Xi’an, the ancient capital of China

Today we set off on a long journey that will lead us to discover some of the secrets of one of China’s most famous cities, a popular tourist destination but above all a place of great historical and cultural value. We are talking about Xi’an, today the capital of Shaanxi province in central China and in ancient times the capital of the Chinese Empire.

By Alessandra Ivaldi / 6.08.2026

Xi’an has been inhabited since ancient times due to its climate favorable to human settlement, but it assumed a central role in Chinese history only from 221 BC.

In a period running roughly from 476 to 221 BC, present-day Chinese territory was divided into seven distinct states. From 247 to 221 BC a man named Zhao Zheng was the head of one of these seven, the state of Qin. Zhao Zheng proved to be a highly skilled leader and a very talented politician. In a series of military campaigns he conquered the other six states and unified the entire Chinese population under his command, officially creating the Chinese Empire in 221 BC, which would survive over the centuries until 1912, the year of the abdication of the last emperor of the Qing dynasty. When he appointed himself the first emperor of China, Zhao Zheng took the name Qin Shi Huang, by which he is best known today. He established the capital of his new empire in Xi’an, which remained the beating heart of China for a very long time.

The city gained even greater economic and cultural importance with the development of the Silk Road, the long and fundamental route that for a long time made trade between the Chinese Empire, the Middle East and Europe possible. Xi’an in fact constituted the starting point in China of the Silk Road (or its end point, if we look at the route from the perspective of Europeans). This made Xi’an for centuries a very important meeting place between extremely distant cultures, which profoundly influenced the city’s development in terms of customs and traditions and also in terms of architecture. Therefore, Xi’an was unique in the Chinese landscape and beyond. Within it, completely different cultures and religions coexisted side by side, influencing each other.

Even today, the people of Xi’an are proud of their history and proudly carry on some ancient traditions. In certain areas, its ancient nature as a thriving commercial city can still be perceived. We can take, for example, one of the most famous corners of Xi’an, the Muslim Quarter. Crossing it will allow you to perceive what remains of the lively atmosphere that must have reigned in a market along the Silk Road. Calling you with shouts and lively hand gestures, local merchants will invite you to their shops to offer you the strangest objects, from classic souvenirs to more sophisticated artisanal products. Here you can also taste various local delicacies that are not present in other areas of China.

Spice merchants in the Muslim Quarter

An unmissable stop for those who decide to enter the Muslim quarter is its Great Mosque. It is one of the oldest and most famous mosques in China, a religious landmark for the local Muslim community and a popular tourist destination for the visitors of Xi’an. It is obviously no coincidence that a thriving Muslim community has developed in this very city, whose origins are linked to trade with the Middle East. In this regard, it should be remembered that the Great Mosque of Xi’an has a completely different appearance from other mosques. His construction work in fact followed the dictates of Chinese architectural tradition. Aside from some Arabic inscriptions and other decorations linked to Islamic tradition, the Great Mosque does not have the classic domes, and even the minaret, the tower from which the muezzin calls the faithful to prayer, presents an absolutely unusual style, heavily influenced by the tradition of Chinese Buddhist temples.

Not far from the Muslim Quarter are the city’s two most iconic symbols: the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower. These are two large square-based towers built towards the end of the 14th century. The Bell Tower marks the geometric centre of the city and in the past kicked off the workday with the tolling of its large bronze bells. On the contrary, the Drum Tower announced the end of the day with the sound of its massive drums. Even today, in memory of the glorious past of Xi’an, at 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM, drums and a bell are rung by actors in traditional costume, simulating the ancient ritual of signalling the passage of time performed in ancient times by imperial officials.

Today the two towers are an important tourist attraction and can be visited paying a single ticket. Inside are exhibition halls containing various archaeological remains and ancient musical instruments, while from the balconies you can enjoy views of Xi’an’s large central intersection, the Muslim quarter and the avenues leading to the ancient city walls. The evening visit is particularly appreciable, when the two towers are illuminated and in general the entire Xi’an appears more colourful and luminous.

The Bell Tower

But let's go back for a moment: we talked about ancient walls, right? The bastion surrounding the historic centre of Xi’an is nearly 14 km long and is one of the best-preserved wall fortifications in China. Numerous visitors pay a ticket every day to climb to the top of the walls and walk the entire length, so they can admire Xi’an and the skyline of buildings and skyscrapers surrounding the historic centre from above. Not only that: along the route are dozens of richly decorated watchtowers, turrets, parapets and pavilions. When evening falls, the numerous lanterns hanging atop the walls are lit and their bright red colour gives the place a fairytale atmosphere.

The story of Xi’an and its fabulous treasures is still long. We just need to mention one name, very famous throughout the world: the terracotta army. Well, Xi’an is also home to the famous army, sometimes referred to as the eighth wonder of the world and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. But this is another long chapter in the history of Xi’an, which we will address tomorrow with a second article.