Xi'an

Xi'an is the capital of the Chinese province of Shaanxi. A sub-provincial city on the Guanzhong plain, the city is the most populous in the province and third-most populous in Western China after Chongqing and Chengdu, as well as the most populous in Northwestern China. Based on the city's 2025 1% population sample survey, its estimated year-end resident population was 13.24 million, of whom 10.72 million were urban residents. Xi'an is one of the oldest cities in China. Known as Chang'an throughout much of its history, Xi'an is one of China's Five Great Ancient Capitals, having held the position under several of the most important dynasties in Chinese history, including the Western Zhou, Qin, Western Han, Sui, Northern Zhou and Tang. Xi'an is now the second-most popular tourist destination in China. Xi'an contains the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, including the Terracotta Army, and five component sites of the UNESCO-listed Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor. Since the 1980s, as part of the economic growth of inland China especially for the central and northwest regions, Xi'an has developed into a cultural, industrial, political and educational, and research and development hub. Xi'an currently holds sub-provincial status, administering 11 districts and 2 counties. In 2020, Xi'an was ranked as a Beta- (global second tier) city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network, and, according to the country's own ranking, ranked 17th; it is also one of the world's top 100 financial centers according to the Global Financial Centres Index. Xi'an is ranked as the 16th city globally by scientific output and first in Western China, and it is home to multiple prestigious educational institutions, such as Xi'an Jiaotong University, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xidian University and Northwest University.