Xi’an,the capital of Shaanxi Province, which has over 3,000 years of recorded history, is situated on the Wei River Valley, the cradle of ancient Chinese civilization. It marked the start of the famous 'Silk Road' that linked China with central Asia and the Roman Empire. And it served as the first capital of a unified China and the capital of 13 dynasties periodically from the 11th century B.C. to the early 10th century A.D. In ancient times, this capital city was knows as Chang’An – the city of “everlasting peace”.

Located between rivers and mountains in the center of the fertile Guanzhong Plain in Shaanxi Province, Xian was a natural place to nurture the nation's civilization. In the Neolithic Age, about 6,000 years ago, excavations show a matriarchal clan was formed at nearby Banpo village. Thousands of years later, the Zhou Dynasty kings established their capital in settlements only a few miles from the present-day city. In 221 B.C., Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China, set about enlarging the settlement of Xiangyang, about 15 miles northwest of the city. This town, established under earlier Qin rulers as the capital, became heavily populated. By 213 B.C., Qin Shi Huang decided to move his court to the south bank of the Wei River. A vast palace was built, however, work was never completed during his lifetime. Some years later when the Qin fell to the Han (206 B.C.), this and most of the other palaces were destroyed. The conqueror, Liu Bang, first emperor of the Han Dynasty, also established the site of his capital only a few miles north of modern Xian.

Today the city’s charm lies in its historic atmosphere, there’s a palpable sense of past glories, vestiges of its history are ever present. One can easily imagine the sights and sounds of Xian at the height of its glory when wandering along the city walls or strolling through the old Muslim quarter.

Xian has recently become an important center for the central government’s drive to develop western China. As an economic center for the region, Xian is in a natural position for further development; aviation is already an important industry for the city.