Xi’an, which was called Chang’an in ancient times, is the capital city of Shaanxi Province. It is located in the middle of the Guanzhong Plain. As one of the top seven regional central cities of China, Xi’an is also a center of innovation, knowledge and technology in Asia and functions as the manufacturing base of large aircraft in China. The city has become the largest central city along the Chinese section of the new Eurasia Land Bridge across the Yellow River basin. Since there are many key institutions of higher learning in the city, Xi’an is one of the most powerful cities in China in the areas of science and technology. With the largest and most important bases of scientific research, higher education, national defense technology and hi-tech industries in middle and western China including electronic information technology industry and the aviation/space industry, Xi’an is unique as one of the largest central cities in China with powerful science and technology in addition to complete industry categories. As a new, energetic and special zone in the interior of China, the city is also the financial and transport center for middle and western China as well as the northern inland. Xi’an has become the pilot special zone for the coordination and sharing of national scientific and technical resources at the core of the Guanzhong-Tianshui economic zone. In the Development Program of the Guanzhong-Tianshui Economic Zone promulgated by the central government, Xi’an has been specified as the third “international metropolis” of China following Beijing and Shanghai.
[Source:General Office of Xi'an Municipal People’s Government]
