The AI digital persona "A-Yong."

From the starting point of the Silk Road to the center of the global stage, Xi'an, a millennia-old "cultural envoy" in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, has evolved into a global city in the spotlight. Its overseas social media accounts have attracted 3.2 million followers; Discover Xi'an, a multilingual social media account, has garnered more than 230 million views worldwide; the city has built partnerships with 112 international sister cities; and it now ranks among China's top 10 cities for international communication influence. How did this ancient capital of 13 dynasties reach a global audience? How did a key hub of the Belt and Road Initiative capture the world's attention? The answers are told in the stories where ancient heritage meets modern vitality.

From ancient Chang'an to global stage

More than 2,100 years ago, the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) envoy Zhang Qian set out from Chang'an — today's Xi'an — on his historic mission to the Western Regions, opening a gateway for East–West exchanges. In 2013, the China Railway Express launched the Chang'an freight train service, reviving that ancient pathway with the rhythm of modern commerce. Between these two milestones lies Xi'an's enduring international DNA. As a key hub along the Belt and Road, this ancient capital continues to raise its global profile by leveraging high-level international platforms.

At major global events such as the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting, the Second Television Festival of Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries, the Eighth China International Import Expo, and the 2025 Euro-Asia Economic Forum, Xi'an has showcased its practices in historical heritage preservation and modern urban governance — transforming grand concepts such as "exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations" into urban stories that are both tangible and relatable.