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(zhǎng)安

長(zhǎng)安，是陜西省西安市的古稱。長(zhǎng)安與羅馬、開羅、雅典并稱世界四大古都。長(zhǎng)安是中國(guó)歷史上建都朝代最多、建都時(shí)間最長(zhǎng)、影響力最大的都城，是陸上絲綢之路的東方起點(diǎn)。在唐代，長(zhǎng)安是東西方文化薈萃交流的集中地，是當(dāng)時(shí)世界上最大的國(guó)際大都會(huì)。西域各國(guó)使臣、留學(xué)生、商人、僧侶、樂工、畫師和舞蹈家在長(zhǎng)安交往，來自不同族群、不同地域、不同國(guó)家的移民都僑居長(zhǎng)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(shù)、宗教信仰等都在長(zhǎng)安交匯融通，來自印度、阿拉伯和拜占庭的天文學(xué)、醫(yī)藥學(xué)等科學(xué)技術(shù)也在長(zhǎng)安傳播，共同形成了“兼容并包、大氣開放”的長(zhǎng)安氣象。大慈恩寺的大雁塔是古城長(zhǎng)安的標(biāo)志性建筑，大量歷史文化遺產(chǎn)保留至今，見證著中外文化交流的輝煌歷史。