Xi'an: History, Former Names & Timeline
Ancient capital on the Guanzhong plain where the Zhou, Qin, Han and Tang among more than ten dynasties ruled; the eastern end of the Silk Road.
Xi'anExplore Xi'an in the interactive map
Former names of Xi'an
| From | Name | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 202 BC | Chang'an | capital of Han Gaozu |
| AD 904 | Jingzhao / Xijing | |
| 1369 | Xi'an | renamed under the Ming |
Timeline of Xi'an
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 221 BC | Qin unifies China, with its capital at Xianyang just northwest of today's city |
| 202 BC | Emperor Gaozu of Han builds Chang'an |
| 138 BC | Zhang Qian sets out from Chang'an for the Western Regions |
| AD 618 | The Tang dynasty is founded; Chang'an becomes a metropolis of a million people |
| AD 904 | Zhu Wen forces the Tang court east and Chang'an is destroyed |
Who ruled Xi'an
Derived from the border maps; each row runs until the next recorded border change.
| Period | State |
|---|---|
| 500 BC–324 BC | Zhou states |
| 323 BC–201 BC | Qin |
| 200 BC–2 BC | Han Empire |
| 1 BC–299 | Han |
| 300–499 | Jin |
| 500–599 | Toba Wei |
| 600–799 | Sui Empire |
| 800–999 | Tang Empire |
| 1000–1299 | Song Empire |
| 1300–1491 | Great Khanate |
| 1492–1499 | Ming Empire |
| 1500–1649 | Ming Chinese Empire |
| 1650–1782 | Manchu Empire |
| 1783–1814 | Qing Empire |
| 1815–1919 | Manchu Empire |
| 1920–1937 | Chinese Warlords |
| 1938–1944 | Chinese warlords |
| 1945–today | China |