dynasty) - Xi'an (Ming Dynasty) - Xi'an (Qing Dynasty) - Xi'an (Republic of China) - Xi'an (People's Republic of China) "Xi'an": Zongzhou (Zhou Dynasty) - Neishi (Qin Dynasty) - Jingzhao (Han Dynasty) - Jingzhao (Xin Dynasty) - Jingzhao (Northern and Southern Dynasties) - Jingzhao (Sui Dynasty) - Jingzhao (Tang Dynasty) - Da'an (Later Liang) - Jingzhao (Later Tang) - Jingzhao (Song Dynasty) - Fengyuan (Yuan Dynasty) - Xi'an (Ming Dynasty) - Xi'an (Qing Dynasty) - Xi'an (Republic of China) - Xi'an (People's Republic of China)

3. History

3.1 Ancient Times

The historical development of Xi'an can be traced back to the Lantian Man period one million years ago. During the Yangshao Culture period 7,000 years ago, the rudiments of city walls had already emerged here. In 2008, the Yangguanzhai site in Gaoling, Xi'an, unearthed the remains of a late Neolithic city dating back over 6,000 years. This discovery was selected as the top archaeological find in China that year and pushed the urban history of the Xi'an area back to the late Neolithic period over 6,000 years ago.

Based on historical records regarding Xia Qi's battle with Youhu at Gan and the creation of the "Gan Oath," the influence of the Xia dynasty had already reached the Xi'an region. During the Shang dynasty, the Laoniupo site, located in the Xi'an area, is situated north of Liaoyuan Village in Baqiao District, Xi'an City. It served as a central settlement site for the Shang dynasty in the Wei River basin. Starting from the Western Zhou dynasty, Xi'an became the capital of China, then known as "Zongzhou" or Haojing. The ruins of the Qin Xianyang City are located in the northwest of present-day Xi'an and the southeast of Xianyang City. The site of the Qin Epang Palace is situated in the western suburbs of modern Xi'an. The Han dynasty capital, Chang'an City, was built southeast of the Qin Xianyang City ruins. It was also known as "Phoenix City" and, due to its city walls resembling the Southern Dipper and Northern Dipper constellations, was called the "Dipper City."

The Tang dynasty's Chang'an City was the capital at the time, flourishing both in China and world history. The layout of Tang Chang'an was rigorous and grand, establishing the street layout of today's Xi'an urban area. Throughout history, several dynasties established their capitals here, including the Western Zhou, Qin, Western Han, Former Zhao, Former Qin, Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, and Tang dynasties, spanning over 1,000 years. Huang Chao and Li Zicheng also established regimes here.

After the mid-Tang period, due to the large-scale destruction of the Guanzhong economy caused by the An Lushan Rebellion, China's political center gradually shifted eastward. However, Xi'an's status as a key western city and the central hub of the northwest region remained significant. During the Five Dynasties period, the Later Liang changed Jingzhao Prefecture to Yongzhou and established Da'an Prefecture. The Later Tang then changed Da'an Prefecture back to Jingzhao Prefecture. In the Song dynasty, Shaanxi Circuit was established, later replaced by Yongxing Army Circuit. The Jin dynasty changed Yongxing Army Circuit to Jingzhao Prefecture Circuit. The Yuan dynasty once established Anxi Prefecture, later changed to Anxi Circuit and Fengyuan Circuit. The Ming dynasty changed Fengyuan Circuit to Xi'an Prefecture, from which the name "Xi'an" originates. In the 16th year of the Chongzhen era (1643), after Li Zicheng led the peasant rebel army into Xi'an, he renamed Xi'an to Chang'an and established the Shun dynasty.

On the twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month in the 34th year of the Jiajing era (January 23, 1556), a major earthquake of approximately magnitude 8 struck Shaanxi Province. Xi'an was one of the severely affected areas. According to the "Shaanxi General Chronicle," the Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, built during the Tang dynasty, was cracked in this earthquake, reducing its height from fifteen to thirteen stories. The earthquake caused an estimated death toll of up to 830,000 nationwide (excluding unregistered residents), making it the deadliest earthquake in Chinese history and one of the most catastrophic globally.

3.2 Modern and Contemporary Times

On October 22, 1911, following the outbreak of the Xinhai Revolution, an armed uprising also erupted in Xi'an. The Manchu City, occupying about a quarter of the total city area, was captured and burned by the insurgents. During the subsequent Beiyang Government period, the situation in Xi'an remained unstable, with numerous battles occurring frequently. Particularly during the Third Xi'an Battle, the Zhen Song Army besieged Xi'an for several months, resulting in heavy casualties within the city and significantly impacting modern Xi'an. In 1928, the Nationalist Government carved out Chang'an County and its surrounding areas to establish Xi'an City. In 1930, Xi'an City was abolished, and its original area was returned to the administration of Chang'an County.

In the 21st year of the Republic of China (1932), Xi'an was renamed Xijing and designated as the provisional capital of the Republic of China. To counter the Red Army, which had arrived in northern Shaanxi after the Long March, Chiang Kai-shek established the Northwest Bandit Suppression Headquarters at Nanyuanmen in Xi'an in 1935 and appointed himself as the commander-in-chief. After multiple unsuccessful suggestions, Zhang Xueliang, then deputy commander-in-chief of the Northwest Bandit Suppression, together with Yang Hucheng, launched the Xi'an Incident, which shocked China and the world. This event facilitated the formation of China's Anti-Japanese United Front and directly influenced the trajectory of modern East Asian history. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, Japan conducted strategic bombing of Xi'an for seven years, causing significant damage to the city. Additionally, a large number of schools, factories, enterprises, and refugees from North and Central China relocated to Xi'an, profoundly impacting the city's subsequent education, economy, and demographic composition. In 1943, Xi'an City was re-established, with its administrative area comprising the original Chang'an County and its surrounding four townships.

