Xi’an: The city

Xi'an is the capital of China's Shaanxi Province. The city is the third-most populous in Western China, after Chongqing and Chengdu, with a total population of 3.17 million according to the 2024 census. Xi'an is one of the oldest cities in China. Known as Chang'an for much of its history, it is one of China's Five Great Ancient Capitals and served as the capital under several of the most important dynasties in Chinese history. Today, Xi'an is the country's second-most popular tourist destination. The city was one of the eastern termini of the Silk Road during the ancient and medieval eras and is home to the Terracotta Army, a 3rd-century BC collection of sculptures commissioned by Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Both the Silk Road and the Terracotta Army are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Since the 1980s, as part of the economic development of inland China, Xi'an has evolved into a major cultural, industrial, political, educational, and research hub. The city ranks 16th globally in scientific output and is home to several prestigious institutions of higher education, including Xi'an Jiaotong University, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xidian University, and Northwest University. 00:00:14 The conference hotel and streets 00:03:16 The Bell Tower 00:08:15 The Drum Tower