(西安之旅)

Xi'an City(西安之旅)

Xi'an is one of the seven ancient cities in China as it has not only a long history but has been the capital city of many feudal dynasties at different times in Chinese history.Following the 11^th century B.C.，thirteen dynasties-of the Western Zhou，Qin，Western Han，Xinmang，Eastern Han，Western Jin，Former Zhao，Former and Later Qin，Western Wei and Northern Zhou，Sui，and Tang-made Xi'an their capital.

Xi'an is located along the bank of the Wei River，with the Qinling Mountain Range to the South and Tongguan Pass to the east.This location has made it an important strategic point and communication hub linking northwest and central China and the starting point of the ancient Silk Road.From here，Chinese goods were transported to various places in central Asia，and even directly to the Mediterranean Sea and Europe.

Eulogized by the great Chinese poet，Du Fu，as a“land of king and emperors，”the history of Xi'an goes all the way back to the11^th century B.C.，when Western Zhou Dynasty Emperor Wu wiped out the Shang Dynasty.He made his capital at Fenghao，which is currently located near Mawang and Doumen Towns in the Chang'an District.Both the towns were formerly located 16 kilometers southwest of Xi'an.The streets of the towns were latticed，and it is said that the main roads were so wide as to let pass through five chariots abreast.Splendidly laid out，this latticed pattern became the model following in the building of other Chinese cities and towns.

The Western Zhou Dynasty moved its capital to Luoyang in around 8^th century B.C.It was later replaced in Shaanxi by the Qin Kingdom，whose capital was Xianyang located north of Xi'an.In 221 B.C.the Qin conquered China's six warring kingdoms，establishing the country's first unified feudal empire.Immediately afterwards，the first emperor of Qin adopted measures aimed at consolidating his newly founded empire.These included building the Great Wall to ward off attacks by northern nomadic tribes，unifying the spoken language，currency and measures，and even the width of a chariot axle.However，the Qin Empire did not last long.By 209 B.C.rampant oppression and exploitation brought about first large-scale peasant uprising in Chinese history thus ending the great Qin Empire.

The first emperor of Qin，named Yingzheng，died of illness in 210 B.C.According to the prevailing customs of the time he should be buried in his company with some of his vassals，family members，slaves and ritual chariots and some other things.But nobody knows whether they were killed or buried a few years later when they died of a natural death，as the emperor's main tomb remains unopened.However，the already excavated Qin Terra-cotta Warrior pits leave no doubt that the emperor felt that he needed an army to protect him after death.These warriors also make it clear that during his lifetime，the emperor commanded an invincible military.The army consists of 8，000 life sized troops，including infantry，cavalry and chariots.Some of these foot soldiers are standing and others squatting，some have spears in hand yet others have one knee bent and are armed with crossbows.What a magnificent army! The vivid and lifelike appearance of the individual sculptures makes them artistic masterpieces and an unmatchable brilliant pearl in the treasure house of Chinese art.

The leader of the peasant army，Liu Bang，replaced the Qin Dynasty，but retained Xi'an，then known as Chang'an，or“Eternal Peace”as his capital(Xi'an means“Western Peace”).This new dynasty came to be known as the Western Han Dynasty.It was marked by great territorial expansion and a vigorous economic and cultural life.During this period China's arts and crafts made great progress and numerous artistic achievements，particularly in pottery，bronze and ironware，lacquer ware and precious metals as well as murals and engravings.Chang'an was vibrant city and its population exceeded that of Rome by three times.

In 25 A.D.Liu Xiu，Emperor Guangwu moved the capital to Luoyang.This shift marks the beginning of the Eastern Han，which crumbled in the 3rd century.A chaotic period followed its collapse，during which three kingdoms，the Wei，Jin，and Southern and Northern Kingdoms struggled for hegemony.It was notuntil the year of581 that China was once again unified by Sui Emperor Yang Jian.The EmperorWen reconstructed Chang'an and moved the capital back to there.However，the Sui Dynasty did not last long and was soon replaced by the Tang Dynasty in 618 A.D.

