Xi'an

Dubbed "the land of kings and emperors" by the poet Du Fu, Xian reigned supreme over four dynasties as China's capital Chang'an. Archaeological discoveries reflect Xian's past glories - such as the Sera Metropolis, start of the old Silk Road. Special topics include the peasant painters of Huxian, the concubine Yang Guifei and the Xian incident. Set in a historical context, this guide takes the reader round Xian starting from early Paleolithic sites, past Qin Shihaungdi's terracotta warriors to a park created during Chairman Mao's Great Leap Forward. Literary excerpts and sidebars illuminate local culture. Simon Holledge has also written "Guide to Zhejiang and Hangzhou".