On May 20, 1949, the Chinese People's Liberation Army occupied Xi'an. On May 25, the Xi'an Municipal People's Government was established, with Jia Tuofu serving as the first mayor.

Following the Southern Tour of 1992, Xi'an also began its transformation into an international metropolis. Since 2005, it has hosted the Euro-Asia Economic Forum and held the International Horticultural Exposition in 2011. Xi'an is currently classified as a Gamma-level global city.

4. Geography

Xi'an is flanked to the south by the imposing Qinling Mountains, lies near the steep and majestic Mount Hua to the east, borders the perpetually snow-capped Mount Taibai to the west, and connects with the winding Northern Mountains to the north. With these four mountains standing tall and a vast expanse of fertile plains in the center, the area is suitable for forestry, animal husbandry, grain, cotton, melons, and fruits. It offers cool mountain retreats in summer and scenic landscapes, earning it ancient titles like "Land of Abundance" and "Rich Land and Sea." Xi'an boasts outstanding cultural and artistic heritage, including the Terracotta Army site, known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World," ancient city wall ruins, 77 imperial mausoleums, numerous famous temples and ancient pagodas, and relics of early inhabitants, making it one of the world's top tourist destinations.

4.1 Location and Scope

Xi'an is located in the central part of the Guanzhong Plain in the Yellow River basin. It lies south of the Qinling Mountains and north of the Wei River, between 107°40'–109°49' east longitude and 33°39'–34°45' north latitude. Geographically, it is situated at the center of the Chinese mainland, north of the north-south dividing line, while administratively it belongs to the Northwest region. The Guanzhong Plain, known as the "Eight-Hundred-Li Qinchuan," features expansive, flat, and fertile land ideal for rice cultivation, with a superior natural environment. Xi'an is located in the central part of this plain, with a maximum east-west span of 204 kilometers and a maximum north-south width of 116 kilometers. The city covers an area of 9,983 square kilometers, of which the urban area accounts for 1,066 square kilometers.

4.2 Hydrology and Topography

The terrain of Xi'an is higher in the southeast and lower in the northwest, with an average elevation of about 410 meters. The surrounding areas are characterized by numerous "plateaus" (原, yuán): the Xi'an region, situated at the foot of mountains and alongside rivers, features continuous terrain referred to as "plateaus," each with distinct characteristics. These plateaus are typically high and open, with the most famous in the suburbs being Longshou Plateau, Bailu Plateau, Shaoling Plateau, Shenhe Plateau, Xiliu Plateau, and Leyou Plateau.

Xi'an has long been described as having "eight rivers encircling Chang'an": the Ba River and Chan River to the east; the Lao River and Feng River to the west; the Jue River and Hao River to the south; and the Jing River and Wei River to the north. All belong to the Wei River system of the Yellow River basin. In addition, the Hei River, originating from Mount Taibai, has a relatively large flow and serves as the main source of domestic water for Xi'an.

4.3 Climate

Xi'an is located in the transitional zone between the temperate monsoon climate and the subtropical monsoon climate. The Qinling Mountains to the south form part of China's north-south climate divide, the "Qinling–Huaihe Line," giving the city characteristics of both climate types. The four seasons are distinct but uneven in length, with winter and summer being longer than spring and autumn. Annual rainfall is moderate, concentrated in summer and autumn, with heat and rain generally occurring concurrently, which is favorable for crop growth. Humidity is low in winter and high in summer. Winters are relatively mild, with rare extreme cold. Summers, however, are intensely hot and prolonged due to topographic factors: the southern mountains block and weaken cold air from the ocean moving northward, and the leeward slope location can lead to foehn effects. This poses significant challenges to power supply, production, school operations, public health, and particularly the well-being of individuals with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In recent years (since around 2016), the city's maximum daytime temperatures have frequently approached or exceeded 40°C, with extreme heatwaves lasting over a month without significant cooling. The coldest month (January) has an average temperature of 0.3°C, with an extreme minimum of -20.6°C (January 6, 1955). The hottest month (July) has an average temperature of 27.0°C, with an extreme maximum of 41.8°C (June 21, 1998, and July 24, 2017). The annual average temperature is 14.1°C. The average annual precipitation is about 561 mm. The average annual humidity is 69.6%. The average annual snowfall days are 13.8. From 1951 to 2017, there were 41 days with a maximum daily temperature ≥40°C. | Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |-----------------|-----------|-----------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|-----------|-----------|------------|------------| | Record high °C | 17.0 | 24.1 | 31.3 | 34.9 | 38.6 | 41.8 | 41.0 | 40.0 | 38.5 | 34.1 | 24.5 | 21.6 | 41.8 | | Record high °F | 62.6 | 75.4 | 88.3 | 94.8 | 101.5 | 107.2 | 105.8 | 104.0 | 101.3 | 93.4 | 76.1 | 70.9 | 107.2 | | Average high °C | 5.0 | 9.3 | 15.5 | 22.1 | 26.9 | 31.7 | 32.8 | 30.7 | 25.4 | 19.3 | 12.6 | 6.6 | 19.8 | | Average high °F | 41.0 | 48.7 | 59.9 | 71.8 | 80.4 | 89.1 | 91.0 | 87.3 | 77.7 | 66.7 | 54.7 | 43.9 | 67.7 | | Daily mean °C | -0.5 | 3.3 | 9.0 | 15.1 | 20.0 | 24.9 | 26.9 | 25.0 | 19.9 | 13.7 | 6.9 | 1.1 | 13.8 | | Daily mean °F | 31.1 | 37.9 | 48.2 | 59.2 | 68.0 | 76.8 | 80.4 | 77.0 | 67.8 | 56.7 | 44.4 | 34.0 | 56.8 | | Average low °C | -4.4 | -1.1 | 3.9 | 9.2 | 13.9 | 18.7 | 21.7 | 20.5 | 15.8 | 9.8 | 2.8 | -2.7 | 9.0 | | Average low °F | 24.1 | 30.0 | 39.0 | 48.6 | 57.0 | 65.7 | 71.1 | 68.9 | 60.4 | 49.6 | 37.0 | 27.1 | 48.2 | | Record low °C | -20.6 | -18.7 | -7.6 | -4.0 | 3.5 | 9.2 | 15.1 | 12.1 | 4.8 | -1.9 | -16.8 | -19.3 | -20.6 | | Record low °F | -5.1 | -1.7 | 18.3 | 25.0 | 38.3 | 48.6 | 59.2 | 53.8 | 40.6 | 28.6 | 1.8 | -2.7 | -5.1 | | Average precipitation mm | 8.8 | 13.3 | 28.4 | 49.6 | 68.0 | 85.6 | 103.8 | 96.7 | 117.2 | 66.6 | 27.9 | 6.5 | 672.4 | | Average precipitation inches | 0.35 | 0.52 | 1.12 | 1.95 | 2.68 | 3.37 | 4.09 | 3.81 | 4.61 | 2.62 | 1.10 | 0.26 | 26.48 | | Average precipitation days | 4.0 | 4.7 | 7.2 | 7.8 | 9.8 | 9.1 | 10.8 | 10.4 | 12.3 | 11.0 | 6.1 | 3.5 | 96.7 | | Average snowy days | 4.7 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 14 | | Average relative humidity (%) | 67 | 67 | 65 | 66 | 66 | 63 | 70 | 76 | 80 | 80 | 77 | 69 | 71 | | Mean monthly sunshine hours | 120.2 | 121.4 | 160.2 | 185.1 | 200.1 | 201.2 | 209.3 | 176.1 | 135.2 | 119.8 | 120.6 | 121.7 | 1,870.9 | | Percent possible sunshine | 38 | 39 | 43 | 47 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 43 | 37 | 35 | 39 | 40 | 42 |

