|UNESCO World Heritage designation| Indeed, an international
institution has played a key role in the development of Xi’an
into a moderate-sized city – moderate by Chinese standards, as
Xi’an’s population’s of 8 million is considerably smaller than
Beijing’s 19 million and Shanghai’s 23 million. That institution
is UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization. As told by our excellent tour guide,
Connie, UNESCO put Xi’an on the map in 1987, the year it
inscribed the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor on its list of
World Heritage Sites. If the tomb’s official name doesn’t ring a
bell, its contents will. This is where China’s terracotta
warriors are found. In the meantime Xi'an seems likely to enjoy
continued growth, not only from tourism but also from textiles,
aeronautics, and pharmaceuticals.