Shaanxi

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Province of northwest China, bounded to the north by Inner Mongolia, to the east by Shanxi and Henan, to the south by Hubei and Sichuan, and to the west by Gansu and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region; area 195,800 sq km/75,600 sq mi; population (2000 est) 36,050,000. The capital is Xi'an. There are coalmining, iron, steel, textile, and aerospace industries. Wheat, maize, rice, fruit, and tea are grown.

History
The province was part of the cradle of Chinese civilization in north China, during the Spring and Autumn, and Warring States periods (8th to 3rd centuries BC). It was the centre of the state of Qin, whose ruler united the country in 221 BC and whose name was the origin of the name China. His capital was at Chang'an (modern Xi'an), and the Han and Tang dynasties also had capitals there. The Great Wall of China was built through the north of Shaanxi, defining the limit of Chinese settlement for long periods. A traditional trading route to the west, part of the medieval Silk Road ran through the centre of the province. From 1936 to 1947 Yan'an, in northern Shaanxi, was the headquarters of the Communist Party in China.

Blue represents the sea and the sky. The points of the trident represent the three principles of democracy: government of, for, and by the people. Effective date: 30 November 1966. >>