Xi'an Eternal Love is calling you – the enchanting Song City awaits!

Xi'an, in the Western Zhou Dynasty, was called 'Fenghao.' 'Fenghao' is the combined name of Fengjing and Haojing, cities built respectively by King Wen and King Wu of Zhou. Over thirteen dynasties have ruled from here. After Liu Bang defeated Xiang Yu and united the land, he founded the Han Dynasty. In the early Western Han, Liu Bang chose the Guanzhong region as his capital, adopting the name of the local Chang'an township and naming the city 'Chang'an,' meaning 'long-lasting peace and stability.' Chang'an has been remembered by the world ever since.

Traversing time at close range. As a famous cultural city, Xi'an boasts a profound cultural heritage. Here, the history of thirteen dynasties has continuously enriched Xi'an's history and culture. The Qin Epang Palace, Han Chang'an City, Sui Daxing City, Tang Chang'an City – these capital sites, during their construction and use, have left numerous cultural relics in Xi'an, allowing later generations to reconstruct the prosperity of different dynasties through these sites. We can almost glimpse the marks of people's lives across ancient and modern times.

The moon of Qin and the pass of Han, this is the most beautiful great Xi'an. Capital of thirteen imperial dynasties, Zhang Qian opened the Silk Road, the city symmetrically laid out in all four directions, with its Bell Tower, Drum Tower, and city walls… A catchy song sets the stage for our visit to 'The Eternal Love of Xi'an.' The Xi'an Songcheng Performing Kingdom is jointly created by Xi'an Expo Park and Songcheng Performing Arts, featuring the core show 'The Eternal Love of Xi'an,' plus a series of stage plays and outdoor performances like flash mobs, the throwing of embroidered balls, and street parades.

One Chang'an city, half of Chinese history. Staged grandly at the Chanba Expo Park, it is not only a visual feast but also a feast of culture and art, truly awe-inspiring.

'The Eternal Love of Xi'an' follows the story of a young overseas Chinese girl returning to her ancestral home, answering a call from across the millennia. It is divided into scenes such as 'The Light of Civilization,' 'The Islet of the Ba River,' 'Yu the Great Taming the Flood,' 'The Glorious Tang Dynasty,' and 'The Silk Road.'

Every scene, every dancer's pose, every performance is extremely powerful. The stage employs various mechanical equipment, coordinating with themed dynamic performances along different streets, seamlessly blending the audience and actors into one. The transitions are smooth, with a strong sense of interaction. The virtual settings and technological lighting design create refreshing and magical moments.

The most unforgettable moment is when 3,000 tons of water cascade down, stirring the fighting spirit of the Chinese nation. Equally unforgettable is the scene of soldiers escorting their charge, ready to lay down their lives. Feathered rainbow garments, the soft grace of Indian dance, and dazzling Sogdian whirl dances all break the boundaries between stage and audience. Through an immersive blend of modern stage acoustics and effects, ancient civilization collides beautifully with modern technology, reproducing the glorious splendor of Tang Dynasty Chang'an and the tear-jerking legends of the Silk Road.

At the end of the show, as the song 'My Motherland and I' fills the air and the five-star red flag slowly advances, I am moved to tears. The millennia-long journey of Chinese civilization has shaped today's era of peace and prosperity. Under the pandemic, the strength of our great nation shines through, and a deep sense of national belonging arises, making me truly proud to live in China.

After the performance, there are many Songcheng tourism peripheral products outside. There are also introductions to Songcheng culture created in various regions. Every historically rich city and area bears traces of 'the eternal love.' My friend bought many souvenirs to take home.

The spirit of Qin and Han, the brilliance of the Tang. Xi'an carries the vicissitudes of Chinese history, and in the long river of time, it is laden with the glory and pride of the Chinese nation. Play a song of Chang'an, savor a taste of national sentiment, and await a spectacular show; at Songcheng, witness China's thousand-year civilization.

'Xi'an Eternal Love' is located on Expo Avenue, in the Chanba Ecological District, Baqiao District, Xi'an. The whole cultural tourism area, like many historically rich cities in China, has surroundings that match Xi'an's history and culture, with the Expo Park's beautiful environment. At the entrance, you can ride a small train to tour the Expo Park once, making it a great weekend getaway or self-driving destination. From the airport: 40 minutes, about 80 yuan. Take Metro Line 3, get off at Xianghuwan, transfer to Chanba Bus Line 7, or take the Expo Park shuttle train to Debao Gate.

I really envy those living in Xi'an. The whole Songcheng area is filled with uniquely themed shops, highly themed and great value. There's an oil-paper umbrella shop, a lucky cat shop, sachet-making shops, and places to write wishes and blessings – all highly interactive. On nice days, various outdoor performances occur; you can check the schedule and head to the square to watch. On Yanyun Street, there are many specialty foods at affordable prices, allowing you to sample a variety of local flavors in one go.

Try Baqiao tofu, Guanzhong snacks, Shaanxi-style roujiamo (meat in flatbread), liangpi (cold noodles), and more. If you haven't tasted Shaanxi cuisine, don't miss it!

Cultural and creative products are also countless. With great value, I couldn't help but bring home all kinds of souvenirs. My friend joked, 'Are you trying to empty the place?' Traditional, exotic, fun, novel, cute – there's everything.

Traditional experiences: making sachets, clay figurine sculpting, ear cleaning, trying on Hanfu. Special activities follow one after another. On good weather days, there are also parades and interactive performances. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't kind this time, but no worries – we'll save it for next time, right?

In fact, the current city layout of Kyoto, Japan, was entirely modeled after Chang'an, including the Suzaku Gate and Suzaku Avenue; so don't get the relationship confused. The towering Songcheng Tower instantly transports you back to Chang'an.

Renting a boat on Jinxiu Lake to watch the sunset is wonderful, and gazing at the sunset over the Expo Park from the lakeside is equally beautiful. It's enough for a comfortable day's journey. The city of Xi'an underwent several large-scale constructions and destructions, and its present location was largely determined about 600 years ago. After the opening of the Silk Road, Chang'an became the center of Eastern civilization, historically described as 'Rome in the West, Chang'an in the East.' During the Sui Dynasty, Emperor Wen, Yang Jian, was once enfeoffed as the Duke of Daxing by Emperor Ming of Zhou, so he named the new capital 'Daxing City.' In the Tang Dynasty, the name Chang'an was restored. Under the Yuan Dynasty, it was renamed 'Fengyuan City.' In the second year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1369), the Ming government changed Fengyuan Circuit to Xi'an Prefecture, meaning 'peace and stability in the western regions.' Hence the name Xi'an.

Roman philosopher Augustus once said, 'The history of a city is the history of a nation.' Xi'an, this timeless city, is like a living historical chronicle, recording scene by scene, page by page, the profound changes of the Chinese nation. I hope you don't miss this profoundly historic chapter of Xi'an on your travel map.