Xi'an, historically known as Chang'an, is the capital of Shaanxi Province. As a world-famous historical city and one of China's Four Great Ancient Capitals, it is a cradle of Chinese civilization and Chinese nation. Designated as an international metropolis and a national central city, Xi'an serves as a key national base for scientific research, education, and industry, and a core area of the Belt and Road Initiative. It is the largest central city in the northwest of China, with a permanent population of 13.1676 million in 2024.
Since the Western Han Dynasty, Xi'an has been a major hub for economic and cultural exchanges between China and the world. The ancient Silk Road started from Chang'an and extended all the way to the ancient Rome. Xi'an has established sister-city relations with 40 cities from 33 countries, including Kyoto (Japan), Pau (France), Edinburgh (UK), Kansas City (US), Quebec (Canada), and Pompeii (Italy), etc.