4.4 Environment

4.4.1 Water Quality

With the expansion of Xi'an's scale, the "Eight Rivers" are facing severe problems of sharp reduction in water volume and serious pollution. The gradual degradation of river ecological functions has led to urban domestic pollution replacing industrial pollution as the main pollution source of the Wei River. According to statistics, in 2013, the domestic ammonia nitrogen discharge in the Wei River Basin was 22,600 tons, which is 4.5 times the industrial discharge. To address this, in 2012, Xi'an proposed the "Eight Rivers Nourishing Xi'an Plan," which indicates that Xi'an will take 5 to 10 years to fundamentally solve major water issues such as water resource shortages, floods and droughts, and water pollution.

4.4.2 Air Pollution

Due to Xi'an's location in the Guanzhong Basin, with the Qinling Mountains to the south, the Loess Plateau to the north, the combination of the Qinling Mountains and the Loess Plateau to the west, and the Tongguan and Yellow River forming a ventilation outlet to the east, along with the influence of the Taihang Mountains, Xi'an has a special topographic structure, resulting in very severe haze. Winter is the season with high haze occurrence because, influenced by global warming, cold air from the north has weakened and rarely reaches Xi'an. There is little wind and little rain or snow, leading to poor air mobility and making it easy for haze to form. In 1979, due to high coal consumption for residential living and heavy industry at the time, there were many fine particulate matter in the air, resulting in a relatively high annual average PM2.5 concentration in Xi'an. In the early 1980s, with national environmental protection legislation, Xi'an's annual average PM2.5 concentration saw a significant decline. Starting in 1997, as Xi'an's economic development accelerated, the annual average PM2.5 concentration also increased accordingly. According to statistics, vehicle exhaust contributes about 21.4% to Xi'an's PM2.5. In 2015, Xi'an had 251 days of good air quality, ranking at the bottom in Shaanxi Province.

To address air pollution, relevant departments in Shaanxi Province and Xi'an have introduced some policies. In 2013, Li Xiaolian, Deputy Director of the Shaanxi Provincial Environmental Protection Department, stated that Shaanxi would invest 80 million yuan to launch a major scientific and technological project titled "Research and Demonstration of Key Technologies for the Characteristics and Prevention of Fine Particulate Matter Pollution in the Guanzhong Region," aiming to solve haze weather and meet national standards by 2030. To prevent air pollution, Xi'an has implemented traffic restrictions on vehicles without environmental inspection qualification marks and those with yellow environmental inspection qualification marks. Xi'an also planned to phase out all yellow-label vehicles by 2017. In Xi'an, if the local heavy pollution weather emergency plan activates a Level I emergency response, all kindergartens and primary and secondary schools in the city will suspend classes, and vehicles will be subject to odd-even license plate restrictions.

Additionally, sandstorm weather can occur in Xi'an during spring. However, in recent years, due to weakened cold air, fine dust pollutants accumulate in the air to form haze, so sandstorms rarely occur.

5. Administrative Divisions

Xi'an currently administers 11 municipal districts and 2 counties.

