Home to 13 of China's ruling dynasties, Xian is one of the four great capital cities of ancient civilisation - along with Athens, Cairo and Rome.
Its terracotta warriors, known now as the eighth wonder of the world and widely seen as the most significant archaeological excavation of the 20th century, are a sight not to be missed by any visitor to the country. They are the equal, many say, of the archaeological legacies of Europe's ancient capitals.
Residents of Xian, like their modern-day counterparts in Athens, Cairo or Rome, readily express pride in the history of their city. But for many there is a topical debate they feel even more enthusiastic about, namely the city's booming property market. 'The development of the property industry in the city improved my living standards. I fully support it,' said Wang Chuang, a driver employed by developer China Overseas Land & Investment's (COLI) Xian office.
That support comes despite the fact that the rapid modernisation of the city led to many old buildings and villages - including the village in which Wang grew up in as a child - being demolished to make way for high-rise apartment blocks.
But the government compensated citizens affected by the process and they received either cash or, depending on the extent of the reclamation, one or more resettlement units in the sprawling residential towers that began to mushroom in the city.
'My family will be compensated by receiving eight flats and 300 square metres of retail space in the city,' said Wang, who regarded the exchange as fair.