| − | '''Xi'an''' ([[Chinese]]: 西安; [[Hanyu pinyin]]: Xī'ān;) is the current capital of [[Shanxi Province]], China. It was one of the 4 great capitols of China, along with Beijing, Nanjing, and Luoyang. Formerly known as Chang'an (eternal/perpetuating peace), and Xijing, (Eastern Capitol), Xi'an is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Eurasia. As such, it has one of the richest cultural heritages of any city inhabited today.<ref>^ a b c d e "Xi'an". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2008-09-03. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/542532/Xian</ref> Xian held the position of Capitol, during some of the most important stages in Chinese history, including the Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang. Xi'an is the eastern terminus of the Silk road, and historians believe the "Glorious city" Marco Polo wrote about was Xi'an. Currently, Xi'an is one of the most populous cities in the midlands; it has a population of 8 million. Xi'an is home to China's space program research, and nuclear research. | + | '''Xi'an''' ([[Chinese]]: 西安; [[Hanyu pinyin]]: Xī'ān;) is the current capital of [[Shanxi Province]], China. It was one of the 4 great capitols of China, along with Beijing, Nanjing, and Luoyang. Formerly known as Chang'an (eternal/perpetuating peace), and Xijing, (Eastern Capitol), Xi'an is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Eurasia. As such, it has one of the richest cultural heritages of any city inhabited today.<ref>^ a b c d e "Xi'an". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2008-09-03. https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/542532/Xian</ref> Xian held the position of Capitol, during some of the most important stages in Chinese history, including the Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang. Xi'an is the eastern terminus of the Silk road, and historians believe the "Glorious city" Marco Polo wrote about was Xi'an. Currently, Xi'an is one of the most populous cities in the midlands; it has a population of 8 million. Xi'an is home to China's space program research, and nuclear research. |