5.1 Municipal Districts

• Core Functional Area of an International Metropolis: Xincheng District, Beilin District, Lianhu District
• Economic, Trade, and Industrial Functional Area: Baqiao District, Weiyang District, Yanta District
• Aviation Industry New Area: Yanliang District
• Cultural Tourism New Area: Lintong District
• Modern Urban New Area: Chang'an District
• Equipment Industry New Area: Gaoling District
• New Comprehensive Development Area: Huyi District

5.2 Counties

• Modern Agricultural Demonstration Area: Lantian County
• New Comprehensive Development Area: Zhouzhi County

Additionally, Xi'an has established the following economic management zones:

• Xi'an High-tech Industries Development Zone (Xi'an High-tech Zone, National-level) – Located in Yanta District, Chang'an District, Huyi District, Beilin District, Xincheng District
• Xi'an Economic & Technological Development Zone (Xi'an ETDZ, National-level) – Located in Weiyang District, Gaoling District, Baqiao District
• Xi'an Qujiang New Area (National-level) – Located in Yanta District, Weiyang District, Xincheng District, Chang'an District, Lintong District, Zhouzhi County
• Xi'an Chanba Ecological District (National-level) – Located in Baqiao District, Weiyang District, Yanta District
• Fengdong New City of Xixian New Area (National-level) – Located in Weiyang District, Chang'an District, and Qindu District of Xianyang City
• Xi'an International Trade & Logistics Park (National-level) – Located in Baqiao District, Lintong District
• Shaanxi Aerospace Economic & Technological Development Zone / Xi'an National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base (National-level) – Located in Chang'an District, Yanta District
• Shaanxi Aviation Economic & Technological Development Zone / Xi'an Yanliang National Aviation Hi-tech Industrial Base (National-level) – Located in Yanliang District

The China (Shaanxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone, approved by the State Council of the People's Republic of China in 2017, has its central area and Xi'an International Trade & Logistics Park area located within Xi'an City.

| Division Code | Division Name | Pinyin | Area (km²) | Permanent Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Subdistricts | Towns | |-------------------|---------------------|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------| | 610100 | Xi'an City | Xi’an Shi | 10,096.81 | 12,183,280 | Weiyang District | 710000 | 129 | 43 | | 610102 | Xincheng District | Xincheng Qū | 30.13 | 617,986 | Xiyilu Subdistrict | 710000 | 9 | | | 610103 | Beilin District | Beilin Qū | 23.37 | 756,840 | Nanyuanmen Subdistrict | 710000 | 8 | | | 610104 | Lianhu District | Liánhú Qū | 38.32 | 1,019,102 | Beiyuanmen Subdistrict | 710000 | 9 | | | 610111 | Baqiao District | Bǎqiáo Qū | 324.50 | 1,020,259 | Fangzhicheng Subdistrict | 710000 | 9 | | | 610112 | Weiyang District | Weiyang Qū | 264.41 | 1,891,363 | Zhangjiabao Subdistrict | 710000 | 12 | | | 610113 | Yanta District | Yàntā Qū | 151.44 | 2,046,737 | Xiaozhailu Subdistrict | 710000 | 10 | | | 610114 | Yanliang District | Yánliáng Qū | 244.55 | 303,284 | Fenghuanglu Subdistrict | 710089 | 7 | | | 610115 | Lintong District | Líntóng Qū | 915.97 | 675,961 | Lishan Subdistrict | 710600 | 23 | | | 610116 | Chang'an District | Cháng'ān Qū | 1,588.53 | 1,751,296 | Weiqu Subdistrict | 710100 | 25 | | | 610117 | Gaoling District | Gāolíng Qū | 285.03 | 441,814 | Luyuan Subdistrict | 710200 | 7 | | | 610118 | Huyi District | Hùyì Qū | 1,279.42 | 609,181 | Ganting Subdistrict | 710300 | 8 | 6 | | 610122 | Lantian County | Lántián Xiàn | 2,005.95 | 491,975 | Languan Subdistrict | 710500 | 1 | 18 | | 610124 | Zhouzhi County | Zhōuzhi Xiàn | 2,945.20 | 557,482 | Erqu Subdistrict | 710400 | 1 | 19 |

6. Economy

Xi'an is an inland open city approved by the State Council of China in July 1992 and a key city on the Longhai-Lanxin Line of the New Eurasian Land Bridge within China.

Before the reform and opening-up, Xi'an's economy held a pivotal position in China. By 2018, the city's regional GDP reached 834.986 billion yuan, with total fiscal revenue exceeding 140 billion yuan. In terms of the central and western regions, Xi'an has a relatively high per capita income. In 2011, the per capita disposable income of urban residents in Xi'an reached 25,981 yuan, ranking second in the central and western regions. Among the 15 sub-provincial cities nationwide, the growth rate of per capita disposable income for urban residents rose from 7th place in 2002 to 1st place in 2011, maintaining the top position for four consecutive years. The growth rate of per capita net income for rural residents jumped from 12th place in 2002 to 1st place in 2011, leading for three consecutive years.

Today, Xi'an is the core city of the "Guanzhong-Tianshui Economic Zone" planned by the State Council, a national demonstration base for reforming the allocation of scientific and technological resources, and an international modern metropolis and financial center in the western and northern inland regions as designated by the state. It hosts six national-level demonstration bases for reforming the allocation of urban and rural resources, including a National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, a National Economic and Technological Development Zone, a National Cultural Industry Demonstration Zone, a National Aviation High-Tech Industrial Base, and a National Civil Aerospace Industrial Base, making it the city with the most national-level new areas in the central and western regions. Additionally, Xi'an is actively developing and constructing the Xixian New Area, Xi'an Jingwei New Area, Xi'an Chanba Ecological District, and the Xi'an International Trade & Logistics Park—the only land port in western China—aiming to elevate both living environments and economic development. Xi'an's current economic structure and its "Six Zones, One Port, and Two Bases" fully leverage the city's distinct advantages in education and transportation.