The Tang Dynasty was a flourishing period in Chinese history.It is notable not only for the great prosperity enjoyed by China's people，but for the rise and fall of Wu Zetian，the only Empress in Chinese history.She briefly changed the name of the dynasty from“Tang”to“Zhou;”it was then once again named“Tang”during the reign of Emperor Kai Yuan，who ruled during the middle of the dynasty and rejuvenated its fortunes.An even more dramatic and interesting part of Tang Dynasty history is the intriguing and amorous tales about Imperial Consort Yang，one of the four beauties in ancient China.All of these events unfolded in the ancient capital city of Chang'an.This period also saw great cultural achievements，especially in poetry and prose，scroll painting and music，pottery and porcelain as well as calligraphy.All of these arts were much more developed in the Tang than they had been in the Han Dynasty.The extensive diplomatic and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries are another notable feature of the Tang Dynasty.This can be seen from the murals excavated from the Tang tombs，a vivid reflection of all aspects of social life and a true description of prosperity of that period.

After the Tang Dynasty collapsed in 907 A.D.，China once again fell into turmoil during the socalled Five Dynasties with Ten Kingdoms era.The country was later unified by the Northern Song Dynasty in 960 A.D.，which moved China's capital to Kaifeng in Henan Province.Even after the Northern Song Dynasty was destroyed by northern nomadic tribes，the Southern Song continued to rule much of China and chose Lin'an，or present-day Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province，for its capital.The Southern Song Dynasty was then destroyed by Mongol invaders，who established the so-called Yuan Dynasty.Under this new dynasty，China's capital shifted to Beijing for the first time.When the Ming Dynasty overthrew Mongol rule，the present-day city of Xi'an，formerly the inner city of the Chang'an，was built and given its present name，which means“Western Peace.”

Though Xi'an ceased being China's capital after the Tang Dynasty，it continued to play an important role in Chinese history.The most important recent historical event occurred in 1936 and was the socalled“Xi'an Incident”.This incident involved the two patriotic Guomindang generals，Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng，who were deeply moved by the Chinese Communist Party's sincere efforts to defeat Japanese aggression.They used the“Xi'an Incident”to persuade a reluctant Chiang Kai-shek to cease Guomindang attacks on the Communists and ally with them against the Japanese invaders.Xi'an is also near the revolutionary base of Yan'an，where the Chinese Communist Party，under the leadership of Chairman Mao Zedong，built up its strength and laid a solid foundation for the final liberation of the rest of China.

The modern city of Xi'an is the continuation of that in the long past.It is not only a city of importance controlling China's great west but also a frontier post in realizing the strategic target of the development of the northwest.In particular，the city is a key center for China's aeronautics industry and space exploration program.Of course，it also has numerous historical and cultural attractions.They include the Big and Small Wild Goose Pagoda，the Bell and Drum Tower，Shaanxi Provincial Museum，Museum of the Stone Steles，Banpo Village Neolithic Museum，the Terra-Cotta Warriors Museum，and Huajue Lane Great Mosque.The city is also surrounded by major scenic attractions such as Huaqing Hot Spring at the foothill of Lishan Mountain.

Xi'an is a famous tourist city，which integrates the past and the present into one.If you are going to make a tour in China it won't do not to go to Beijing.However，Xi'an should not be missed either and anyone who does miss it will regret not having gone there.In particular，the Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses are surely rare and precious treasures one seldom sees in one's lifetime.A Chinese proverb goes like this:“Hearing it a hundred times is no better than seeing it once”or just“Seeing is believing.”Why not come to Xi'an and enjoy it by yourself!

西安，是中国的七大古都之一，它不仅具有悠久的历史，而且也曾是不同时期多个封建王朝的政治中心。自公元前11世纪起，先后有西周、秦、西汉、新莽、东汉(献帝初)、西晋、前赵、前秦、后秦、西魏、北周、隋和唐13个封建王朝在西安建都。

西安，位于陕西省的渭水之滨，因为前有秦岭、东有潼关而成为扼西北至中原的战略与交通要冲，形胜甲于天下。西安还是古丝绸之路的起点，中国内地的丝绸商品由此源源不断地输往中亚、西亚各地，并直达地中海沿岸，乃至欧洲。

被中国的大诗人杜甫称为“帝王之州”的西安，其历史可追溯到公元前11世纪，周武王灭商而建都丰镐(今长安区马王镇和斗门镇附近)，此系距今西安市西南16千米处的两个小镇，市井呈格子形建筑。据称，当年的主要街道可容纳五乘马车同时并进，可谓盛况空前，其建筑格局便成为尔后中国城镇建筑仿效之模式。西周于公元前8世纪左右迁都洛阳，诸侯国秦继之而起，建都于今西安之北的咸阳。秦于公元前221年战胜六国，统一了中国，是中国历史上第一个大一统的封建王国。随后，秦始皇便采取一系列巩固统一的措施，加固并修筑了传之千古的万里长城，以抵御北方部落的侵扰，统一了语言、文字、货币、度量衡，乃至车辙的宽度。但秦帝国并未继之万世，由于其实施过度的压迫和剥削政策而于公元前209年激发了中国历史上第一次大规模的农民起义，导致了秦王朝的覆灭。

