Historic city · Shaanxi
Xianyang
咸阳
Capital of Qin and valley of the Han and Tang imperial tombs
Xianyang is a prefecture-level city on the Wei River just west of Xi'an, where the state of Qin built its capital in 350 BCE and from which the First Emperor ruled a unified China. The loess tableland north of the city holds the burial mounds of the Western Han emperors, and its counties the Tang mountain tombs of Qianling and Zhaoling.
Key facts
Overview
The name means “all yang”: the city lay south of the mountains and north of the river, both sunny (yang) positions in Chinese geomancy. Qin Xianyang spread over both banks of the Wei and was destroyed by Xiang Yu's army in 206 BCE; the palace foundations north-east of the modern centre are an archaeological site.
Today Xianyang is closely tied to Xi'an: Xi'an Xianyang International Airport lies on its territory, and the Xixian New Area joins the two cities. Its countryside is dotted with imperial mausoleums, the largest concentration of Han and Tang tombs in China.
Names and nicknames
渭城
“Wei City”
Han and Tang name of the town, where travellers to the west were seen off.
中华第一帝都
“China's first imperial capital”
Local epithet referring to its role as the capital of the Qin empire.
History
Qin moved its capital here under Duke Xiao, with the reforms of Shang Yang, and made it the centre of the first empire. After its destruction the Han built their capital, Chang'an, south of the river, but buried nine of their eleven Western Han emperors on the Xianyang plateau. The Tang in turn chose the mountains to the north for their tombs, among them Zhaoling of Emperor Taizong and Qianling of Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu Zetian.
350 BCE
Qin capital founded
Duke Xiao of Qin moved his court to Xianyang, which remained the capital until the fall of the dynasty.
206 BCE
Xianyang burned
Xiang Yu's forces sacked the city and set fire to the Qin palaces.
117 BCE
Tomb of Huo Qubing
The general's tomb beside Emperor Wu's Maoling carries early monumental stone sculptures, including a horse trampling a Xiongnu warrior.
628
Great Buddha of Binzhou
A 20-metre seated Buddha was carved in Bin County under Emperor Taizong; the cave temple is a Silk Roads World Heritage component.
706
Wu Zetian buried at Qianling
China's only reigning empress was laid beside Emperor Gaozong in a tomb cut into Liang Mountain; it is not known ever to have been opened.
Landmarks
Museum
Maoling Museum
茂陵博物馆
At the tomb of Emperor Wu of Han, with the Han stone sculptures from Huo Qubing's tomb.
Historic site
Qianling
乾陵
The Tang tomb on Liang Mountain, approached by a long spirit way of stone horses, officials and the statues of foreign envoys.
Historic site
Zhaoling
昭陵
Tomb of Emperor Taizong in Liquan, one of the largest imperial cemeteries in China, famous for the reliefs of his six battle steeds.
Temple or shrine
Bin County Cave Temple
彬州大佛寺石窟
Tang cave temple with a colossal seated Buddha, on the old road from Chang'an to the north-west.
Museum
Xianyang Museum
咸阳博物院
Holds the Yangjiawan Han cavalry figures, more than two thousand painted terracotta soldiers and horses.
Neighbourhoods
Qindu
秦都区
The central district on the north bank of the Wei, around the old town and riverside parks.
Yuanjia village
袁家村
Village in Liquan county rebuilt as a food-and-folk-culture street of Guanzhong snacks.
Food
Qianzhou guokui
乾州锅盔
A thick, dense wheat flatbread from Qian county that keeps for days.
Qihua noodles
旗花面
Thin noodles in broth topped with egg pancake cut into small flag-like pieces.
Culture
Xianyang's identity rests on Qin and on its tombs: much of local life on the plateau goes on among burial mounds that farmers have ploughed around for two thousand years. Guanzhong customs are strong here — Qinqiang opera, flatbreads and noodles, and village temple fairs.
渭城朝雨浥轻尘，客舍青青柳色新。劝君更尽一杯酒，西出阳关无故人。Wèichéng zhāo yǔ yì qīng chén, kè shè qīng qīng liǔ sè xīn. Quàn jūn gèng jìn yī bēi jiǔ, xī chū Yángguān wú gù rén.
“The morning rain at Wei City has settled the light dust; by the inn the willows are fresh and green. Drink one more cup of wine, my friend — west of the Yang Pass you will find no old friends.”
— Wang Wei, “Seeing Off Yuan the Second on a Mission to Anxi” (送元二使安西), Tang dynasty
Getting around
- Xi'an Xianyang International Airport is on the city's territory, north-east of the centre.
- Xianyang Qindu station on the Xi'an–Baoji high-speed line and Xianyang station on the conventional line serve the city; Xi'an Metro lines reach the Xixian districts.
- The tombs in the northern counties are spread out and best reached by car.
Day trips
Zhengguo Canal
郑国渠
Remains of the Qin irrigation canal of 246 BCE in Jingyang county, which watered the northern Wei plain.
Mawei
马嵬驿
Where Yang Guifei died in 756 during the emperor's flight from the An Lushan Rebellion; her tomb is here.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- Xianyang Municipal People's Government — Xianyang Municipal People's Government (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- Seventh National Population Census communiqués — National Bureau of Statistics of China (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor — UNESCO World Heritage Centre (retrieved 27 September 2026)
- Xianyang — Encyclopaedia Britannica (retrieved 27 September 2026)
More cities in Shaanxi
- Xi'an西安Capital · Historic city · Cultural centreChang'an, imperial capital of Qin, Han and Tang
- Baoji宝鸡Historic city · Industrial centreHomeland of the Zhou and Qin, city of bronzes
- Yan'an延安Historic city · Cultural centreLoess Plateau city of the Communist Party's wartime base
- Hanzhong汉中Historic city · Scenic areaWhere the Han dynasty took its name, between the Qinling and the Daba
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