Building on its economic, environmental, educational, transportation, and locational strengths—particularly its leading scientific research capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region—Xi'an is home to over 40 national-level laboratories, three "985 Project" universities (Xi'an Jiaotong University, Northwestern Polytechnical University, and Northwest A&F University), and six "211 Project" universities (excluding the 985 institutions), such as Xidian University. Major domestic and international enterprises have invested in Xi'an and established Asia-Pacific or Chinese R&D centers there.

As of 2012, more than 200 Fortune Global 500 companies, including Intel (Asia-Pacific) R&D Center in Xi'an, IBM China Development Center, Schneider Electric's Western China Headquarters and R&D Production Center (its second-largest R&D center outside Shanghai), Siemens Signaling China Headquarters, GE R&D Center (energy, healthcare, electronics), Bosch China R&D Center, Applied Materials R&D and Production Center, Toshiba, Hitachi, NEC R&D Center, B&Q, Infineon, Micron Technology, Daikin, Newegg, Brother Industries, EMC R&D Center, Emerson Electric, Cummins, and Samsung Electronics, have set up R&D centers or manufacturing plants in Xi'an.

Domestic enterprises, such as BYD, ZTE, Huawei, and Datang Telecom, have also invested heavily in Xi'an. ZTE and Huawei have built their largest global telecommunications industry R&D and production bases in Xi'an. BYD established its northern headquarters base in Xi'an, producing over 1 million new energy vehicles in 2022, making it the company's largest production base.

Major local enterprises in Xi'an include: Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Group, Xi'an Aero-Engine Group, Yanchang Petroleum Group, China XD Group, Shaanxi Automobile Group, Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group, Shaanxi Nonferrous Metals Group, and Jin Hua Group.

6.1 Economic Data

In 2018, Xi'an achieved a regional GDP of 834.986 billion yuan (RMB), an increase of 8.2% over 2017. Of this, the added value of the primary industry was 25.882 billion yuan, up 3.3%; the secondary industry added value was 292.561 billion yuan, up 8.5%; and the tertiary industry added value was 516.543 billion yuan, up 8.3%. The proportion of the primary industry's added value to the regional GDP was 3.1%, the secondary industry accounted for 35.0%, and the tertiary industry accounted for 61.9%. The annual per capita GDP was 85,114 yuan, an increase of 5.2% over 2017. In 2018, Xi'an's industrial added value was 187.436 billion yuan, up 9.0%; the added value of industries above designated size grew by 9.4%. Within industries above designated size, the added value of light industry increased by 8.4%, while that of heavy industry increased by 9.6%.

6.2 Information Technology Development

Xi'an's information technology infrastructure includes various communication methods such as optical fiber, digital microwave, satellite, and program-controlled switching. The city hosts the National Xi'an Satellite Control Center. The Xi'an Metropolitan Area Network covers over 90% of the urban area and 40% of suburban counties. Xi'an Post is one of China's six major communication centers and one of the eleven first-class mail transit offices, housing the Xi'an Postal Area Center. Under the "Cross-Strait Postal Agreement" signed during the second "Chiang-Chen Talks," Xi'an became one of eight mail dispatching offices on the mainland, capable of handling direct regular and registered mail (including letters, postcards, postal stationery, printed matter, newspapers, magazines, and materials for the blind), small packets, parcels, express mail (EMS), and postal remittances. Mail dispatches are transported directly to the counterpart's mail processing center via air or sea routes.

7. Transportation

7.1 Public Transportation

7.1.2 Buses

Xi'an is one of the first 15 cities in China selected for the national "Transit Metropolis" demonstration project. It currently operates approximately 495 bus routes with a standard fare of 2 yuan. Residents using the Xi'an City Card (Chang'an Tong) or obtaining the Chang'an Tong ride code via Alipay or WeChat enjoy a half-price discount, while student cardholders receive a 70% discount. In March 2012, as part of congestion mitigation measures to promote public transport, Xi'an began operating 8 micro-bus routes (3 already in operation) and planned the construction of 2 bus rapid transit (BRT) lines.

7.1.3 Metro

Xi'an was the tenth city in mainland China and the first in the northwest region to open and operate a metro system. The recent-phase plan for the rail transit network consists of 6 lines and the Qujiang Sightseeing Light Rail, with a total length of 251.8 km, covering 85.2% of passenger flow. It was planned to be fully completed and operational by 2018. The long-term plan includes 15 metro lines spanning 586.7 km, covering Xi'an's urban area, some subordinate districts/counties, and Xianyang's urban area.

Xi'an Metro has opened 10 lines (including the Xi-Hu Railway). Line 2, the first line to commence operation on September 16, 2011, runs from Xi'an North Railway Station in the north to Wei Qu in the south, traversing the city's central axis. Line 1, whose construction started two years earlier, began operation on September 16, 2013. Line 3 opened on November 8, 2016. Line 4 began trial operation on December 26, 2018. On December 28, 2020, Xi'an Metro Line 5, the first phase of Line 6, and Line 9 officially opened. On December 31, 2020, the Xi'an Airport Intercity Railway was transferred to Xi'an Metro for operation. Line 14 officially opened on June 29, 2021. On June 27, 2023, the first phase of Line 16 (Shijingli - Qinchuangyuan Center) and the second phase of Line 2 opened, bringing the total operational mileage of Xi'an Metro to 301 km. On September 26, 2024, the first phase of Line 10 (Jingshang Village - Zhaohui Square) opened for operation.

