Joseph & Lucy Lee Memorial Lecture 10.27.21 The History and Culture of Ti'an

Joseph and Lucy Lee Memorial Lecture.
Speaker: Prof. LU Wei, Department of Chinese Language & Literature, Peking University

Abstract:
Ancient Xi’an, also known as Chang’an, was the cradle of the Chinese civilization. Thirteen dynasties established their capitals in ancient Xi’an. It was the city with the longest history of being a dynastic capital in China (longer than Luoyang, Nanjing, and Beijing). It was the starting point of the Silk Road. It was also the largest city in the world during the 6th – 10th centuries.

Many historical sites remain in present-day Xi’an. Six, including the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, have been named as UNESCO World Heritage sites. This lecture will introduce ancient Xi’an’s history and culture by discussing famous historical sites, food, theater, arts, and literature.