Xi'an - Shaanxi Province

The stuff of legend, Xi'an is home to the Terracotta Warriors and has been at the heart of Imperial life for many centuries, as can be witnessed by the huge city walls and its impressive bell tower. Developed by the first Emperor Qin Shi Huang, whose mausoleum is guarded by the 2,000 year old Terracotta Army, Xi'an is also the last staging post of the Silk Route for traders from the West and as such has had many non-Chinese influences over the years, some of which you can still see in the fascinating Muslim quarter. With its rich vein of ancient treasures Xi'an is one of the major tourist destinations in China.