Xi’an (西安) is the capital of the Chinese province of Shaanxi. Xi’an is one of the oldest cities in China and is one of China’s Four Great Ancient Capitals. The city was one of the terminal points on the Silk Road during the ancient and medieval eras, as well as the home of the 3rd-century BC Terracotta Army commissioned by Emperor Qin Shi Huang. The fortifications of Xi’an, also known as the Xi’an City Wall (西安城墙), represent one of the oldest, largest, and best preserved Chinese city walls. The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (大雁塔) is a monumental Buddhist pagoda located in southern Xi’an, Shaanxi, China. It was built c. AD 652 during the Tang dynasty.

Below is a selection of photos taken during a visit to the Xi’an City Wall and Wild Gooses Pagoda on May 31, 2010. Click on a small photo for a larger view, then select the next one with the cursor keys or the arrows on either side of the photo.