The minimum fare for Xi'an Metro is 2 yuan, covering 6 stations. Additional distance is charged based on the exceeded portion, with a maximum fare not exceeding 4 yuan. Additionally, citizens using the Chang'an Tong card for payment enjoy a 10% discount. As one of the largest municipal projects in the historically rich city of Xi'an, the metro's design extensively incorporates historical and ethnic elements. Distinctive features include wall reliefs in the Western Han style, murals with Tang Sancai (Tri-colored Glazed Pottery) textures, and cultural walls at each station reflecting the local history and典故, giving Xi'an Metro its unique character.

On January 1, 2018, Xi'an Metro began supporting Alipay QR code payments. Passengers can obtain an electronic transit card via the "Alipay" app or the "Xi'an Metro" app.

On June 16, 2019, Xi'an Metro began supporting UnionPay's "Cloud QuickPass APP" QR code payments.

7.1.4 High-Tech Cloud Bus (Yunba)

On May 31, 2020, Xi'an commenced 223 key projects, including the High-Tech Zone tram. On August 12, 2024, the Xi'an High-Tech Cloud Bus officially began operation.

7.1.5 Light Rail

The Xi'an Qujiang Sightseeing Light Rail opened in early 2015 but was suspended shortly after due to the construction of Metro Line 4. At the end of 2021, the project resumed construction, officially canceling the Datang Everbright City section.

7.1.6 Taxis

In the 1980s, taxis in Xi'an were predominantly imported models of various makes and engine sizes, earning the nickname "All Nations Brand." These included Fiat 126P, Polonez, Lada, Warszawa, Mazda, Nissan, Crown, etc. In 1995, with the production of the Xi'an Qinchuan (now BYD Auto) Alto, and to support local industry, Altos began entering the taxi fleet in large numbers. The Xiali model was also introduced that year. Starting in 2001, models like Fukang and Jetta successively entered the Xi'an taxi market. Later, the BYD F3 became the dominant model. In recent years, pure electric taxis like the BYD e6 were introduced. However, the BYD F3 taxis in Xi'an have now been completely phased out and replaced by models such as the pure green BYD e5 and orange Geely Emgrand taxis.

Current taxi fare standards are:

For taxis with engines below 1.8L:

• Starting fare: 9.00 yuan for the first 3 km.
• Base fare: 2.00 yuan/km.
• For one-way trips exceeding 12 km, a 50% surcharge (空驶补贴费) is added to the per-km fare.
• Night fare (23:00-06:00 next day): Starting fare increases by 1 yuan; per-km fare increases by 0.3 yuan.
• During operation, if speed is ≤10 km/h due to non-driver reasons, 5 minutes automatically counts as 1 km fare (during 7:00-9:00 and 17:00-19:00, 4 minutes counts as 1 km fare).

For taxis with engines of 1.8L and above:

• Starting fare: 9.00 yuan for the first 2 km (Note: Starting November 1, 2016, the starting fare for models above 1.8L was reduced to 8.5 yuan for the first 2 km).
• Base fare: 2.40 yuan/km.
• For one-way trips exceeding 8 km, a 50% surcharge (空驶补贴费) is added to the per-km fare.
• Night fare (23:00-06:00 next day): Starting fare increases by 1 yuan; per-km fare increases by 0.3 yuan.
• During operation, if speed is ≤10 km/h due to non-driver reasons, 5 minutes automatically counts as 1 km fare (during 7:00-9:00 and 17:00-19:00, 4 minutes counts as 1 km fare).

7.2 Aviation

Xi'an Xianyang International Airport is located in Weicheng District, Xianyang City. It is one of China's top ten airports. The airport has an FAA Class 4F flight zone with two runways (3000×45 meters, 3800×60 meters), capable of handling the world's largest passenger aircraft, the A380. It has 127 aircraft parking stands and 44 boarding bridges. There are three terminal buildings with a total area of 350,000 square meters, 140 check-in counters, and 36 security check channels. The airport complex includes an 80,000 sqm integrated transportation hub, a 25,000 sqm cargo area, and a 12,000 sqm centralized commercial area. For many years, Xi'an Xianyang International Airport has maintained a leading position in China's civil aviation industry, with rapid growth in transport volume for consecutive years. In 2018, the airport handled 329,700 aircraft movements, 44.6537 million passengers, and 312,600 tons of cargo and mail. Its annual passenger throughput ranking rose to 7th nationwide, demonstrating accelerated development. Currently, the airport has established aviation business relations with 65 domestic and international airlines, operating 64 international (regional) routes connecting 29 countries and 53 global hubs and famous tourist cities. This includes connections to 14 countries and 20 cities along the "Belt and Road" initiative. It has initially established an international network pattern of "Silk Road connectivity, direct flights to Europe and America, and links to five continents," becoming a new engine serving Shaanxi's "Three Economies" development and constructing a major aviation gateway for Shaanxi's opening-up to the world.

7.3 Highways

7.3.1 Expressways

The Xi-Lin Expressway is the first expressway in Shaanxi Province and the first in western China. It starts from Guanting in the eastern suburbs of Xi'an in the west and ends at Miaojiayao in Lintong in the east, with a total length of 23.888 km. The 16.311 km section from Guanting to Jianggou in Lintong is a dual four-lane segment with a roadbed width of 26 meters and a design speed of 120 km/h. Construction began in October 1987, and it officially opened to traffic on December 27, 1990.

From 2005 to 2008, Shaanxi's expressway construction cumulatively completed an investment of 72 billion yuan, ranking third nationally in total investment scale. The total expressway mileage reached 2,466 km, connecting 9 cities, 1 district, and 71 counties (cities, districts) across the province. Within Xi'an, the 352-km "米"-shaped (rice-shaped) expressway network has been fully completed and opened to traffic, with all areas except Zhouzhi County having expressway access.

