Shaanxi is considered one of the cradles of Chinese civilization. It was home to the capitals of thirteen dynasties over a span of more than 1,100 years, from the Zhou Dynasty (1100-221BC) to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD).

The province's principal city and current capital, Xi'an, is one of the four great ancient capitals of China and is the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, which then travels through the Hexi (Gansu) Corridor, Jade Gate Pass, Yang Pass, Xinjiang, Pamir high plateau, Central Asia, and Western Asia, eventually leading to Europe.

The road was paved by the Chinese historic figure Zhang Qian, who set off for the first time from Chang’an to Xiyu as an envoy with Emperor Han Wudi’s order to ally with the western regions in dealing with the challenge of Xiongnu, a nomadic group involved in several wars with Zhongyuan, the territory of Emperor Wudi in the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-24 AD).

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