秦始皇死后，按照当地的风俗习惯，应由其大臣、家庭成员、奴隶和车马仪仗等一起为他陪葬。而他们当时是否都被杀死，埋进了墓穴，或是过后他们自然死亡之后再行埋葬，却是不得而知，因为秦始皇的主墓至今尚未打开。但是已经发掘了秦俑坑，这无疑说明了一个事实，即皇帝死后仍然得由军队来护卫他，或者说，他死后仍然像他生前一样在指挥着征战中的千军万马。这是一支约有8000人之众的庞大军队，由步兵和车阵组成，士兵有的站着，有的蹲着，有的手执长矛，也有的擎着弓弩，取跃跃欲射之状，其军阵之恢弘，气势之威猛，体现了当时秦帝国的无比强大，而不可匹敌;就其雕塑及艺术造型而言，不论士兵还是马车都不愧为时代杰作。秦俑堪称是中国艺术宝库中无与伦比的一颗璀璨明珠。

在农民起义浪潮中代秦而起的刘邦，在长安建立了汉王朝的统治。这是中国历史上以开疆拓土、文化繁荣而著称的强盛时期。这一时期，中国的陶瓷、青铜器、铁器、漆器、贵金属、壁画和雕刻等在艺术价值和工艺创造方面，都获得了很大的发展。长安城之大也是当时罗马的三倍。当年长安城之繁荣景象是可想而知的。这是中国历史上的西汉时期。

公元25年，光武帝刘秀定都于洛阳，是为东汉。公元3世纪起，东汉解体，中国历史进入了三国、两晋、南北朝的混乱纷争时期，直至公元581年，隋统一为止。隋文帝杨坚重修城池，再度恢复了长安的都城地位。但隋朝的统治仅为短暂的数十年时间，公元618年便为唐朝的兴起所取代。

唐朝是中国历史上兴旺发达的时代，除了有名的“贞观之治”以外，也有改唐为周的中国女王武则天，更有开元中兴，以及在中国历史上传为佳话的四大美女之一杨贵妃的风流韵事等，全都发生在这里。唐朝在文化方面所取得的成就，也大大地超过了汉朝，尤其是在诗词歌赋、绘画、音乐、陶瓷和书法艺术更是成就卓著，蜚声中外。在中外文化交流、外交往来等方面也都非常兴盛。唐墓壁画中所反映和刻画出来的社会生活方方面面，确是当年长安城盛况空前的真实写照。

随着唐朝于公元907年的解体，中国又再度陷于五代十国的纷争之中，后来统一中国的宋朝于960年在河南的开封建都。再往后便有南宋定都临安(今杭州)、元朝忽必烈建都北京。今天的西安城乃是当年长安的内城，是明朝才修建起来，并改名为西安的。西安自唐以后再也没有成为中国的国都。

至于现代史上的西安，则是1936年“西安事变”的策源地，国民党的张学良、杨虎城两位将军，在中国共产党的感召下，在西安发动兵谏，逼蒋联共，抗日救国。西安更是前往红色革命根据地延安的捷径。在延安，中国共产党在毛泽东主席的领导下，最终蓄积了力量，为尔后解放全中国奠定了坚实的基础。

现代的西安是古时西安的继续。它不仅是扼西北地区的重镇，更是实现西部大开发战略目标的前沿阵地。西安，除了古人所留给我们的许多名胜古迹、旅游景点(大、小雁塔，钟楼，陕西博物馆，碑林博物馆，半坡博物馆，秦俑博物馆，骊山华清池，化觉巷清真寺等)供人们参观之外，它还是中国现代工业--航空、航天等高新技术产业的发展基地之一。此外，它还是中国标准时--北京时的中心所在地。

西安是融古今于一体的不可多得的旅游胜地，尤其是那秦俑博物馆中庞大的秦俑军阵，更是人们一生中不可多见的稀世之宝。中国有句成语叫“百闻不如一见”，为什么不亲临现场，到西安去实地鉴赏一番呢!