ABSTRACT
Throughout the thousands of years of Chinese history, the city of Xian and its surrounding area have played a vital role in the cultural, religious, and political developments of the country. Located in central China's modern Shaanxi prov ince, Xian is the present capital of the province, and within its city limits, or very close by, have stood the capitals of a number of previous empires. Archaeological excavations in the Yellow River basin have unearthed remains of Neolithic communities, findings that have led to the region's claim to be the cradle of Chinese civilization. From the area's Neo lithic beginnings through the modern era, Xian has remained one of Asia's richest historical centers.