By 2012, the total expressway mileage in Shaanxi Province had exceeded 4,000 km, with projections to exceed 5,000 km by 2015. Furthermore, Xi'an will form two expressway ring roads (Xi'an Ring Expressway and Xixian North Ring Line) and six radial lines centered on Xi'an, constituting high-speed channels connecting Xi'an to other cities, enabling same-day round trips between Xi'an and other prefecture-level cities. Additionally, inter-provincial expressway channels will be formed, allowing same-day arrival from Xi'an to neighboring provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities).

Simultaneously, after a decade of western development, Xi'an has become one of the largest node cities in China's national expressway network. National trunk highways G65, G30, and western development corridors (Arongqi-Beihai, Yinchuan-Wuhan, Xi'an-Shanghai, Xi'an-Kunming, Xi'an-Maoming) pass through its territory. The rapid growth of Xi'an's expressway network has increasingly highlighted the radiating and driving role of the central urban area, significantly promoting the rapid regional economic development of areas like Lintong, Yanliang, Lantian, Huyi, Luochuan, and Shangluo in Xi'an.#### 7.3.2 Highway Passenger Transport Today, Xi'an's road network radiates in a "米"-shaped pattern centered on the city, with plans to further develop it into a "來"-shaped pattern to make travel faster and more convenient. It includes the Ring Expressway, the Airport New Line, the Second Ring Road, and the Third Ring Road. Among these, the Third Ring Road system project has a total length of 89.7 kilometers, with the main line spanning 74.8 kilometers. Specifically, the newly constructed main line of the East-West Third Ring Road is 32.5 kilometers long, featuring 8 lanes in both directions (6 lanes in some sections) and a design speed of 80 km/h. The entire Third Ring Road project was completed by the end of 2008. Xi'an city is connected by expressways to all its districts and counties, as well as to all prefecture-level cities within the province.

In terms of highway passenger transport, the Shaanxi Xi'an Bus Station, Xi'an East Bus Station, Xi'an West Bus Station, Xi'an North Bus Station, and Xi'an South Bus Station together form a passenger transport network responsible for both intra-provincial and inter-provincial road transportation.

7.4 Railway

In the railway sector, as early as 2005, Xi'an Railway Station ranked among the top five major passenger stations nationwide. Currently, Xi'an Railway Station handles over 100 passenger trains daily. The station once operated "Harmony" electric multiple units (EMUs) with speeds of 250 km/h and high-speed EMUs at 350 km/h. However, with the opening of the Xi'an-Baoji Passenger Dedicated Line, Xi'an Station no longer operates EMU services and has reverted to handling only conventional-speed trains.

Xi'an North Railway Station has a total building area of approximately 331,000 square meters, making it the largest passenger station in Asia. Upon full operation, the station is expected to handle over 68 million passengers annually in the near term, with a long-term capacity of over 80 million passengers. Xi'an North Railway Station is a crucial node in the Xi'an railway hub and the national rapid high-speed passenger network under construction. The Zhengzhou-Xi'an High-Speed Railway is the third high-speed railway to open in China. The Zhengzhou-Xuzhou High-Speed Railway, opened in September 2016, the Baoji-Lanzhou High-Speed Railway, opened in July 2017, and the Xi'an-Chengdu High-Speed Railway, opened in December 2017, have significantly reduced travel time and distance from Xi'an to the southeastern coastal regions, northwestern regions, and southwestern regions.

As of the end of December 2023, from Xi'an North Station, high-speed rail services can reach all provincial capitals in mainland China except for Changchun, Harbin, Lhasa, and Haikou (including both D-series and G-series trains). These destinations include Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Changsha, Wuhan, Zhengzhou, Shijiazhuang, Jinan, Qingdao, Taiyuan, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Hefei, Nanchang, Fuzhou, Shenyang, Guiyang, Chengdu, Chongqing, Lanzhou, Xining, Kunming, Yinchuan, Hohhot (with the westernmost reach being Urumqi), and others.

8. Education

As the birthplace of Chinese civilization and a world-renowned historical and cultural city, Xi'an is one of the cities in China with the highest concentration of key higher education institutions. Following the nationwide restructuring of universities and colleges in the 1950s and decades of development, Xi'an now hosts 37 regular higher education institutions, including 8 universities under the "211 Project" (Xi'an Jiaotong University, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xidian University, Shaanxi Normal University, Air Force Medical University, Northwest University, Chang'an University, and Northwest A&F University). Among these, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Northwestern Polytechnical University, and Northwest A&F University are part of the "985 Project." The city boasts 334 doctoral programs, 826 master's programs, 60 national key disciplines, and 385 provincial and ministerial key disciplines. Additionally, there are 8 military academies, with a total of over 200,000 university students enrolled. The per capita education level in Xi'an is relatively high, with approximately one in every six people having received higher education, placing the city among the national leaders. According to the Sixth National Population Census, Xi'an ranks sixth nationwide in terms of the proportion of its population with higher education.

Xi'an is also home to a number of outstanding high schools. Notable examples include the Affiliated High School of Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an Gaoxin No.1 High School, Xi'an Railway No.1 High School, the Affiliated High School of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an High School, the Affiliated High School of Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an Chang'an District No.1 High School, and Xi'an No.85 High School, all of which are recognized as exemplary regular high schools in Shaanxi Province.

9. Population

By the end of 2022, the permanent resident population of Xi'an was 12.9959 million, an increase of 122,900 people compared to the end of the previous year. Among them, the male population was 6.6338 million, accounting for 51.05%; the female population was 6.3621 million, accounting for 48.95%. The urban population was 10.3434 million, with an urbanization rate of 79.59%. The number of births was 108,100, with a birth rate of 8.32‰; the number of deaths was 98,000, with a death rate of 7.54‰; the natural growth rate was 0.78‰.

