
- Visiting a farmer's house
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As the most
ancient city in China,Xi'an served as capital as early as 3000 years ago. As an
administrative division,Xi'an belongs to the northwesiern part of China,but geographically
it is loated in the center of the country. With this favorable geographical location and a
moderate climate Xi'an was therefore a natural choice as capital for 13 of China's feudal
dynasties.
Xi'an abounds in historical and cultural relics which have
made the city famous worldwide. It is not only the starting point of the Silk Road but
also the home of the Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses from the First Emperor of the Qin
Dynasty (the Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses from the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty
(the eighth wonder of the world);the Big Goose Pagoda from the Tang Dynasty and the Forest
of Stone Steles (a treasure house of Chinese calligraphy). With these and other places of
interest Xi'an attracts thousands of visitors from overseas every year.
Carrying on the time-honored cultural tradition the city
boasts 46 institutions of tertiary education and over 400 research institutes with a
sizable contingent of scientific and technical personnel enjoying a most cougenial,
cultural aud academic atmosphere.
At the same time the city is also moving toward modernization
with advanced science and teachnology. Xi'an olso has facilities monitoring China's
man-made satellites and regulating Beijing Standard Time.To better link Xi'an with the
rest Of the world. a new international airport has been built and is now fully
operational. This new facility is helping Xi'an to become a truly cosmopolitan city.
Xi'an, with a population of six million people, is the capital
of Shaanxi Province. Residents have a comparatively high level of education and use
Mandarn as their main means of oral communication.
Xi'an has a long history hosting international
students.During the Tang Dynasty over 1000 years ago, students from Japan, Korea and other
Asian nations studied in this capital city With China's reform and open policies, students
from an increasing number of countries are coming to Xi'an to study the Chinese language
and to undertake programs in Chinese studies. |