Xi’an: An Ancient City where the past beholds the future

As I landed at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, memories of eight years ago suddenly flashed back in my mind. Though I was quite young at that time, this ancient city with a history of more than 1,100 years had already left a deep impression on me with its rich culture and unique vibe. But who knows how things have changed in eight years? Xi'an might be very different, I thought to myself as I left the airport.

Indeed, new technologies have merged with traditional industries to renovate agricultural and production methods. At the SCO Agricultural Technology Exchange & Training Demonstration Base, modern information technology is used to implement intelligent management for watering, fertilizing, and adjusting light based on the growth status of each crop, ensuring optimal harvest conditions. New applications have also been installed on mobile phones to enable remote management of crops and fruits, making the entire agriculture industry more convenient and advanced.

Despite the vicissitudes, Xi’an still holds many marks of ancient times. On the second day, I visited the Shaanxi History Museum, which houses more than 1.7 billion precious cultural relics dating back to the Shang dynasty. I was amazed by the vast number of collections and how well they were preserved. Reading the introduction of each piece was an illumination of the soul, through which I could experience the glory and decay of each period. At the end of the exhibition, an immense clay figure gazes at the silhouettes of visitors as they exit the display hall, just like the past beholding the present and expecting the bright future ahead. With such a profound cultural foundation mixed with modern approaches, Xi’an will always be a dazzling city, sparkling with the essence of both ancient and modern times.