At the height of its prominence during the Tang dynasty (618-907), Xi’an, then known as Chang’an, was one of the world’s largest and most populous cities, although its history actually stretches back more than 6,500 years to the Neolithic period.[…]

Since Han dynasty diplomat Zhang Qian blazed a trail westward from Chang’an more than 2,000 years ago, trade and traditions from around the world have flowed along the Silk Road, shaping Xi’an’s uniquely cosmopolitan culture.