In 2021, the permanent resident population was 13.163 million, of which the male population was 6.7213 million, accounting for 51.06%; the female population was 6.4417 million, accounting for 48.94%. The sex ratio was 104.34 (with females as 100, the ratio of males to females). The urbanization rate was 79.49%. The birth rate was 8.44‰, the death rate was 7.51‰, and the natural growth rate was 0.93‰. By the end of 2020, the total registered population of the city was 9.7797 million.

The total population of Xi'an has reached 12 million, with the urban population exceeding 8 million, making it one of the top ten cities in China based on urban population. Among them, the Han ethnic group accounts for 99.1% of the population, while ethnic minorities number approximately 81,500. The Hui ethnic group is the largest minority living in Xi'an, with a population of 50,000. Many residents are immigrants from neighboring regions such as Sichuan, Gansu, Shanxi, and Henan. Particularly during the "Third Front Construction" period, a large number of immigrants from Northeast and East China also arrived.

According to calculations by relevant departments, assuming a relatively small population growth rate, the total population of Xi'an is expected to reach 12 million by 2020, with an average annual natural growth rate of 3.70‰, after which it will begin to decline. Over the next 50 years, the birth rate in Xi'an is projected to show a pattern of rising first, then falling, followed by another rise and subsequent decline.

9.1. Ethnic Groups

The total population of Xi'an has reached 12 million, with the urban population exceeding 8 million, making it one of the top ten cities in China based on urban population. Among them, the Han ethnic group accounts for 99.1% of the population, while ethnic minorities number approximately 81,500. The Hui ethnic group is the largest minority living in Xi'an, with a population of 50,000.

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10. National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units

• Ancient Architecture and Historical Memorial Buildings: Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xingjiao Temple Pagoda, Xi'an Great Mosque
• Ancient Architecture: Xi'an City Wall, Fayu Pagoda of Xianyou Temple
• Stone Carvings and Others: Xi'an Stele Forest
• Ancient Sites: Banpo Site, Feng and Hao Sites, Epang Palace Site, Site of the Han Dynasty Chang'an City, Daming Palace Site, Lantian Ape-man Site, Jiangzhai Site, Site of the Sui Dynasty Daxing and Tang Dynasty Chang'an City, Baqiao Site, Huaqing Palace Site
• Ancient Tombs: Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, Duling Tomb
• Revolutionary Sites and Revolutionary Memorial Buildings: Site of the Xi'an Incident, Site of the Eighth Route Army Xi'an Office
• Xi'an Bell Tower, Drum Tower
• Shuilu'an Temple
• Kangjia Site
• Laoniupo Site
• Yueyang City Site
• Dongwei Bridge Site
• Kumarajiva Stupa
• Gongshu Hall
• Shandao Pagoda of Xiangji Temple
• Xi'an City God Temple
• Bayun Pagoda
• Stele Forest of Chongyang Palace and Zu'an Temple
• Eastern Mausoleums of the Qin Dynasty
• Tomb of the Prince of Qin of the Ming Dynasty
• Shengshou Temple Pagoda in Chang'an
• Huayan Temple Pagoda in Chang'an
• Zhaohui Pagoda
• Daqin Temple Pagoda
• Yisu Club Theater
• Yangguanzhai Site
• Yuhuazhai Site
• Xiyu Site
• Jianzhang Palace Site
• Huanqiu Site
• Tomb of Empress Dowager Dou
• Fengqi Yuan Western Han Dynasty Family Cemetery
• Tomb of Empress Dowager Bo
• Lantian Lü Family Cemetery
• Jingde Pagoda
• Great Learning Lane Mosque

11. Sister Cities

In ancient times, Xi'an was once a center of cultural exchange between East and West. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xi'an's international exchanges have flourished continuously. It has now established sister city relationships with 37 cities in 30 countries and has become a friendly exchange city with 64 cities in 41 countries.

Cities that have established sister city relationships with Xi'an:

• Nara, Japan (February 1, 1974)
• Kyoto, Japan (May 10, 1974)
• Edinburgh, United Kingdom (April 16, 1985)
• Pau, France (September 15, 1986)
• Kansas City, Missouri, USA (April 29, 1989)
• Isfahan, Iran (May 6, 1989)
• Dortmund, Germany (May 27, 1991)
• Lahore, Pakistan (June 20, 1992)
• Funabashi, Japan (November 2, 1994)
• Gyeongju, South Korea (November 18, 1994)
• Iași, Romania (December 6, 1994)
• Dnipro, Ukraine (October 27, 1995)
• Konya, Turkey (September 8, 1996)
• Kathmandu, Nepal (September 12, 1996)
• Brasília, Brazil (October 26, 1997)
• Quebec City, Canada (May 11, 2001)
• Córdoba, Argentina (December 19, 2006)
• Pompeii, Italy (October 13, 2007)
• Kalamata, Greece (September 17, 2009)
• Cuenca, Ecuador (September 8, 2010)
• Groningen, Netherlands (November 2011)
• Montgomery County, USA (2013)
• Ulan-Ude, Russia (2013)
• Ehime Prefecture, Japan (2013)
• Almaty, Kazakhstan (2013)
• Gaziantep, Turkey (2013)
• Dushanbe, Tajikistan (2013)
• Mérida, Spain (2014)
• Jinju, South Korea (May 15, 2016)
• Oldenburg, Germany (2017)

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Originating from the Ming Dynasty, it takes the meaning of "peace from the West."

Weiyang District

Yanta District

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Chinese Scholar Tree

Pomegranate flower