Xi’an, << shee ahn >> (pop. 5,800,000), also spelled Xian or Sian, is the capital and largest city of the Shaanxi Province in China. The city is a major tourist center. Its attractions include many ancient towers, temples, and pagodas, and the nearby tomb of the Chinese emperor Shi Huangdi, who ruled in the 200’s B.C. Near the tomb, archaeologists have discovered burial pits with thousands of life-sized earthenware statues of soldiers, horses, and chariots
Xi’an is an important center for industry and technology. It produces chemical products, computer equipment, electronic instruments, machinery, paper, textiles, and transportation vehicles.
The Zhou dynasty founded its capital near what is now Xi’an in about 1045 B.C. The area served as the capital during many dynasties over a period of more than 2,000 years.
See also Terra-cotta army of Xi’an .
