History of Shaanxi Province

Shaanxi is the cradle for the ancient civilization of Chinese nation .More than 1.1 million years ago , “Lantian Ape Men ”lived and multiplied on the two banks of Ba River ;6 or 7 thousand years ago ,“Banpo People” established their matriarchal clannish social villages and presented their advancement and civilization of Yangshao Culture in the Neolithic age; about 5000 years ago, “Human ancestor ”,Xuanyuan Yellow Empepor Hua led his tribe inaugurating the famous Chinese civilization in the loess plateau in northern part of shaanxi. Cang Jie created Chinese characters ,Hou Ji initiated farming ……This piece of ancient loess land bursts with flowers of Chinese ancient culture.

Shaanxi was the political center of China in history . “Central Shaanxi is always the capital of emperors.” There were 13 dynasties as West zhou , Qin ,West han  ,New Mang ,West Jing ,Pro zhao, Sui and Tang etc. ever establishing their capitals here ,lasting more than 1180 calender years.In addition, 4 peasant revolts led separately by Liu Xuan ,Chi Mei, Huang Chao and Li Zicheng also had established their regimes.

 Shaanxi should be called as a nature history museum. Ancient monuments and cultural relics are situated here and there in 800-li Qinchuan central plain,inside and outside of the Grate Wall ,banks of Hanjiang River . The proved relics sites are more than 35,800 places ,of which 89 sites are specially protected by the state. Among the sites,60 sites are ancients and old stoneages;72 mausoleums of emperors,20 great palaces, 2604 ancient buildings ,1200 ancient temples and Buddhist caves,14,900 stone carvings.There have 74 museums and memorials storing more than 600 thousand pieces (sets ) of relics,of which national treasures are 123 pieces (sets) ,Class 1 treasures 3526 pieces (sets ) and rare treasure 50 thousand pieces(sets). Either their quantities or grades are all No. 1 in China.They have become our common relics shared by the universe.

 Shaanxi was the base for Chinese modern revolution. In October 1935 ,Chinese Workers and Peasants Red Army reached Yan’an after a 25000-li long march .From then on ,the CPC Central Committee and Chairman Mao Zedong had been living ,fighting and leading Chinese revolution and War Against Japan for 13 years .The worldshocked Xi’an Incident initiated and promoted the historical advancement of cooperation between CPC and KMT jointly to fight against Japan.

 From:Economic and Technological Cooperation Bureau of Shaanxi Province