Xian Culture and history
		Xian is the largest city in Shaanxi province with a history of more than 3000 years. In ancient China it was called Eternal Peace (Chang'an). Of the six ancient capital cities of China. Xian was the capital for the most dynasties-twelve and for the longest time - a total of over 2000 years. Under the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-25AC) Chang'an (modern-day Xian) became the economic and cultural center of China. Sima Qian, a famous historian of that period, completed his great work the Historical Records here. Folk music was greatly developed. Many magnificent buildings were constructed, including the Shangle, Weiyang, and Chengzhang Palaces, as well as the imperial garden Shangliyuan. The ancient trading route, the Silk Road, was established during that time. As the eastern starting point of the rout, Xian was China's first city open to the world. The once prosperous ancient trading route between the east and the west carried Chinese silk abroad and linked China with Central Asian tribes. Xian leads china in numbers of historic relics. The ruins of Banpo Neolithic Village are thought to have been occupied from 4500 BC until around 3750 BC. The terracotta soldiers and their horses that were excavated near the Tomb of Qin Shihuang in 1974 have been added to the world heritage list of UNESCO. Both the Big Goose Pagoda that was originally built in 652 AD and the Little Goose Pagoda built in 707 AD are still standing and are the earliest example of pagodas with eaves. The Sanxue street in the south of Xian city is famous for the Forest of Steles. These engraved stone tablets date from the Tang Dynasty. The Bell Tower, a major symbol of Xian, was originally built in the late fourteenth century. The existing city walls were built during the reign of Hongwu, first emperor of the Ming Dynasty, on the foundations of the walls of the Tang Forbidden City. Well-known traditional food includes pancakes with mutton soup and cured mutton. Folk artifacts are embroidered vests and Zharan (tie-dyeing).