This photo taken on May 8, 2023 shows a Tang Dynasty (618-907) tri-colored galloping horse at Xi'an Museum in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)

Founded about 3,100 years ago, Xi'an, which is today the capital of China's Shaanxi Province, served as the capital for 13 dynasties in Chinese history. This is also the place where Zhang Qian, an envoy of the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-25 AD), began his journey to the Western regions via Central Asia. This expedition eventually led to the opening of the Silk Road.

Xi'an has a total of 159 museums, attracting over 30 million people each year. Many exhibits in the museums bear witness to the cultural exchanges between ancient China and countries along the ancient Silk Road in over 2,000 years.

This photo taken on May 11, 2023 shows sapphires displayed at Shaanxi History Museum in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)

A visitor views a Tang Dynasty (618-907) mural depicting foreign envoys to China at Shaanxi History Museum in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)