Chang'an

Chang'an

Chang'an, today's Xi'an city in Shaanxi Province, is regarded as one of the world's "Four Great Ancient Capitals" alongside Rome, Cairo, and Athens. Historically, Chang'an served as capital for the longest period, straddling most dynasties, bestowing it unparalleled influence. It is the eastern terminus of the Silk Road. In the Tang Dynasty, Chang'an was the largest cosmopolitan city and facilitated the convergence and exchanges of oriental and occidental cultures. Envoys, international students, merchants, Buddhist monks, musicians, painters, and dancers from various countries mingled in Chang'an; people from different ethnic groups, regions, and countries lived in Chang'an; exotic commodities, costumes, food, songs and dances, acrobatics, culture, art, and religious beliefs from Persia, Rome and other foreign lands all converged in Chang'an; astronomy and medicine were disseminated from India, Arabia, and Byzantine to Chang'an. Together, they created a cosmopolitan atmosphere that was open and inclusive. Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Da Ci'en Temple, an iconic building in Chang'an, has been preserved alongside an abundance of Chang'an's historical and cultural heritage. They continue to bear witness to the glorious past of Sino-foreign cultural exchange.

長安

長安，是陜西省西安市的古稱。長安與羅馬、開羅、雅典并稱世界四大古都。長安是中國歷史上建都朝代最多、建都時間最長、影響力最大的都城，是陸上絲綢之路的東方起點。在唐代，長安是東西方文化薈萃交流的集中地，是當時世界上最大的國際大都會。西域各國使臣、留學生、商人、僧侶、樂工、畫師和舞蹈家在長安交往，來自不同族群、不同地域、不同國家的移民都僑居長安，來自波斯和羅馬等異域的特色商品、服飾飲食、歌舞雜技、文化藝術、宗教信仰等都在長安交匯融通，來自印度、阿拉伯和拜占庭的天文學、醫藥學等科學技術也在長安傳播，共同形成了“兼容并包、大氣開放”的長安氣象。大慈恩寺的大雁塔是古城長安的標志性建筑，大量歷史文化遺產保留至今，見證著中外文化交流的輝煌歷史。